About this episode

Steven Chin discusses police defensive tactics and the mindset required to survive violence.

Most Cops Aren’t Ready to Go Hands-On — Steven Chin Explains Why Steven Chin has spent nearly three decades immersed in the world of combat, defensive tactics, firearms, and survival training—where failure can cost lives and preparation is everything. As the owner of Direct Action Training Inc., Steven provides specialized instruction in hand-to-hand combat, edged weapons, improvised tools, CQB firearm tactics, and defensive strategies to military personnel, law enforcement, private military contractors, and security professionals operating in high-risk environments. But this conversation goes far beyond training. Steven opens up about the mindset required to survive violence, the realities of operating on an elite SWAT and sniper team, and what separates performance on the range from performance under pressure. From competing in striking and grappling arts in both the U.S. and U.K. to training under world champions and legendary weapons instructors, Steven has built a career around mastering chaos. Currently serving with the Sheriff’s Office Tactical Training Unit, SWAT Team, and Sniper Team, Steven is responsible for developing and instructing training for officers who may face…

People in this episode

Guest: Steven Chin

Topics covered

• police training
• defensive tactics
• combat skills
• law enforcement
• survival training
• mindset in violence

Keywords

• defensive tactics
• combat training
• law enforcement
• SWAT
• survival skills
• hand-to-hand combat
• firearms training

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Direct Action Training Inc., Sheriff’s Office Tactical Training Unit, SWAT Team, Sniper Team, FLETC

More episodes of Beyond The Barrel Podcast

• Ep 61: Beyond the Badge: The Ugly Underneath with Carlos Rodriguez · May 22, 2026 · 1h 41m
• Ep 60: Building The Future Of Police Training and Culture with Badge Ops · May 15, 2026 · 1h 12m

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