Responsible Firearm Owners
Not just the next step in owning a firearm, but a path.James Sterling, Founder
James Sterling has a background consisting of Martial Arts, Military, Law Enforcement, Personal Protection, Loss Prevention, and Security.
Mr. Sterling began his study in the Martial Arts at the age of 13 in Judo and Ju jitsu. He later entered service in the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division, 2-14 (LI), and began his study of Aikido in 1992. After discharge from service, and beginning his study of Aikido, Mr. Sterling joined The Alliance of Guardian Angels, Chapter 29 in Phoenix, Arizona. There he led the chapter, and trained the members in Aikido. During a brief stay in California, in 1994 Mr. Sterling formed the Hei Ki (Universal Energy) Aikido Club in Victorville, California.
After returning to Arizona and Desert Wind Aikido, he joined the State of Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, graduating in the top of his class, and later Department of Corrections, again graduating in the top of his class, where he became a TSU (Tactical Support Unit) team member. In 2000 Mr. Sterling relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada with the State of Nevada Department of Prisons, and in April of 2001 opened Desert Wind Aikido Las Vegas.
Mr. Sterling has worked with state, and federally contracted agencies, as well as security in the nightclub and casino industries, being assigned to special details and personal escort to high profile figures such as General Norman Schwarzkopf, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. He has conducted many charitable classes for organizations such as Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Southern Nevada, Nevada Children's Center, Clark County Parks & Recreation Rec Trek program, and has also conducted self-defense and awareness classes for local government agencies, and private organizations both in Arizona and Nevada.
Mr. Sterling has been employed as a Police Officer with the Department Of Defense Force Protection Unit and has conducted Defensive Tactics classes for DOD Officers and U.S. Navy Training Cadre, FTO's, Border Patrol and US Customs agents.
In 2006 Mr. Sterling conducted personal protection missions as a PSD (Personal Security Detail) Operator in Iraq for high ranking U.S. military personnel, as well as civilian personnel key to the building of the Iraq infrastructure.
Currently Mr. Sterling is a Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) with the Aikido World Headquarters in Japan, and owner/chief instructor of Desert Wind Martial Arts and Responsible Firearm Owners in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Sterling volunteers conducting defensive tactics training for the Las Vegas Chapter of the Guardian Angels, as well as women's self-defense classes for our community.
