Our story

Jay Martin’s teaching background

Jay Martin is a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant and Modern Army Combatives Program Master Trainer. His background includes developing and teaching Army combatives, followed by years of traveling around the country as a Sheepdog Response instructor.

Jay is the starting point for our Birmingham story. He brings the experience of teaching many different students and the ability to connect military combatives, grappling and practical self-protection to the person in front of him.

From meeting to teaching together

Chris Magyar met Jay through the Combatives Association Summit. Chris came to his first Jay Martin Combatives Camping Weekend as a student and, over the course of that weekend, stepped into an instructional role. Their work together continued into the next camping weekend and further seminars.

When the Smith Lake house was remodeled, it created a setting for Combatives at the Lake: training, shared meals and time together beyond the formal sessions. Jay Martin Combatives seminars became another part of that work, giving students a way to develop their skills through continued practice and instruction.

A team grows through training

Corey James Richardson became part of the wider training community, and Danie Massaro joined from the first Combatives at the Lake. Together, they bring experience across grappling, striking and self-protection to the training floor.

The partnership grew through teaching together, learning from one another and returning for more training. That shared work is the foundation of the instructor team.

Sheepdog Response Birmingham

In June 2026, Jay, Chris and Danie attended Sheepdog Response Trauma Response and Protector 1 at the Weatherford headquarters. It was an opportunity to train together and refresh their understanding of Sheepdog Response’s approach to instruction.

Sheepdog Response Birmingham brings Jay’s SDR teaching experience and this established training partnership into an official affiliate. Students and host organizations can explore the course catalog and discuss training at Smith Lake or in the Birmingham area.

We are planning a 2027 Sheepdog Response Protector 1 event. Dates and location are still to be determined.