"With the growth of Kokoro Combatives comes a great responsibility, a responsibility that I take very seriously. Kocom is dedicated to challenging the limits of tactical training beyond the norm. Our goal is to prepare and develop the most elite modern warrior........period"
-R. Conde Founder
R.Conde is the founder and Chief Instructor of Kokoro Combatives. He is recognized as one of the leading instructors in the craft of close quarter combat. Conde has over twenty three years in close quarter combat, edged weapons and tactical firearms. Conde brings to Kokoro Combatives over 1600 hours of specialized training and real world experience. The separating factor that sets Kocom apart and above the rest is that Conde is not a sideline coach or a preacher. The tactics, mindset, philosophy and techniques that he teaches are battle proven by him on the streets daily. He refuses to teach anything that will not work in the real world.
Conde continues to travel throughout the U.S. and South America conducting courses to Law Enforcement, U.S. Military, Latin American Spec-Op groups, Counter Terrorist Units, Peruvian Special Forces School of Commandos, Special Operation Law Enforcement , PSD and Dignitary Protection Teams. Chief Instructor Conde conducts a multitude of courses focusing on Close Quarter Combatives, Tactical Special Operations, High Risk Security Operations, Force Protection , emphasizing “Kokoro” the mind, body and spirit.
Conde’s unwavering dedication to the combat arts began at a young age. The martial arts that he studied included, Aikido, Hok Lung Gung Fu, Judo, Kali, Chin Na, Wing Chun, Siriat Combat Blade and Iaido. His training introduced him to the Code of the Samurai and the eastern mind. Conde began studying Zen under Roshi Kapleau in a quest for spiritual enlightment and the study of the warrior mind.
During his career Conde was recruited by the Executive Defense Agency. A private contractor agency for the U.S. government. He entered a four month extreme training academy with 43 operators. Only 29 endured and graduated. Conde graduated with multiple commendations. Conde was quickly promoted through the ranks and served as Chief Agent for Executive Defense Agency (South America Region). During that time he was also selected to be the team leader and led three classified high risk/high profile protective operations in South America .Two of the operations were inside the jungles of Colombia and Brazil. Since that time, Conde has led and conducted over one hundred protective operations throughout the globe including the USA, Middle East and Latin America.
Conde is currently a decorated LE Agent and S.W.A.T. operator. He is cross designated with (ICE) U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Blue Lightning Task Force. Daily he is called upon to use his training, skills and mindset, while operating in an extreme high risk environment. Conde is also the founder and Chief Operative of Diplomatic Security Group.
Partial Overview of Chief Instructor Conde’s certifications and awards include:
1990 Florida Kung Fu Champion
5th Degree Black Belt Hok-Lung Kung Fu
2nd Degree Black Belt Aikido
4th Phase Siriat Combat Knife System
Graduate Allied Forces Tactical Team
EDA Counter-Terrorist Team CQC Instructor/Member
Private Contractor Special Operations Instructor – US Army
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor
State Of Florida K License Firearms Instructor
FDLE Instructor Certification
Chief Agent Executive Defense Agency
FDLE Defensive Tactics Instructor
Meritorious Award
Unit Commendation Award
Police Academy Defensive Tactics Award
Officer of the Year Commendation
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Gary Del Giorno Staff Instructor
Gary Del Giorno was born in Philadelphia, PA and was introduced to the warrior mindset at an early age. His mother enrolled him in the Atlantic City Boxing Club at age 9 and by the time he was 11, Gary had diversified his training and was progressing through the ranks of American Tae Kwon Do. By the age of 16 he was awarded his 1st Dan in and was one step closer in his path to becoming a complete warrior. As a Ventnor City lifeguard he received the Rookie of the Year Award in the summer of 1989. On Dec. 5 of that same year he was awarded Commendations from the Atlantic City Police Department for charging a burning casino charter bus and rescuing civilians from an explosion. He credits his warrior mindset and training with giving him the confidence to achieve anything he had done in life or set his sights on in the future.
Gary became a fixture in most martial arts academies in South Jersey, cross- training in ground fighting as well as striking arts in order to have a well rounded repertoire. He later moved to Florida where he trained in Muay Thai Kickboxing, Iai-do and Ken-Jutsu.
In 2001 Gary settled in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and founded a successful security company assisting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the City of Miami. Due to Gary’s continual pursuit of perfection he was admitted to Spec War Ops, a private recruiting and training company for Naval Special Warfare. Later that same year Gary was introduced to Kokoro Combatives, Gary was captivated by Chief Instructor Conde’s skill, mindset, and no-nonsense approach. At that time Gary decided to dedicate himself to the teachings of Kokoro Combatives. Currently he travels throughout Latin America assisting Kocom as a Staff Instructor. Gary also is the Lead Field Advisor for Diplomatic Security Group www.diplomaticsecuritygroup.com.
