About Your Instructors
OUR STORY
Nice to Meet You!
Rob and Beth Andress are the operators of Street Safe Self Defence. After training in martial arts and jiu jitsu together, one of them experienced an interaction that left them less than confident in their training and ability to defend against an attack. This set Rob on a journey to discover and develop training in the truest form of self defence – a critical life skill that everyone should have the opportunity to learn. Understanding violence and predatorial behaviour, how the human body reacts in fear or under threat, and the awareness and mindset required to be able to fight for your life have all been key to the foundation of our programs. Coupling this with easy to learn and remember physical skills that work for everyone (regardless of size, stature, or physical ability) provides training sessions that are reality based and address your ‘what if’ questions and scenarios.
Our professional training team has been chosen and developed with a passion for perfection, and we are pleased to introduce you to each of our Street Safe Self Defence instructors!
Instructor Bios
OUR Background
Read about our individual stories and discover the story behind our
passion for educating people about self defence and violence prevention!
Rob Andress
While he comes from a background of extensive martial arts, competitive kickboxing, and combative training, he won’t teach you any of that. Through his own life experiences and deep understanding of social and anti-social violence, Rob knows there is a better way to train, educate and provide people with a foundation to help live a safer life, and a more effective way to protect yourself.
Rob is certified in Violence Prevention and Self Defence, as well as Pure and Applied debilitation tactics. He is designated as an Advanced Practitioner in Situational Awareness and has trained with internationally renowned experts in both the psychology of violence and effective physical self-defence techniques.
Rob is also a trained facilitator with the A.L.I.V.E program, and provides active threat survival training to educators and corporate clients, as well as being certified through The Center For Trauma Informed Practices in Family Dynamics, Trauma Response and Foundations in Threat Assessment.
Rob is also a trained facilitator with the A.L.I.V.E program, and provides active threat survival training to educators and corporate clients, as well as being certified through The Center For Trauma Informed Practices in Family Dynamics, Trauma Response and Foundations in Threat Assessment.
Rob Andress
Rob teaches and trains the most vulnerable members of our society ranging from high school students to seniors. His empathy and understanding of current societal challenges including gender based violence and socio-economic issues makes him a classroom favorite, and a sought-out expert for corporate training sessions.
BETH ANDRESS
Joining Rob in the Self Defence industry, Beth completed her training with a world renowned specialist, and received her Violence Prevention and Self Defence Certification . She then hung up her Gi, walked away from Martial Arts training, and never looked back. Educating on awareness and prevention became a passion, along with the instruction of easy to learn, effective techniques that work for everyone.
She is certified in Street Safe’s core curriculum, holds Advanced Practitioner status in Situational Awareness, and maintains a full-time career in law enforcement. Staying current with the trends and resources surrounding digital violence and human trafficking is an important part of what Beth brings to our Street Safe programs.
She is certified in Street Safe’s core curriculum, holds Advanced Practitioner status in Situational Awareness, and maintains a full-time career in law enforcement. Staying current with the trends and resources surrounding digital violence and human trafficking is an important part of what Beth brings to our Street Safe programs.
Beth Andress
While her smaller size and stature may not create the image of a typical self defence instructor, Beth has passionately delivered self defence and violence prevention classes to hundreds of high school students, families, women, men, realtors, travelers and corporate clients and is one of our most requested instructors.
Matija
Matija is a familiar face to the thousands of high school students and teachers that
he has trained and worked with, and he is often requested to return to the schools he teaches in. Matija is a Certified Street Safe Instructor and brings extensive experience in self defence and Violence Prevention Instruction to all his clients.
With over 20 years of training in several styles of both martial arts and street fighting, and a professional career in Personal Protection, Matija understands the importance of prevention, awareness, and skills that pre-empt the need for combative tactics in order to be safe.
Matija is certified with the Center For Trauma Informed Practices in Family Dynamics, Trauma Response and Foundations in Threat Assessment.
With over 20 years of training in several styles of both martial arts and street fighting, and a professional career in Personal Protection, Matija understands the importance of prevention, awareness, and skills that pre-empt the need for combative tactics in order to be safe.
