Sammy Franco is the founder and creator of Contemporary Fighting Arts (CFA), one of the first original reality based self-defense systems specifically designed for real world self defense. Contemporary Fighting Arts is a sophisticated and practical system of self-defense, designed specifically to provide efficient and effective methods to avoid, defuse, confront, and neutralize both armed and unarmed attackers.
Sammy Franco is one of the original pioneers of reality based self-defense and also one of most recognized authorities on both armed and unarmed combat. Highly regarded as a leading innovator in self defense, Sammy Franco was one of the premier pioneers in the field of hand to hand combat. Convinced of the limited usefulness of most martial arts in real street combat, Mr. Franco believes in the theory that the best way to change traditional thinking is to make antiquated ideas obsolete through superior methodology. Sammy Franco has instructed thousands of students in his career. His innovative ideas have made a significant contribution to changing the thinking of many in the field about how people can best defend themselves against vicious and formidable street criminals.
Analytical Street Fighting:
After studying various martial arts and related disciplines and acquiring extensive firsthand experience from real street fighting, Mr. Franco developed his first system, known as “Analytical Street Fighting”. This unique self defense system, which was one of the first practical “street fighting” martial arts, employed an unrestrained reality based self defense training methodology known as simulated street fighting. Analytical Street Fighting served as the foundation for the fundamental principles of Contemporary Fighting Arts and Mr. Franco’s unique teaching methodology.
Early Video Production:
Sammy Franco was invited by Panther Productions to star in a series of instructional self defense videos. Mr. Franco appeared in a four tapes series that was produced and distributed exclusively by Panther Productions. These four videos included:
- Contemporary Fighting Arts: Fundamental Techniques
- Contemporary Fighting Arts: Kicks, Punches And Conditioning
- Contemporary Fighting Arts: Grappling And Defensive Street Fighting
- Contemporary Fighting Arts: Street Self Defense Techniques
Media & National TV Appearances:
Sammy Franco has frequently been featured as an expert self-defense consultant in the Washington Post and the Washington Times newspapers and appeared on radio and television programs, including the CBS television news magazine 48 HOURS (TV series) with Dan Rather as well as the Montel Williams Show.
Mr. Franco is also frequently featured on numerous Washington DC’s top news stations including: News Channel 8, NBC 4 News, Channel 7 News, Channel 9 News, and Fox 5 Morning News.
Magazine Publications:
Mr.Franco has regularly authored self-defense articles for national martial arts and self-defense magazines. Including Black Belt magazine, Inside Karate, Inside Kung-Fu and several other national publications.
Book Publications:
Mr. Franco has authored 50+ books, tackling provocative topics like self-defense, crime awareness and avoidance, street fighting, fitness and conditioning, and combat psychology. In fact, his first book, Street Lethal: Unarmed Urban Combat, released by renegade publisher Paladin Press, was one of the first books ever published on the uncharted genre of reality based self-defense (RBSD). Some of Mr. Franco’s book titles include:
- Boxing Domination: A 21-Day Program to Psych-Out, Confuse, Frustrate, and Beat Your Opponent in Boxing and MMA
- Power Boxing Workout Secrets
- Speed Boxing Secrets: A 21-Day Program to Hitting Faster and Reacting Quicker in Boxing and Martial Arts
- Knife Fighting: A Step-by-Step Guide to Practical Knife Fighting for Self-Defense
- The 10 Best Knife Fighting Techniques: Deadly Knife Fighting Techniques for the Street
- The 10 Best Power Punches: For Boxing, Martial Arts, MMA and Self-Defense
- The 10 Best Mental Toughness Exercises
- The 10 Best Ways to Defeat Multiple Attackers
- The 10 Best Ways to Develop Your Killer Instinct: Powerful Exercises That Will Unleash Your Inner Beast
- The 10 Best Bar Fighting Moves: Down and Dirty Fighting Techniques to Save Your Ass When Things Get Ugly
- The 10 Best Sucker Punch Tricks
- Survival Weapons: A User’s Guide to the Best Self-Defense Weapons for Any Dangerous Situation
- Knockout: The Ultimate Guide to Sucker Punching
- The 10 Best Kicking Techniques
- The 10 Best Stick Fighting Techniques
- Cane Fighting: The Authoritative Guide to Using the Cane or Walking Stick for Self-Defense
- The Heavy Bag Bible: 3 Best-Selling Heavy Bag Books In One Massive Collection
- Double End Bag Workout: For Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Self-Defense
- The 10 Best Things To Do When Held At Gunpoint (The 10 Best Series Book #1)
- The 10 Best Ways To Defeat Multiple Attackers (The 10 Best Series Book #2)
- The 10 Best Things To Do During a Mass Shooting (The 10 Best Series Book #3)
- The 10 Best Stick Fighting Techniques (The 10 Best Series Book #4)
- Bruce Lee’s 5 Methods of Attack
- The Widow Maker Compendium (Books 1-3)
- Heavy Bag Workout
- Heavy Bag Combinations
