We had the good fortune of connecting with Tarik Livingstone and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tarik, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for Livingstone Defensive Family Training by noticing the tremendous increase of firearms owners over the time of the pandemic nationwide. Also an increase of news reports informing us of children coming in contact with these firearms and harming themselves, each other, or the parent/guardian due to improper storage. As a father of two and a firearm instructor this really hit close to home. Since becoming a Basic Life Support and Stop The Bleed instructor, over the years I have become more aware of the long response times of first responders in our urban and rural areas as well as what that could mean to people that need help. These response times may be due to a number of factors like our first responders being understaffed and overworked. In a lot of urban areas they’re simply spread too thin. In the rural areas the people that need help may have trouble getting in contact with help due to cell phone reception. Another issue rural areas deal with is difficulty of access. The terrain coupled with the distance can definitely add to the time help arrives. I felt that families need the skills and tools to help keep themselves safe. They also need the skills and tools to help sustain life if or until when those responders arrive. I am a big fan of people watching, AKA situational awareness. What I have learned from my many years of observing my surroundings is that people are less aware of what is going on around them. The addition of the cell phone into our society can be a double edged sword. Everyday I see numerous people doing things with their head down pods in each ear participating in a sort of two sensory dulling that lowers their reaction time exponentially. The culmination of these observances coupled with my life skills is what brought about the idea of LDFT.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I feel that one of the main things that set us at LDFT apart from others who teach similar things, is that we offer a nearly complete defensive set of skills, tools, and principles geared specifically towards the family. We want to instill confidence in families so they don’t panic in the face of life’s obstacles because they know what they are capable of and can execute if/when the time presents itself. We work with all levels within the family dynamic. From beginners to advanced, because we all can learn something new even if we consider ourselves advanced. We work with all ages in the family, from the babies to the Grands. To name a few of our principles/lessons that we use to prepare families for trying events/times is: We teach principles like how to pack the day bag and fine tune it to the family. We teach the family what to do in case of various emergencies as well as how to plan and prepare beforehand. We teach survival skills in case they are stranded without roadside assistance. We teach families how to hunker down and/or get out before, during, or after certain natural disasters and civil unrest. One of the things that I have noticed is that oftentimes in our modern family dynamic is that if anyone in the family is prepared and defensive minded that it may be only 1 or 2 people. LDFT focuses on the whole family in the case that the family member with those skills is unavailable, the family’s survival is not dependent on just those members. I equate it to not keeping all your eggs in one basket.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A few places I would take my friend visiting the city would be: Hiking at sweetwater
Grab some cupcakes and coffee at Kupcakerie
Get some giant wraps at Tassili’s
Get some tea from Jayida Che
Go see some comedy
Go to the shooting range at Stoddard’s
Get some ice cream at 87sweets and/or Bruster’s on Cascade
Get some food from Dave’s Cheesesteaks
Get some Eithiopian food from Desta and/or some BBQ from Hattie Marie’s
Get some Indian food at Tabla
Walk through Little 5 points, Edgewood, Downtown, Piedmont Park
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Dexter “Doc” Peggins of Steel Standing LLC.
Doc is one of my medical mentors. He was a combat medic in the army and works for the CDC. He gave the class that first certified me for CPR/AED and First aid as well as Stop the Bleed.
Doc is a pillar in our community bringing 1st aid knowledge to everyone.
Sylvester Pierce of Self Preservation Society (SPS)
Sly is a Long time friend and business partner. We started a company called BlackPackerz and a Non-profit called BlackPackerz CREW.
For years we taught survival, firearms safety, and CPR/1st aid to many people in the Southeast United States.
Sly is a very intelligent and selfless amazing friend who knows how to bring people together.
Website: www.LivingstoneDFT.com
Instagram: @livingstonedefensivefamily
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tarik-livingstone-37748b4b
Facebook: Livingstone Defensive Family Training
Other: www.livingstonedft.square.site
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
