Our People
John Lanier
John Lanier is the founder and lead instructor at Invicta Strategic Solutions, LLC; he brings with him over 30 years of police experience that began as a military policeman in the U.S. Army before transitioning to civilian law enforcement. At Salisbury (NC) Police Department, where he retired and is still a reserve officer, he worked in patrol, was a member of the Special Reaction Team (SRT), supervisor of the Gang Unit, the Vice/Narcotics Unit, and the Street Crimes Unit before being promoted to lieutenant; in his last position before retirement, he was assigned as a Patrol Team Commander.
John received his Master’s Degree in Justice Studies from Fort Hays State University in Kansas, and he is certified by the State of N.C. as a Law Enforcement General Instructor, a Specialized Physical Fitness Instructor, and a Specialized Explosives/Hazardous Materials Instructor; he has extensive experience teaching both basic law enforcement training and law enforcement in-service classes. Additionally, he teaches self-defense and situational awareness courses for civilians and organizations.
John earned his black belt in Chayon Ryu Martial Arts from Grandmaster Kim Soo in Houston, Texas and is certified by the International Chayon Ryu Martial Arts Association to teach Karate, Taekwondo, Kung-Fu, Hapkido and Bong-Sul.
David Mitchell
Master David L. Mitchell began his martial arts training as a twelve-year-old in Salisbury, NC. After receiving his black belt at the age of 19, he moved to Brownsville, Texas later that year, he introduced the martial art of Chang Moo Kwan, to the Rio Grande Valley. This was the first time martial arts, of any style, had been taught in this region of America. In 1971, he began teaching at Texas Southmost College, now a branch of University of Texas.
In 1973, Master Mitchell enrolled at the University of Houston to obtain his Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education. Along with obtaining his education, a major reason for his relocation to Houston was to meet and train with a renowned martial artist and educator, Grandmaster Kim Pyung Soo. Grandmaster Kim accepted Mr. Mitchell in his school as a Black Belt, as they had both originally studied in the Chang Moo Kwan system previously. For the next seven years, Mr. Mitchell trained hard; directly under the leadership of Grandmaster Kim.
In 1981 Master Mitchell returned home to North Carolina and obtained a Master’s Degree in Education from Catawba College in Salisbury N.C. and in 1984, became an adjunct professor at Catawba College teaching Chayon Ryu martial arts/self-defense to the college students. On December 4, 1993, Grandmaster Kim promoted Mr. Mitchell to the level of Master, fifth Dan Black Belt. Master Mitchell received his 8th Dan Black Belt in June 2011 in Korea and later that year, Master Mitchell began teaching members of the Salisbury Police Department’s Police Interdiction Team (PIT) in unarmed self-defense, knife defense and firearm defense techniques.
Over his career, Master Mitchell, has educated over 750 students, 25 Black Belt students, including two Masters, a specialized police unit, and countless other police officers, in various basic and advanced martial arts techniques.