- Invincible: Mental Toughness Techniques for the Street, Battlefield and Playing Field
- Unleash Hell
- Feral Fighting
- Savage Street Fighting
- Stand and Deliver
- The Widow Maker Program
- Maximum Damage
- Kubotan Power
- The Complete Body Opponent Bag Book
- Self-Defense Tips & Tricks
- Heavy Bag Training: Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts & Self-Defense
- Out of the Cage: A Complete Guide to Beating a Mixed Martial Artist on the Street
- Gun Safety: For Home Defense and Concealed Carry
- Warrior Wisdom: Inspiring Ideas from the World’s Greatest Warriors
- Ground War: How to Destroy a Grappler in a Street Fight
- War Craft: Street Fighting Tactics of the War Machine
- War Machine: How to Transform Yourself into a Vicious and Deadly Street Fighter
- The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall: How to Defeat a Larger & Stronger Adversary in a Street Fight
- First Strike Book: Mastering the Preemptive Strike for Street Combat
- 1001 Street Fighting Secrets: The Principles of Contemporary Fighting Arts
- When Seconds Count: Everyone Guide to Self Defense
- Killer Instinct: Unarmed Combat for Street Survival
- Street Lethal: Unarmed Urban Combat
DVD/Video Production:
Mr. Franco has also written and produced his own library of instructional video and dvds. Some of his titles include:
- Combat Energy Drills
- Punching Mitts: Drills & Workout Routines
- Judge, Jury & Executioner
- Pepper Spray: A Video Guide to Using Pepper Spray for Self Defense
- Pressure Points: The Science of Striking Vital Targets
- Sparring: Tips: Tips, Tactics & Techniques to Dominate Your Opponent
- Kubotans & Yawaras: A Quick & Dirty Guide
- Submission Fighting for the Street (Volume 1)
- Submission Fighting for the Street (Volume 2)
- Submission Fighting for the Street (Volume 3)
- Medicine Ball Workout (Volume 1)
- Medicine Ball Workout (Volume 2)
- Double End Bag Training
- Heavy Bag Training
- Power Punching
- Speed Training for Street Fighting (Volume 1): Visual Reflexes
- Speed Training for Street Fighting (Volume 2): Tactile Reflexes
- Speed Training for Street Fighting (Volume 3): Recognition & Auditory Reflexes
- Speed Training for Street Fighting (Volume 4): Movement Speed
- Wrist Locks For The Street (Volume 1)
- Wrist Locks For The Street (Volume 2)
- Choke Out
- Body Opponent Bag Training
- War Machine II
- Sneak Peek
- Armed to the Teeth (Volume 1)
- Armed to the Teeth (Volume 2)
- Defend or Die
- Escape Master
- In Your Face
- Engage With Rage
- First Strike
- Ground Fighting in The Streets
- Batter Up
- Under The Gun
- Street Stick Fighting
- Use It or Lose It
- Rat Packed
- Ground Pounders
- Control & Conquer (Volume 1)
- Control & Conquer (Volume 2)
- Savage Street Fighting: Tactical Savagery As A Last Resort
- The WidowMaker Program: Maximum Punishment for Extreme Situations
- Feral Fighting Program: Level 2 WidowMaker
- War Blade Program: A Complete Guide to Tactical Knife Fighting
Audio Book Production:
- The Street Fighting Minute
- War Machine CD Box Set (Audio Book)
- Punching: Tips, Skills and Techniques
- Footwork: Drills and Exercises
Law Enforcement Instructor Certifications:
Sammy Franco’s experience and credibility in the field of reality based self-defense is impressive. One of his many accomplishments in the field includes the fact that he has earned the ranking of a Law Enforcement Master Instructor.
He has designed, implemented, and taught officer survival training to members of the US Secret Service, Military Special Forces, Washington DC Police Department, Montgomery County, Maryland Deputy Sheriffs, and the US Library of Congress Police. Visit our Law Enforcement Training Link to learn more about our programs.
Mr. Franco is a member of the prestigious International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET) and he is listed in the “Who’s Who Director of Law Enforcement Instructors.” He is also a certified law enforcement instructor from a variety of agencies including the National Law Enforcement Training Center. Mr. Franco is also a Nationally Certified Firearms instructor (both police and civilian) who specializes in firearm safety, personal protection, and combat pistol shooting. Mr. Franco offers certified LEO training in the following courses:
- Defensive Tactics Training
- Active Shooter Response Training
- Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint
- Knife Defense & Disarming
- Arrest and Control Procedures
- Wrist/Arm Control Escort System
- Ground Defense and Control
- PR-24 Side-Handle Baton Training
- Power Handcuffing
- Oleoresin Capsicum Aerosol Subject Control (OCAT)
- Handgun & Long Gun Retention/Disarming
- Use of Force Assessment and Response Methods
- Multiple Attacker Survival Training
- Officer Fitness and Develeopment
Sammy Franco also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a regularly featured speaker at a number of professional conferences, and conducts dynamic and enlightening seminars on numerous aspects of reality based self-defense.
Mr. Franco has instructed thousands of students in his career, including instruction on street fighting, grappling and ground fighting, close quarters combat, knife defense and knife fighting skills, multiple opponent survival skills, stick fighting skills and firearms training.
