Lightning Defense Academy
Don’t Be a Victim
OUR MISSION
Equip people to protect themselves and others
BY PROVIDING
High Quality Training
We teach tested and proven methods for concealed carry, firearm fundamentals, and home defense. When your life is on the line, you'll have training you can rely on.
Affordable Supplies
We strive to provide the best products at the best prices. Our goal is to equip as many people as possible with quality supplies they can depend on at the best prices possible.
Community Support
Meet students and instructors that are willing to help you in your self-defense journey. Our classes encourage questions and learning no matter your current experience level.
HOW WE MEET OUR MISSION
We’re here to make our community a safer place. We do this by offering high quality training from certified instructors while remaining affordable and beginner friendly. Once trained, we help our students get the essential supplies they need for self-defense. This can include holsters, ammo, gun cleaning kits, emergency first-aid kits, pepper spray, and at-home training systems. We offer the best classes and products at the best prices to help you protect what matters most.
Whether you're a first time gun owner, never shot a firearm before, or have a lifetime of experience, you'll enjoy our classes and get value by attending. We’ve already trained hundreds of students with over 200 five-star reviews. Book your class today!
.jpg)
Meet The Owner
John Hernandez
OWNER / INSTRUCTOR
John, originally from communist Cuba, is a martial arts black belt and former top-10 US Karate Association competitor. After opening multiple karate schools in South Florida, he developed a passion for firearms and became a USCCA Certified Instructor. In June 2022, he opened Lightning Defense Academy to help those in the Crystal Lake and McHenry County area protect themselves and their loved ones.
Certified
USCCA
Instructor
Concealed
Carry
Instructor
Emergency
First Aid
Fundamentals
Women's
Handgun
Fundamentals
Range
Safety
Officer
Countering
The Mass
Shooter
Concealed
Carry
Counselor
Meet Your Instructors
Our Story
Growing up, John had a love for martial arts and self-defense. While living in Florida, he developed a love for firearms to accompany his martial arts background. In recent years, John and his son Ian have gone on to become certified USCCA Instructors to teach others about the importance of self-defense and how to be prepared for a life threatening situation.
Lightning Defense Academy was born in the basement of a humble Woodstock home. Since then we’ve grown from holding classes for friends and family to a storefront classroom with a fully stocked store, We take pride in the fact that we make our neighborhood and town a safer place. We’ve expanded our class offering to now include Concealed Carry, Home Defense, Emergency First-aid, Countering the Mass Shooter Threat, and more. We’re here to empower our students with the knowledge and experience it takes to protect themselves, their families, their businesses, their churches, and their community.
OUR GOAL IS TO
Train Students That Never Become Victims
We don't get to choose the time or place we encounter a life-threatening situation. They are completely unexpected which is why we need to be prepared ahead of time. By teaching concealed carry, self-defense, and emergency first-aid, we equip students to legally protect themselves at home, at work, at church, and while on the go. Our goal is to make our community a safer place and train as many people as possible with life saving techniques and experience.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS