Today we’d like to introduce you to Jared Wihongi.
Hi Jared, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Salt Lake City but raised in my father’s native New Zealand from the age of 1 to 18. My father is native Maori of New Zealand, and my mother is from Southeast Texas. Served an LDS mission from ’94-96 living in remote provincial areas. I learned to speak fluent Tagalog, and still speak to this day. I was also introduced to the Filipino Martial Arts which are a big part of my current career.
Studied at BYU Hawaii from ’96-99. Became a Deputy Sheriff (Salt Lake County) then Police Officer (SLCPD) in 2000. Graduated top of class (Blue Shirt Award.)
Attended SLCPD SWAT Selection in 2003 and completed top of class (Jim Cawley Award.) Started working SWAT. 2004 worked in the SLCPD Training Unit (Academy) where I became Chief Use of Force Instructor. Taught Defensive Tactics, Firearms and less-lethal weaponry. 2005 I was awarded a contract as Combatives Instructor (hand-to-hand combat) for the US Army 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Taught Combatives for their unit for 12 years, along with other military SOCOM contracts. During those years as a police and military combat instructor, I developed my own brand of CQC (Close Quarters Combat) that I call TRICOM (Triangle Combatives.) In 2005 I completed my Bachelor’s Degree (Bachelor of Science in Business, Major in Accounting) at the University of Phoenix. I did that mostly night school for 2 years while working as a Police Officer. My intent was to use my degree to apply for a Federal law enforcement agency, but the contract I got with the Army made me stick to my local police job. That side training business grew, and in 2008 I resigned from full-time police work to focus on my training business. Since 2008 I’ve been a Reserve SWAT Operator at South Salt Lake PD and Cottonwood Heights PD, and am currently a Reserve Special agent with the Utah AG’s Office special investigations division.
2005 taught my first international CQC course in the Philippines, then a year later in Germany. Over the past 20 years of taught all over the world (see my Bio for more details.) I teach seminars for Pekiti Tirsia Kali (a Filipino Martial Art) and my TRICOM system. My companies have continue to grow, and the past 7 years I’ve put a lot of emphasis into online training programs. My training business provides the best police Public Order training program in the country, thanks to one of my business partners. In 2020 we opened a police supply company specializing in riot equipment, that goes hand-in-hand with our Public Order training programs.
In 2010 I met my now wife in Manila, Philippines. She’s originally from Sao Paulo Brazil. We’ve since spent a lot of time in Brazil, and I’ve learned to speak fluent Portuguese. I teach police and civilian self-defense and firearms courses yearly in Brazil.
For more details on clients etc., I’ll send you my updated Bio.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I went through a separation and subsequent divorce in 2006 that left me as a single father with full physical custody to a then 3 year old daughter. I was still a full-time police officer at that time. I was single for 4 years before remarrying. My 1st daughter lived with me her whole life, and I had 2 more with my current wife.
Without any formal training in how to run a business, leaving the security of a government police job in 2008 had it’s challenges. Especially considering the economic recession the country went through at that time. I struggled to survive financially, but eventually things swung around due to a lot of hard work and perseverance. I learned the value of honesty, hard work and ethics in business, which effects your reputation and credibility. This in turn results in a strong network, which was especially important to business growth in those early pre-social media years of my business.
Later, learning to scale a training business was an important nut to crack. Prior to having online training programs, I spent most of the year on the road teaching seminars.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think I’ve answered much of this in the prior area along with the Bio I’ll send you, but here’s a synopsis.
I provide world-class self-defense and martial arts training. This includes traditional Filipino martial arts (Pekiti Tirsia Kali) and empty-hand, contact weapons (batons and knives) and firearms. My programs were developed originally for police officers and military Special Operations, but were modified to be relevant to civilian self-defense enthusiasts. My programs are available online through two separate platforms dedicated to practical self-defense and martial arts.
My programs were developed from 4 decades of martial arts training, coupled with almost 25 years of police and SWAT experience, 3 years of experience as a nightclub bouncer, and 20 years teaching military Special Operations units around the world. This combination sets my programs apart from others.
Brand wise, I’m most proud of the system I developed (TRICOM) but equally proud to be the only person promoted to the rank of Grand Tuhon (Grandmaster) in my primary martial art discipline, Pekiti Tirsia Kali.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
That much of my professional career (shaped in large part by my expertise in Filipino Martial Arts) was due to me having bent sent to the Philippines as a missionary 31 years ago. Being in the Philippines exposed me to the Filipino Martial Arts which later became a passion and then career.
Many people don’t know I speak 3 languages fluently, and can communicate in 4 more.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tricomtraining.com / www.pekiti.university / www.jaredwihongi.com / www.teampekiti.com / www.survivaledgetactical.com / www.publicordersolutions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaredwihongi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jared.wihongi
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wihongi/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficerJared
