Iron Sights

• AD #191 - Street Survival & Law Enforcement Reality With Cliff Byerly | 2025 Combatives Summit

  Welcome back to another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast. My guest today is Cliff Byerly — former U.S. Marine, LAPD Gang & Narcotics Officer, and founder of Hill Country Combatives.Cliff has spent decades immersed in high-risk environments — both in law enforcement and in training — and he’s one of those guys who brings a raw, unfiltered honesty to everything he does. I met Cliff out at the Combatives Summit 2025 in D’Iberville, Mississippi, and after missing the chance to sit down with him the year before, I wasn’t about to miss it again.In this episode, Cliff and I dig into his background, his time in the Marines and LAPD, and his mission with Hill Country Combatives — teaching realistic, force-on-force tactics to help law enforcement professionals survive high-stress encounters. We talk about training philosophy, mindset, and the hard truths about what it really takes to be effective in violent situations.Cliff doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He’s straightforward, opinionated, and deeply experienced. You’ll hear stories, lessons, and perspective from someone who’s lived it — both on the street and on the mat.If you’re into combatives, law enforcement training, or just honest conversations about performance and survival, this episode will hit home.Sit back and enjoy this After Dark conversation with my guest, Cliff Byerly of Hill Country Combatives.Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:17 Cliff’s Background08:04 LAPD Experience18:02 Law Enforcement Today28:41 Training Mindset38:60 Fitness & Growth46:45 Policing Evolution57:40 Grappling in Policing01:17:46 Lessons & Mindset01:29:29 Training Gaps01:47:15 Closing ThoughtsRed Dot Fitness Training Programs:rdfprograms.comOnline Membership (Full Access To All Programs & Virtual Coaching):https://www.reddotfitness.net/online-membershipVirtual Coaching:https://www.reddotfitness.net/virtual-coachingSelf-Guided Programs:https://www.reddotfitness.net/Self-Guided-Programs1Connect With Us:Website - https://ironsightspodcast.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ironsightspodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/

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• AD #190 - Surviving Real Violence With Jerry Wetzel Of Red Zone Threat Management Systems (RZTMS) | 2025 Combatives Summit

  Welcome back to another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast. My guest today is Jerry Wetzel, founder of Red Zone Threat Management Systems. Jerry’s a lifelong martial artist, gym owner, and educator whose mission is simple — to provide real training for real people to survive real violence.We sat down right after the Combatives Summit 2025 in Mississippi and got into everything from his philosophy on violence and self-defense to his experiences as a coach, business owner, and lifelong learner. In this conversation, we unpack the mindset and methodology behind Red Zone, the importance of realistic training, and how Jerry’s perspective is helping reshape how people think about personal protection. We also talk about his new journey into social media, why communication matters as much as combat skills, and how to stay grounded in a space that can often get weird or misunderstood.If you’re passionate about martial arts, combatives, or personal defense — or just want to hear from someone who’s constantly learning and evolving — you’ll get a lot from this one. Sit back and enjoy this After Dark episode with Jerry Wetzel of Red Zone Threat Management Systems.Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:32 Panel Challenges05:29 Jerry’s Background06:31 Evolution of Martial Arts12:47 Real-World Lessons16:46 Coaching & Self-Defense39:04 Coaches vs Instructors42:40 Gym Culture & Community51:06 Growth & Social Media01:05:07 Integrity & Openness01:24:03 Red Zone Program01:31:30 Instructor Development01:43:18 Combatives Community & ClosingRed Dot Fitness Training Programs:rdfprograms.comOnline Membership (Full Access To All Programs & Virtual Coaching):https://www.reddotfitness.net/online-membershipVirtual Coaching:https://www.reddotfitness.net/virtual-coachingSelf-Guided Programs:https://www.reddotfitness.net/Self-Guided-Programs1Connect With Us:Website - https://ironsightspodcast.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ironsightspodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/

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• #212 - Does Form Really Matter? | Training Smarter With The Red Dot Fitness Crew

