Thomas Sipin started training in the Filipino Martial Arts when he was about 3 1/2 years old, with his father Isidro Sipin. After spending time with Mr. Mr.
This is the information page, containing the background, purpose, past and future events of the "Hardened Target" Personal Protection Systems, "Tom Sipin's Training Solutions" and Four Winds Martial Arts After earning his Black Belt in Traditional Taekwondo he started managing several schools in 1972. He left those schools in the mid 1970's, starting Four Winds Martial Arts with the idea of combin
ing the Filipino weapons with TKD. Gathering several other Instructors that had been managing or teaching in other schools and systems- including Black Belts in Judo, Kung Fu, Karate and students experienced in Collegiate Wrestling and Boxing, they started cross-training together, long before "mixed martial arts" was acceptable. Starting side-jobs in security and as a "bouncer", he learned that there was a big difference between success in the school and competition, and what worked against "non-compliant" and combatitive subjects. Several Police Officer students perked Mr. Sipin's interest in becoming a Police Officer. While in recruit school, he was "recruited" to become a Defensive Tactics Instructor, at a time when Policies, Procedures, Training and Legal Standards were becoming more important, and LE curriculum was quickly becoming more standardized. This in turn opened up whole new areas regarding the use of force, and training within the law. In the early 1980's, hearing about Doce Pares Eskrima, Mr. Sipin invited Dionisio Canete to Milwaukee. Sipin's father and conducting his first seminar at Four Winds, Canete stated the Four Winds students were as- or more advanced than any Eskrima group he had been working with in the U.S. Sipin went on to become one of the three prominent figures in D.P. Eskrima in the U.S., as well as a founding member of the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation. In 2003 GM Canete stated in an interview in "Filipino Martial Arts" magazine, "His students are one of the best groups in the whole world in terms of their skill, discipline and knowledge. They have cultivated a very strong environment of friendship and brotherhood". Continuing with all of the above: experience and training in the LE / Security field, the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) and Personal Protection have provided the basis for a philosophy and system that Mr. Sipin has taught to Instructors, Civilians, Military, Law Enforcement, Security Officers in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The “Hardened Target Personal Protection System” is based on your legal rights, and your duty and responsibility to yourself and your family. The “HT” instructional template is based on methods that have proven effective in teaching officer survival. It makes use of a persons’ natural response to stress, body mechanics, and power development and most importantly, the techniques and tactics are limited to what is easy to learn, retain, and effectively perform by the average person under stress, and under the conditions they’re likely to be used. Unarmed striking, ground tactics, O.C. (pepper spray) impact, edged, and improvised weapons along with basic firearms training and tactics are all part of the “Hardened Target” curriculum. "Training Solutions" started as a concept in 1980 when Mr. Sipin was first accepted and certified as an Instructor for Police and Security Officers by the "Justice System Training Association", then the premier organization for training in the U.S. The Director was Dr. Kevin Parsons (CEO of A.S.P.), who was also responsible for developing Wisconsin's statewide training standards - one of the country's first. Starting in 1979 when Mr. Sipin became a LEO, realizing that using force for Defense / Protection, Control and Apprehension under strict laws, standards, policies and procedures and with increasing options and equipment (both as a benefit and a hinderance) he started attending advanced tactics and instructor training that was available. With previous and continuing ("moonlighting) experience with "hands-on" private security and crowd control, added to Police Patrol in a cruiser, on foot, a boat and a bike - as a Training Officer, SWAT team member and Rangemaster - on the street, checking policies and procedures, testifying in depositions before commissions and in court - from first aid through deadly force - that experience is passed on in our programs.
05/02/2026
Bono Academy has been my "Happy Place" to teach since 2008. FMA, Hardened Target, LEO/Security training from Control Tactics through Baton to Fi****ms and Instructor training. More importantly, the people. So much more than friends. Roberto and Loretta, Deborah and Luca, families, students, and the home of many of our Instructors in Italy. And of course - Numero Uno Pizza.
