Two law enforcement officers, one wearing glasses and a beard, and the other wearing a black cap and safety glasses, standing behind yellow sheriff line tape that reads 'Sheriff Line Do Not Cross.' They appear to be examining something together indoors, with trees visible outside the open structure.

Hi, Im Branden.

Owner & Lead Instructor — Apex Defensive Solutions LLC

My name is Branden Schutte, and I am the owner and lead instructor of Apex Defensive Solutions LLC. I created Apex with a simple belief: prepared people are harder to victimize.

I have spent approximately nine years working in corrections, beginning my career with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and continuing with the Auglaize County Corrections Center. Throughout my career, I have worked directly with individuals in a correctional environment where communication, situational awareness, sound decision-making, de-escalation, and the ability to respond effectively to violence are part of everyday life.

My experience goes beyond simply working in corrections. I have served as a Field Training Officer and have been responsible for helping train and develop new corrections officers. I have also instructed officers in subject control, defensive tactics, TASER use, cell extractions, and other areas related to officer safety and use of force.

Training & Certifications

My professional training and certifications include:

  • OPOTA-Certified Subject Control Instructor

  • OPOTA-Certified Field Training Officer

  • Axon TASER Instructor

  • OPOTA Corrections Officer Certification

  • Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training

  • CPR & First Aid Certification

  • Extensive training and practical experience in subject control, defensive tactics, de-escalation, use of force, inmate management, and personal safety

Why I started Apex Defensive Solutions.

Apex was created because I wanted to take what I have learned throughout my career and make it useful to people outside of law enforcement and corrections.

Real-world personal safety is about much more than knowing how to throw a punch. It starts with recognizing danger, trusting your instincts, maintaining awareness, communicating effectively, setting boundaries, and knowing what to do when avoidance and de-escalation are no longer enough.

My goal is to provide practical, realistic training for everyday people—children, teenagers, adults, women, families, employees, churches, community organizations, and public-safety professionals.

I don't believe good self-defense training should make people afraid of the world around them. It should give them the knowledge and confidence to navigate it more safely.

More Than an Instructor

Outside of Apex and my career in corrections, I'm also a father. Being a parent has had a major influence on the way I approach personal safety and especially the way I teach children and families.

When parents trust Apex to work with their children, I understand the responsibility that comes with that. I want the same thing for every child who attends an Apex program that I want for my own daughter: for them to be confident, aware of their surroundings, capable of recognizing unsafe situations, and prepared to get themselves to safety.

I grew up in Sidney, Ohio, and serving the communities that helped shape me is an important part of what I want Apex to become. My goal isn't simply to build another self-defense business. I want Apex to become a trusted local resource for personal safety, violence prevention, and practical self-defense education throughout Sidney and the Miami Valley.

Whether I'm working with a child attending their first safety class, an adult who has never trained before, employees at a local business, members of a church, or experienced corrections and law-enforcement personnel, my approach remains the same:

Train realistically. Treat people with respect. Build confidence. Prepare for the situations we hope never happen.