  We’re back in the studio for another episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, and today we’re asking a question that every athlete and coach should think about: does form really matter?In this conversation, the crew digs into how our experiences as coaches shaped the way we look at movement, form, and performance. We talk about where our ideas came from, how they’ve evolved, and why what you think you know about perfect form might not tell the whole story. Some of what we cover might challenge what you believe — and that’s exactly the point.If you’re serious about training smarter, recovering better, and actually getting stronger, this one’s for you. And if you need guidance or coaching, reach out anytime at reddotfitness.net or rdftrainonline.com — we’re here to help you take the next step in your fitness journey.25% OFF! Red Dot Fitness Programs: rdfprograms.comFFA Program:  https://reddotfitness.net/fitforactionRed Dot Fitness Training Programs:rdfprograms.comOnline Membership (Full Access To All Programs & Virtual Coaching):https://www.reddotfitness.net/online-membershipVirtual Coaching:https://www.reddotfitness.net/virtual-coachingSelf-Guided Programs:https://www.reddotfitness.net/Self-Guided-Programs1(NEW) Iron Sights Podcast Website:ironsightspodcasts.comTimestamps:00:00 Intro03:48 Certifications & Experience09:00 Education Challenges16:44 Experience vs Textbooks33:22 Adaptive Techniques46:42 Corrective Exercise Myths56:20 Role of a Coach01:14:31 Effort vs RecoveryConnect With Us:Website - https://ironsightspodcast.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ironsightspodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/

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• AD #189 - Inside The 2025 Combatives Summit With John Valentine | 2025 Combatives Summit

  Welcome back to another After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast. My guest today is my good friend John Valentine, who officially holds the record for the most appearances on the After Dark series. John’s been part of the show since the early days — from his philosophy on combatives and coaching to his role in shaping the Combatives Summit into one of the most respected gatherings in the training community.In this conversation, we debrief the 2025 Combatives Summit, recorded just a day after John returned from the event. We talk about what went down on the mats, the lessons learned, and how collaboration—not competition—drives progress in the combatives world. John also shares updates on his journey as a BJJ black belt, match director, and instructor, diving deep into his process, growth, and approach to teaching. If you care about performance, mindset, and purpose in training, you’ll take a lot from this one.Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:51 Summit Recap06:13 Training Mindset10:49 Facing Fear18:17 Realistic Scenarios40:55 Instructor Highlights50:30 Personal Updates55:29 Continuous Learning01:07:50 Future PlansRed Dot Fitness Training Programs:rdfprograms.comOnline Membership (Full Access To All Programs & Virtual Coaching):https://www.reddotfitness.net/online-membershipVirtual Coaching:https://www.reddotfitness.net/virtual-coachingSelf-Guided Programs:https://www.reddotfitness.net/Self-Guided-Programs1Connect With Us:Website - https://ironsightspodcast.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ironsightspodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/

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• #211 - Building Smarter Athletes: Medley Training Explained

  Welcome back to another Iron Sights Podcast! I’m joined once again by the crew to dig into one of the most underrated tools in training — medleys. In this episode, we break down what medleys are, how to structure them, and the science behind why they’re so effective for building real-world strength and endurance. We’ll share practical examples for both gym and unconventional setups, plus tips to help you train smarter, not just harder. Whether you’re already using medleys or you’ve never tried one before, you’ll walk away with new insights to improve your performance, recovery, and overall capacity as an everyday athlete.25% OFF! Red Dot Fitness Programs: rdfprograms.comFFA Program:  https://reddotfitness.net/fitforactionRed Dot Fitness Training Programs:rdfprograms.comOnline Membership (Full Access To All Programs & Virtual Coaching):https://www.reddotfitness.net/online-membershipVirtual Coaching:https://www.reddotfitness.net/virtual-coachingSelf-Guided Programs:https://www.reddotfitness.net/Self-Guided-Programs1(NEW) Iron Sights Podcast Website:ironsightspodcasts.comTimestamps:00:00 Intro03:24 Intro to Capacity03:55 Medley Basics07:25 Safe Training21:20 Medleys vs Circuits43:36 Practical Examples52:42 Building Progress01:15:30 Key Benefits01:21:29 Wrap-UpConnect With Us:Website - https://ironsightspodcast.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ironsightspodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/

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