Welcome back to the Train 4 Trauma Combative Sciences (T4TCS) podcast! In this action-packed episode, we're diving deep into the incredible community collaborations and overwhelming gratitude we're feeling here at T4TCS.

We've been busy forging strong relationships and expanding our reach.

We're thrilled to announce our collaboration with Sifu/Kru Mark's and Kru Jakub's home training academy, Kombat Arts out of Mississauga! This partnership is bringing exciting opportunities for cross-training and shared learning.

Speaking of partnerships, our local friends at The Warrior Fight Store in Pickering are now offering a fantastic 10% in-store discount for T4TCS clients! Make sure to mention us when you visit and keep an eye out for our flyers and QR codes in-store for more #T4TCS info.

We also had the distinct pleasure of an amazing training night with the Royal Canadian Air Force 598 Sabre Squadron Air Cadets. A huge thank you to Captain Matt Slade for this incredible opportunity!

Mark your calendars! We're gearing up for our Module 2 Trauma Informed Women's Self Defence Seminar, coming up on May 31st. We're passionate about empowering women with these vital skills.

The training has been intense! Mark and his training coach/Sifu from Kombat Arts recently ran two very successful Knife Defence Seminars, equipping participants with crucial knowledge and skills. Additionally, Mark, alongside Rene Cocolo from the Dog Brothers, just wrapped up a highly successful stick fighting seminar. The energy and learning were fantastic!

We were also honoured that Eric Poirier was back for his third visit, as he led another incredibly engaging discussion about trauma-informed approaches with the students from Durham College's Postgraduate Mental Health and Addictions program. Our sincere thanks to Carl Legault for his continued support and invitations.

In exciting community news, T4TCS is now a proud sponsor and guest coach for the Ajax Spartans Baseball team! Thank you to Patrick Morrison for believing in our commitment to the community and for this wonderful opportunity.

Looking ahead, in less than two weeks, Eric will be a keynote speaker at the annual Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association conference, where he'll be discussing the vital connection between mental health and trauma-informed practices.

Meanwhile, Mark will be heading to Minneapolis with Joey from Kombat Arts to train with Todd Fossey and the IDS team for a full week. We're always striving to learn and bring the best knowledge back to our community.

And for those of you tuning in on YouTube, you're getting a special inside look at one of the co-founder's home dojo and podcast studio!

As you can see, things are incredibly busy and there's so much more on the horizon. Stay tuned for more updates!

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for believing in our passion, supporting our goals, and helping our communities thrive. We truly believe that success doesn't happen in a vacuum. It's the incredible help and support from our peers, coaches, brothers, sisters, friends, family, and clients that makes all of this possible. We are, and will forever be, deeply grateful!

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Ahead of his presentation at our May 7, 2025 conference, T4TCS co-founder Eric Poirier is interviewed by Jean Bota of The Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association. The speaking engagement abstract is provided below. While trauma-informed awareness is a valuable tool for addressing the root causes of crime, it's important to acknowledge that first responder activities remain essential for maintaining public safety. Trauma-informed approaches can complement traditional first responder strategies by providing a more holistic understanding of crime and its underlying factors. Key considerations for integrating trauma-informed awareness into first responder practices include: First Responder Training, De-escalation Techniques, Collaboration with Community Partners, Data-Driven/Intelligence Led Approaches and Community Engagement In this session Eric will speak about incorporating trauma-informed awareness into first responder practices, to create a more compassionate and effective approach to public safety that addresses both the immediate needs of crime prevention and the long-term well-being of individuals and communities. He will also discuss the components of Trauma-Informed Awareness as a holistic approach that recognizes the prevalence of trauma in individuals and communities and seeks to create environments that are safe, supportive, and responsive to the needs of those who have experienced trauma. Through this session, delegates will also be provided with the benefits of Trauma-Informed Awareness,& how Trauma-Informed Awareness plays a role in/ & is a crucial component of addressing the root causes of violent extremism, gangs, and organized crime. Eric will demonstrate to the delegates that by understanding and addressing the underlying trauma experiences of individuals, we can reduce the likelihood of their involvement in harmful behaviors. Delegates will also learn Trauma-informed approaches that will help individuals develop resilience, cope with difficult emotions, and build positive relationships, ultimately contributing to safer and more cohesive communities. Additionally, by fostering empathy, understanding, and collaboration, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment that reduces the appeal of extremist ideologies and criminal activities.