When I first went to WOFT, it took pride in being illicitly known as the “[famous trademarked name of amusement park that involves mouse ears] of Shooting.” That wasn’t wrong, but it turned out to be so much more. I’ve never shared the romantic notion of firearms. They are a tool for self-defense, first and foremost. Sure, some manufacturers and craftsmen can bring aesthetic excellence to the devices that nudge them towards artistry, but that has never saved anyone’s life. I’ve carried a gun every day for more than 30 years. The weight of my various carry pieces has varied, but the burden of responsibility never has.
I usually tiptoe around this issue, but screw it. The fact is, I’m one of the few Black people in the industry. So what? What does that matter? Well, speaking strictly in statistical terms, it matters in that I have a lot more to worry about than my colleagues. I don’t fantasize about guns and their use because I am far more likely to be confronted by the reality of them. I spent 30 nights in the intensive care unit of Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY, sitting beside my father as he struggled to survive a drive-by shooting mere weeks after he’d sold his business and retired. What was he doing when he was shot? Standing in his garden beside my mother and grandmother in the predominantly Black neighborhood in which they lived. He “coded” twice in the hospital, but ultimately recovered, though he was never the same. I’ve never gotten over that incident and don’t think I want to. It informs my attitude about personal protection and my politics in general more than I can express.
Stock in Trade
That is why WOFT was such a revelation for me. The owner, Phillip Toppino, understood things as I understood them. Although the school was touted as a fantasy camp, that was exactly wrong. It was a reality camp that dismissed with the fantasy that plagued some other schools I’ve attended. Other schools had touched on scenario training, but none came near the focus and understanding of this place.
What do I mean by scenario training? Simply that shooting from a proper stance on a static, square range improves your marksmanship, but doesn’t prepare you for an actual armed confrontation. Scenario training seeks to prevent you from ever even reaching that point but does equip you with the skills necessary to draw and shoot accurately under pressure.
The Facility
Located about an hour outside of Orlando, FL, in a remote area where you pass cattle and horses, WOFT is comprised of a compound consisting of Toppino’s home, several ranges, training rooms, a functioning cafeteria that doubles as a scenario-training locale and a warehouse-size room called Station 3 (out of a total of 13) where he can (and does) park a car for low-light scenario training. An elevated balcony encircles the room, allowing students to observe each other’s multiple attempts to complete whatever the objective happens to be. Plexiglass barriers prevent students from catching a stray when Simmunitions are being used.
How It’s Done
Obviously, no school can prepare you for every contingency, but many scenarios at WOFT have similar solutions and the exercises teach you how to think as much as they show you what, exactly, to do. An example is Station 3, where typically a car is pulled in. The student is kept outside while the scenario is set up, and a number of props are maintained in the room for this. The instructors—wearing appropriate protective gear—are told their roles and what to do, and the lights are lowered, as most self-defense confrontations/shootings take place in low light. The student is brought in and told their objective, such as “get to and stay in the car.” Obstacles to that objective may be a panhandler, a drunk, a lost child, a violently co-dependent couple, a person suffering a medical emergency, etc. Just like an Agent in “The Matrix” movie, any of those things can suddenly become something else, which often happens when a criminal and/or his confederates reveal their subterfuge. The possibilities and responses are limitless.
When Toppino, who typically leads the exercises, calls a halt to the scenario, the student is asked questions as to why they did the things they did. Also, they are informed of things that happened of which they were not aware as their focus was fixed on one character or another. Further, the other students chime in, offering their impressions and what other options were available. Thus, in a single scenario, a student may have eight instructors plus his or her fellow students offering insights. Then the student is taken back outside, the scenario is changed with different character assignments and props moved to see what changes the student observes. And Toppino can be devious, as he’s as likely to introduce a red herring as he is a genuine threat.
Welcome to Worst-Case Scenario Land: Population – You.
WOFT’s café is another facility that’s invaluable for scenarios. It’s actual a working cafeteria that can be configured for robberies, kidnappings, fights and other scenarios. Moreover, it prompts students to learn to identify threat indicators in everyday situations. Are patrons dressed appropriately for the weather? Are they antagonistic of the staff? Are suspicious characters working alone or with others? Just when you think those are the possibilities, a dozen protestors rush through the door in simulation of a riot following a contentious verdict in a court case or some other motivating factor. You have to think quickly and creatively. What makes good cover? Can you access improvised weapons? Are you carrying a firearm? Do you need to use it and, if so, what is your backstop?
