Meet Euell Santistevan | Self- Defense and Personal Protection Instructor.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Euell Santistevan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Euell, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
For may years I had been teaching classes on the side as things would come up. When things changed with COVID in 2020, my mentality changed and I decided to do what I love and spread awareness and education as much as I could. It was just getting to a point where more people were asking for my services and I was having to take days off just to accommodate a growing demand. I took what I had at the time in my retirement savings and invested that money into myself and not into to someone else’s dream, but into mine. I haven’t looked back.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I grew up and and a Native of Colorado and this will always be home. I wanted to help my community and my country. After High School, I joined the Marine Corps, after being discharged I went to College in Arizona and received my degree in Business. I fell into volunteering on an Ambulance in Broomfield and my career took off from there. From my EMT school to Paramedic School. I spent 25 years working the streets on an Ambulance and worked 2nd and 3rd jobs at Fiddlers Green as a Medic and In various Hospitals around Denver as an ER tech and working as a Surgical tech. I ended my career as the Chief of EMS and Security for a large Denver over 55 facility where we were in charge of the 24 hour security and medical response to the residents there. I created S.A.F.E.T.Y. Certified Training, LLC and then brought on C.O.B.R.A. Self- defense as our DBA in our Self- Defense lines. We teach our Reality based training across the board. We do not do conventional Martial Arts, but we teach real life Self- Defense to everyone else. Why? Because not everyone want to do Martial arts, but we have all at one time or another said “I want to take a Self- Defense Class”. This is why everything we do is geard towards to any age and physical ability. Why? Because the criminal doesn’t care if you have a bad hip or are on crutched or even in a wheel chair. You are actually more of a target for them when you are most vulnerable. You see, criminals are lazy and just want a quick easy target to take advantage of. We create the confidence in the knowledge and the skills we give to help the most vulnerable overcome their fears and move with confidence in their everyday lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The very unique thing about Colorado, is that it all depends on the season and what my friend may be into. I mean, we have a large variety of excellent 5 start restaurants, some absolutely great hole in the wall places and breweries. We also have wineries to the west that compliment just about anyone’s tastes. We have beautiful mountain, camping, fishing and just about anything outdoor that you can think of. Whether you want to climb a 14’er or go to some hot springs and relax or maybe white water rafting or zip-lining for the day. We have it all in this state and most of all within a short drive. Regardless of how long a trip they have, we will have plenty to do and keep them highly entertained.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would say that my family and my friends were the biggest influence and support for my decision to take a leap into my own venture. They had taken may classes and referred me to their friends and family and felt I needed to start spreading my speaking ability and ability to transform people and their mentality with my teachings. My wife and my kids are have been the ones who along with me have made the sacrifices, good and bad. Together it gives me the motivation to move forward. I also have a close friend B. Bettger who saw the potential and helped invest in what we are doing and has helped in many aspects of trying to grow the business.

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