Purposeful Transformation
Paul Sharp is a retired police officer, lifelong martial artist, tactician, and coach whose life’s work has been forged at the intersection of combat sports, weapons-based training, and personal transformation.
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Chris Haueter—one of the legendary “American Dirty Dozen”—Paul has spent decades mastering and teaching grappling as both a sport and a survival skill. He is also recognized as a black belt in Matt Larsen’s military combatives program, the foundation of the current U.S. Army Combatives System. His experience extends beyond the mats into Filipino Martial Arts, Jeet Kune Do concepts, Mixed Martial Arts, and professional competition in both MMA and boxing—giving him a rare depth of knowledge grounded in real-world application.
Paul’s career in law enforcement spans over twenty years, serving in roles including patrol, SWAT, undercover narcotics and vice, resident officer, neighborhood officer, chaplaincy, and as a lead instructor in defensive tactics and firearms. He spent nearly two decades as the lead pistol instructor for his agency and later served as a lead firearms and combatives instructor at The Site Tactical Training Center in Mount Carroll, Illinois.
As the co-founder of the ISR Matrix, one of North America’s premier law enforcement defensive tactics systems, Paul has helped shape the way officers and civilians alike train for violence, uncertainty, and high-stakes decision-making. He is a Rangemaster-certified instructor, recognized as an instructor in the DR Middlebrooks Fist-Fire Shooting System, and endorsed within some of the most trusted training circles in the country.
Beyond credentials, Paul is known as a gifted teacher and storyteller—able to translate hard-earned lessons into unforgettable insights that entertain, challenge, and inspire. His work has been featured in national and international publications for developing a systematic approach to integrating MMA and combative sports into a weapons-based environment.
Since 1999, Paul has owned and operated a martial arts and fitness gym, building communities rooted in discipline, growth, and brotherhood. From 2021 to 2025, he served as Program Director of SBG Idaho, one of the largest Straight Blast Gym academies in the world, leading nearly 700 members in training and development.
Today, Paul brings the full weight of his experience into a new mission: helping others build an unbreakable life. Through his book Refuse to Die, Paul now serves as a life coach and mentor, guiding individuals to develop resilience, purpose, and an indomitable will in the arena of everyday life.
Unlock Your Potential with Paul's Coaching
Focus
Coaching
Coaching
His programs focus on leadership under pressure, mindset development, communication, resilience, personal transformation, and practical self-defense—helping individuals and organizations build strength, clarity, and confidence in both life and work.
Speaking
Coaching
Speaking
He is also available for seminars, corporate team-building experiences, and keynote speaking engagements at industry conferences and professional events.