Lascia un ❤️ se ti è piaciuto 😉 e CONDIVIDILO con i tuoi AMICI! ✅
02/10/2026
Our HT/TS Director in Italy, Andrea Citarelli , from 2013(?) in Frosinone. People there were just beginning to be able to actually own and practice with real fi****ms. (with Many, restrictions)
Handgun & Knife Defense, by Andrea Citarelli
Breve sequenza fotografica del corso intensivo sull'uso difensivo dell'arma da fuoco e difesa da coltello, tenuto dal M° Andrea Citarelli nel 2013 a Frosinon...
01/10/2026
"Training is a choice
Training is a method
and,
A Responsibility"
12/07/2025
Years ago, we met the owners of Feathers & Fur Animal Rescue/Sanctuary in Kewaskum. They had many animals from Ducks to Horses. Their main emphasis was Dogs and Cats. This included many that had been abused, injured, or needing special attention. They're good people, work extremely hard, and due their best to keep helping as many animals as they can.
Every year, we collect donations for them at Four Winds MA. This includes items that are used but in good condition- towels, blankets, toys, food, and of course other donations. They also have a gofund me page, and an account with Amazon.
Items can be dropped of at our business in West Allis for delivery on Christmas Eve.
Four Winds Martial Arts
2038 S 114 ST
West Allis, WI
414-541-3656
11/21/2025
Recently several of our HT/TS Instructors in Italy completed an Instructor Course (AIC) with one of the more respected International Police and Security training organizations, Armament Systems and Procedures.
Congratulations to Cristiano Sessi, Michele Montelatici, Alessandro Santamaria, Deborah Carravieri, Luca Trovato, and our HT/TS Italy Director Andrea Citarelli.
11/11/2025
A "Slightly Modified" thought from "Karate Viewpoints"
10/08/2025
Deborah Carravieri is one of our HT/TS Sr Instructors along with Luca Trovato, and Alessandro Santamaria at Bono Academy in Milano, Italy. (We're proud to have many HT and TS Instructors at Bono Academy) They are also Sr Instructors of Difesa Donna - Per una donna più consapevole e più libera, one of the first Womens' Self Defense programs in Italy under founder Roberto Bonomelli, owner of Bono Academy. Many (if not most) of our HT Instructors in Italy are also Difesa Donna Instructors. Among other things, with both programs teaching "If there is a need, there must be the ability". With us, meaning with any and all available "tools".
One of those tools is O.C. [Pepper Spray]. Deborah, Luca, Roberto, and many of our other Instructors were in the first group we trained in the use of pepper spray almost 20 years ago. Regular students need to be able to use pepper spray for their protection, but instructors need to be more familiar in order to teach it's use. Much more familiar. You might say they need a "burning desire" to continue training. This photo was from Deborah and Luca's (and Director Andrea Citarelli's) 3rd or 4th recertification. (see photo in comments below)
Dedication to professionalism.
(and to keep a little "spice" in your life)
08/26/2025
Andrea Citarelli at SCUDO Academy of Self Protection and Martial Arts. Leading our HT and TS Instructors in Italy.
Many teach "Basic Self-Defense", against wrist grabs, pushing etc...
If the threat isn't that dangerous, and you fail...
You'll have time to train harder for next time.
Train for the Most dangerous First. If you fail that...
Never mind. It's too late.
Hardened Target - Teaching and Training Good People to be more effectively violent.
03/04/2025
CCW Permit and Training Course: Sunday 3/9
Hardened Target Personal Protection : Monday, 3/10
Fi****ms - Shoot/No Shoot Training: Tuesday, 3/11
Hardened Target Edged Weapons: Wednesday, 3/19
02/28/2025
Next Sunday: March 9th (Event Details Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/660970146356635
When you walk out the door after a class, It won't be about what you watched and heard. It's about what you can do.
Everything in this video is what You will Do in this class.
Buying a guitar won't make you a musician. You need to learn and practice to develop the skills to play it.
Buying a firearm doesn't give you the knowledge or physical skills to use it effectively in a deadly situation. https://www.facebook.com/HardenedTarget/videos/308357883651243
05/02/2026
02/10/2026
01/10/2026
12/07/2025
11/21/2025
11/11/2025
10/08/2025