MARBLEHEAD — As the new year enters its first few days, the world continues to unfold in unpredictable ways. With that, expect the unexpected by taking emergency preparedness classes with Calm in Chaos.
What began a few years ago as a couple of classes for the community quickly grew into a wide range of courses covering topics from women’s self-defense to firearm education and training.
Founder Matt Christensen is a former U.S. Army veteran and a firefighter/EMT who currently serves as director of EMS for the Fire Department. Christensen also has a background in boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, with further certifications as an instructor and is a firearm expert. In all, he has more than a decade of experience.
Christensen decided to share his knowledge, experience, and expertise with the community to ensure that residents can be safe in any emergency that may occur.
“The goal of the company is to teach the everyday person how to be their own first responder,” Christensen said. He added that the world has seen a lot of ugly things lately, which haven’t been getting better. Therefore, he stressed, it’s important to know how to protect yourself in any situation.
Setting his course apart from others in emergency preparedness, Christensen offers a presentation component. He said that many self-defense courses simply teach the tactics and moves that should be used without explaining what to look out for or anticipate.
The Calm and Chaos courses, alongside displaying self-defense techniques, provide participants with thorough explanations on how to spot someone who may be armed or what to look out for when returning to their vehicle late at night. While knowing what to do in a situation of being detained is important, knowing what signs to look out for could prevent a situation from occurring, Christensen said.
One of the most popular classes Calm in Chaos holds is the firearm class — one that Christensen says is necessary before one can obtain a firearms license.
“A couple of times it’s sold out, and I typically teach them on Saturdays,” Christensen said. “But [I] had to open up Sundays a couple of times last year.”
Opening up the new year, Christensen hopes he can reach even more people so that Calm in Chaos can continue spreading the knowledge in hopes of saving a life someday.
The first announced courses include a trauma first aid course, an introduction to modern shooting, a basic firearm safety course, firearm cleaning, and women’s self-defense and awareness.
The trauma first aid course has two dates, Feb. 8 and Mar. 22, and the intro to modern shooting will have four sessions beginning on Tuesday, Mar. 7. The basic firearm safety courses and firearm cleaning courses will be taught on Jan. 25, Feb. 16, and Mar. 15. Lastly, the women’s self-defense and awareness courses will be held Jan. 22 and Feb. 19.
On top of the already scheduled courses, Christensen also offers at-home private training sessions for groups of five or more.
More information can be found on the Calm in Chaos website, calminchaosllc.com.