Matija is certified with the Center For Trauma Informed Practices in Family Dynamics, Trauma Response and Foundations in Threat Assessment.
MATIJA
Matija’s ability to connect with today’s youth and his understanding of the issues they face in today’s society has made him one our leading Instructors. Matija takes great pride in helping students improve their self-confidence and encourages them to be stronger, healthier and successful in all aspects of their life.
MATT
Matt is a certified Street Safe Self Defence Instructor who comes to us with a background in the Canadian military, bringing a vast amount of real-life knowledge and experience with him. He understands violent encounters and experiences, as well as how the body functions under stress and in fight-or-flight situations. This makes Matt an instructor who understands that the physical components of a self defence program are secondary – he will remind you often that awareness and preparation are the first true steps to remaining safe.
His formal Ju-Jitsu training provides Matt with a great understanding of body movement and control, however it has taught him that education and training in violence prevention and self defence is truly different from martial arts.
His formal Ju-Jitsu training provides Matt with a great understanding of body movement and control, however it has taught him that education and training in violence prevention and self defence is truly different from martial arts.
MATT
Matt brings a level of personal interaction to his clients that’s exciting, fun and engaging. With all of his real-world experiences, Matt believes educating good people on how to be safe and protect themselves is the most purposeful work he has ever done, and his commitment is evident to everyone he works with.
Jass
As a certified Street Safe Instructor, Jass brings a level of knowledge and devotion to our team that we are fortunate to have within our complement.
He is an experienced personal protection specialist, a certified use of force instructor and a private sector operator - he has seen and experienced real-life violence at its worst. Jass has studied with some of the world’s leaders in reality self defence and violence prevention and is highly versed in multiple forms of effective combative tactics.
He holds a tremendous amount of empathy for those who have survived and experienced violence and the trauma it causes. Jass holds a certification through The Center For Trauma Informed Practices in Family Dynamics, Trauma Response and Foundations in Threat Assessment. His research, experience and empathy have brought him into the violence prevention and education industry as a true professional dedicated to helping others learn how to prevent, counter and survive violence.
He holds a tremendous amount of empathy for those who have survived and experienced violence and the trauma it causes. Jass holds a certification through The Center For Trauma Informed Practices in Family Dynamics, Trauma Response and Foundations in Threat Assessment. His research, experience and empathy have brought him into the violence prevention and education industry as a true professional dedicated to helping others learn how to prevent, counter and survive violence.
Jass
Jass strives to create a connection with his clients, and it’s through this connection that allows him to bring some of the world’s most realistic and effective training to you. He reminds us every day that complacency is not an option in this chosen field with his motto – Prevention is the key to your safety, and awareness is key to prevention!
NICK
Nick’s passion for the past 30 years has been training students in Karate. The experience he brings, having worked with both youth and adults is a true asset to Street Safe’s instructor list. While he currently holds a 5th Degree Black Belt and the title of Shihan, Nick is also a Street Safe Self Defence Certified Instructor who understands that the reality of true self defence involves much more than the physical skills.
With a clear understanding of the difference between sport training and reality violence and the ability to share that knowledge, Nick brings a high level of compassion to his instruction and an approachability that is welcoming to everyone he works with. Nick has developed a rapport with many of our clients, including teachers and students that often request his return to their classroom.
Nick has continued his education and understanding what the root cause of violence stems from. Recently completing a high value cetification from The Center For Trauma Informed Practices in Family Dynamics, Trauma Response and Foundations in Threat Assessment.
With a clear understanding of the difference between sport training and reality violence and the ability to share that knowledge, Nick brings a high level of compassion to his instruction and an approachability that is welcoming to everyone he works with. Nick has developed a rapport with many of our clients, including teachers and students that often request his return to their classroom.
Nick has continued his education and understanding what the root cause of violence stems from. Recently completing a high value cetification from The Center For Trauma Informed Practices in Family Dynamics, Trauma Response and Foundations in Threat Assessment.
Nick
Although we keep him busy, when Nick is not instructing he enjoys using his gift as a classical singer in Toronto and the GTA, as well as spending time with his wife and daughter.
TESTIMONIALS
Word on the street
Check out what some of our past clients have said about our programs!