Sisters man offers defense training

Folks in Sisters Country will "never be a victim" - not if Hunter Allen can help it.

Recently moved to Sisters Country, Allen is the proprietor of T.I.G. Tactical, where he offers private or group instruction in the Israeli self-defense method Krav Maga. Krav Maga translates from Hebrew as "contact combat"; it is a highly efficient, direct and realistic form of self-defense designed to be taught and absorbed quickly.

"Even basic practitioners can win a confrontation," Allen explains.

Allen says he spent three-and-a-half years developing his training syllabus, which is focused around defending against armed attackers. Most deadly encounters involve multiple and/or armed attackers, so "I teach people to defend against those specific threats," Allen says.

"You can definitely do it," is his message to prospective practitioners. "Anybody can. It's based on body science. You don't have to be big or strong or tough. You just have to react. And you have to know how to react. A little person can put a whole lot of hurt on a big guy."

Allen has been practicing martial arts since he was 11 years old. Adopted into a family situation he describes as abusive, martial arts and music were his saviors. A self-described "band geek," Allen was subject to bullying both at home and at school. Martial arts training helped him overcome that situation - and instilled in him a desire to help others protect themselves from bullies.

Through T.I.G. Tactical, Allen has taught in Florida, South Carolina, and Rhode Island.

"I offer private or group instruction, and I also offer instruction for companies," he said.

He is particularly interested in training school personnel and offers his services "free to any high school principal and vice principal; church minister; and any recent victim of crime."

Allen acknowledges that Central Oregon in general, and Sisters Country in particular, are perceived as safe environments - but he notes that bad things can happen anywhere, catching victims unawares and unprepared. He's seen it happen.

"They never thought it would happen to them; they damn sure didn't go looking for the trouble," he says. "And every one of them I've talked to wished they knew what to do to get out of it and they didn't."

In addition to his Krav Maga instruction practice, Allen is a contractor specializing in painting and decorative concrete among other skills, and he's currently getting his Oregon license. He's also a dedicated musician, a singer-songwriter in a genre he loosely refers to as "country-rock."

Music is as important to him as his self-defense practice.

"I was allowed very few pleasures (growing up)," he recalls. "I was allowed to do martial arts and I was allowed to play music ... so the many, many hours I spent alone in my room, I played. Music kept me alive."

Allen is a man of strong faith, though he says he is not religious in a conventional sense. T.I.G. stands for "trust in God."

"I have a great faith," he says.

Part of that faith is that anyone can learn to protect themselves from potentially deadly threats - and that he can help ensure that folks in Sisters Country will "never be a victim."

For more information on T.I.G. Tactical, visit http://www.tigtactical.com, email [email protected] or contact Allen by phone at 541-699-8378.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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