About Us
Old Pueblo Defense was formed to provide Southern Arizona with the opportunity to obtain vital personal safety and self-defense training with a safe and practical approach.
We provide essential CPR and First Aid instruction, practical personal defense techniques—including the responsible use of less-than-lethal tools—and structured defensive firearms training. In addition to each of our Chief Instructors’ individual experiences, we have over 10 years instructing all of these topics together.
Our approach emphasizes realistic scenario-based training, enabling students to test their skills in safe, controlled, dynamic environments that strengthen judgment and preparedness.
Our diverse instruction experience enables us to adapt to each individual student’s learning style, ensuring that every student obtains the desired knowledge and skills in each course.
While our instructors have experience in training military personnel and government officers, Old Pueblo Defense was created for our local community. We provide training that will empower our community members to confidently and competently keep themselves and their loved ones safe. We welcome all skill levels and abilities, and we are committed to helping every individual become the best, most prepared, version of themselves.
Our courses are designed to complement each other and reinforce core concepts of personal safety and self-defense. Individually, each course provides essential skills and techniques that will enhance your personal safety readiness. However, individuals that take advantage of attending all course offerings can easily develop a solid, comprehensive, personal safety plan.
Meet the Instructors
Owner/Chief Firearms Instructor
Ross Hick
Ross Hick is a firearms instructor on the SW border, with 17 years of experience monitoring high-risk…
Owner/Chief Self-Defense Instructor
Francisco Llamas
Francisco Llamas is a criminal justice professional with over 15 years of experience in probation services,…
Owner/Manager
Christopher Hoyer
Chris began his self-defense instructor journey in 2002. While serving in the United States Marine Corps, Chris…
Ross Hick
Owner/Chief Firearms Instructor
Ross Hick is a firearms instructor on the SW border, with 17 years of experience monitoring high-risk convicted felons in the community. He has worked with specialized caseloads including gangs, domestic violence, and the seriously mentally ill, as well as sex offenders. He holds multiple firearms instructor certifications from the NRA, Active Response Training, Active Self Protection, and Rangemaster with extensive experience teaching use-of-force and concealed carry for law enforcement and private citizens. Over 5000 students have benefitted from his instruction and attained their Arizona CCW permits since 2006.
Francisco Llamas
Owner/Chief Self-Defense Instructor
Francisco Llamas is a criminal justice professional with over 15 years of experience in probation services, firearms instruction, and public safety leadership. He currently serves in a leadership role within Pima County Adult Probation, where he oversees safety and training programs that support more than 150 officers each year.
Francisco specializes in firearms instruction, defensive tactics, crisis management, and emergency response planning. He has successfully managed range operations with a strong focus on compliance, safety, and accountability. Known for his steady leadership and calm presence in high-pressure situations, he is committed to maintaining safe, secure environments for staff and the community.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Pre-Law from the University of Arizona and an Associate’s degree in Justice from Pima Community College. Francisco is certified in firearms instruction, Taser instruction, defensive tactics, search coordination, and First Aid/CPR.
His work is grounded in preparation, professionalism, and a deep commitment to public safety.
Christopher Hoyer
Owner/Manager
Chris began his self-defense instructor journey in 2002. While serving in the United States Marine Corps, Chris was “volun-told” to attend the Green Belt Martial Arts Instructor course in the recently formed Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). That experience would spark a lifelong passion for empowering others through self-defense instruction.
Since leaving active duty, Chris has spent 10 years working within the court system, where he was certified as an Instructor for Defensive Tactics and Firearms by the Arizona Supreme Court. While with the court system, Chris also served as a CPR/AED/First Aid instructor and a Crisis Management Skills Instructor. Chris has also spent over 10 years instructing healthcare workers in crisis intervention and self-defense programs.
While Chris enjoys his role in enhancing other’s personal safety readiness, he equally enjoys enhancing his own readiness by attending training from other industry experts. A lifelong learner, Chris constantly seeks training opportunities that will keep him at the highest level of readiness, learning skills and techniques he can then pass on to others.
Chris particularly enjoys the pursuit of finding the best method(s) to ensure each individual fully understands the necessary concepts and proficiently performs the physical skills.