In both Station 3 and the café, scenarios can be carried out using Simunitions and protective gear, as well as an electrified “knife” that gives a mild shock should an adversary make contact.
The cleverness and level of detail is impressive, but it should be. Toppino has been doing this for 14 years. He’s run thousands of scenarios, witnessed thousands of responses and led thousands of critiques.
Applied Principles
Peruse the July 2025 issue of Shooting Illustrated and look at the pieces by George T. Williams (“Change the Fight”), Steve Tarani (“Avoid the Issue”) and George Harris (“Personal Defense Training Gone Wrong”). All three explore and promote the ideas taught at WOFT. Identifying threat indicators? Interrupting a would-be assailant’s OODA Loop? Practical combat accuracy when time doesn’t permit precision? Everything discussed in these articles and in “Handbook” section of the magazine every month are what you learn to apply at WOFT. While some schools are beginning to catch up with this mindset, WOFT has a 14-year head start.
In addition to having an student-to-instructor ratio often as low as three to one, Toppino customizes all training. Do you not usually carry a gun? Well, what do you carry? He’ll set up the scenario to be attempted with an edged weapon (including that electrified knife), impact weapon, improvised weapon and WOFT’s secret-weapon: a high-intensity mini-flashlight designed especially for self-defense. Do you have disabilities that limit the kind of response you can offer? Well, WOFT will help you come up with something, because criminals aren’t going to cut you any slack “in the streets.”
Additionally, you can participate in this scenario training with your partner and/or your children as a family. This can be vital, as the presence of loved ones greatly alters how you perceive and respond to threats. Also, it’s important for the family to know what to do and what to expect you to do in an emergency.
Training For The Real Real World
The firearm-training industry often venerates law enforcement officers and soldiers, and it is typically strong on self-defense and weak on business acumen. The elevation of cops and soldiers stems from a desire for trainers who’ve “been there and done that,” which is completely understandable and often sensible. But, a potential problem is not every soldier or every cop has been there and done that. Just wearing a uniform or a badge does not mean they had to employ lethal or non-lethal force in a dynamic environment. Also, having knowledge isn’t a guarantee that you can effectively share that knowledge, as not everyone is a good teacher. But, even if they were, the duties of a law enforcement officer and a soldier are very different from the responsibilities of a law-abiding citizen just looking to protect his or her family. The civilian’s job is to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones, not necessarily to enforce the law or engage an adversary.
As for the business part, well, many trainers come from firearm backgrounds (including law enforcement and the military), then must learn how run a business, often with mixed results. Toppino started in the business world (real estate), then learned firearms. Credentials? He’s got every certification a civilian can have. And rather than it being a liability, his lack of a law enforcement or military background means he appreciates his students’ perspective. He approaches training from the standpoint of rational, practical protection of himself and his loved ones in common, day-to-day situations.
To really drive home how legit the place is, understand that, in addition to scenario training, Toppino offers classes in competitive shooting, scaled precision shooting, competitive shooting, hand-to-hand combat, combat first-aid, etc. He also often barters for the services of some of the world’s best trainers, including national competitors, MMA fighters and rescue paramedics. These people contact him and offer to teach a class or two at WOFT in exchange for bringing their families to Florida and having him train them in personal protection. Read that again. I could spout all day about this and that, but nothing will allow you to appreciate the training at WOFT more than that. As for those cops and Soldiers that others feel legitimize training schools, be aware that WOFT also trains both police officers and elite military operators.
Chuck Haggard, Daniel Horner, Robert Brantley and John Correia are just some of the celebrated shooting and training personalities who’ve come through to teach or lecture at the school. According to Toppino, after discovering WOFT, Jerry Miculek visited nine times in five months, including bringing his daughter, Lena, who has visited four times so far.
Skip The Drama
Toppino’s training is full-service. WOFT prepares you to avoid fights, but also teaches you how best to triumph should avoidance be impossible. Moreover, it also has teamed with Xinsurance and Firearms Legal Protection to make students aware of options available to them to proactively protect themselves, legally and financially, against the potential negative consequences of an armed defensive encounter.
On my last visit, I met an elderly couple from Northern Michigan. They’ve been married 58 years; the husband is in a wheelchair. Their town has fallen on hard times and, according to them, is now overrun with drug dealers and human traffickers. They have endured repeated confrontations with this criminal element. Unfortunately, circumstances do not permit them to relocate. This is their fourth visit to WOFT. Their marriage may be romantic, but their understanding of the modern world isn’t. WOFT training gives them a fighting chance.
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