Our Team
Altonio Rivers
Owner and Director of Tactical Training
Altonio began his career by serving in the United States Marine Corps for 4 years, earning an Honorable Discharge. Following his military service, he joined the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), where he dedicated over 18 years of service. Throughout his tenure at CMPD, Altonio held various critical roles, including Investigator within the Street Crimes Unit, Detective within the Violent Crimes Task Force and Gang Unit, and a pivotal member of the CMPD Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team for 13 years. He also served as a detective on the Human Trafficking Taskforce with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), focusing on combating sex and labor trafficking crimes.
During his time on the SWAT team, Altonio witnessed firsthand the profound impact that Force on Force Scenario Training had on officers' skills and decision-making abilities. Driven by this experience, he sought to extend these vital training opportunities to civilians and make them more accessible to law enforcement. This led him to found A+R Tactics in 2020. Altonio is also a founding member and lead instructor of the Kenny Florian and A+R Tactics Law Enforcement Curriculum, passionately advocating for the necessity and transformative power of this training.
In addition to his extensive law enforcement background, Altonio is an NRA and USCCA Certified Firearms Instructor, NRA Range Safety Officer, Simunitions and Force on Force Certified Instructor, Glock Armorer, and holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As the owner of A+R Tactics, he is committed to providing top-tier training to both law enforcement and civilians, helping them enhance their skills and preparedness in high-stakes situations.
Nicole Thurman
Owner and Director of the Women’s Training institute
Kenny played NCAA Division 1 soccer at Boston College. He is a 4th degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is a recognized Muay Thai Expert. Kenny has also trained in Boxing, Karate, Judo, and wrestling.
In 2005, Dana White scouted Kenny to be an original cast member of "The Ultimate Fighter." This opportunity launched his distinguished and record setting career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he competed in four different weight classes: Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight.
Kenny fought for 3 UFC world titles in two different weight classes. His ability to finish his opponents became a popularized mantra, "I finish fights." Having earned stoppages in twelve of his fourteen career victories. Kenny was known to land devastating elbow strikes, which UFC analyst Joe Rogan repeatedly labeled as "razor sharp."
After his professional fighting career, Kenny's martial arts passion remained strong as a coach to prominent UFC fighters, medaling in many IBJJF tournaments and founding Florian Martial Arts Center in Brookline, MA with his brother Keith. An online training platform, KennyFlorianMartialArts.com debuted in 2021.
He has over 20 years experience as a martial arts instructor, having worked with children, adults, celebrities, law enforcement officials and military personnel. In addition, he is an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor.
Kenny is Co-host of the long running hit series "BattleBots" on the Discovery Channel. For over a decade, he was. a mainstay on UFC programming, including fight night commentary along with pre- and post-fight shows on ESPN and Fox Sports and hosted UFC Tonight on Fox Sports. In 2020 he was named lead analyst for the Professional Fighters League (PFL) broadcast team, which is shown on ESPN and in over 140 countries. In addition, he serves as Co-host of the "The Anik & Florian" podcast, a popular weekly show that is distributed by all the leading podcast platforms.
Kenny graduated with honors from Boston College where he earned his bachelor's degree in communications. He is a graduate of the Integrative Body Psychotherapy Institute, a three-year program based in Los Angeles, CA. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
Nicole is a highly qualified instructor with a unique blend of medical and tactical expertise. As a Registered Nurse (BSN, RN), she brings an invaluable perspective to her role as a Firearms and Combatives Instructor. Nicole holds a black belt in Krav Maga and a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, with extensive experience in teaching Krav Maga, Self Protection, Combatives, Firearms, Home Defense, and Active Shooter Response. Her hands-on experience extends to competing as an amateur, enhancing her practical teaching methods.
In addition to her martial arts credentials, Nicole is an NRA and USCCA Certified Firearms Instructor, NRA Range Safety Officer, Simunitions and Force on Force Certified Instructor, Glock Armorer, Red Cross Certified Instructor, and TECC trained. She has also authored and taught Civilian Trauma Response Training for a wide range of audiences, including the general public, educational institutions, law enforcement, and church safety teams.
At A+R Tactics, where Nicole is a co-owner, the focus is on helping civilians and law enforcement officers better equip themselves to stay safe and perform effectively in the face of violence and danger. This is achieved through proper firearms training, real-world scenario training, and the application of effective martial arts principles. Nicole also leads the Women’s Training Institute, dedicated to empowering women and young girls in self-protection.
One of her proudest achievements is helping new shooters enter and grow within the sport, fostering a supportive and empowering environment. Her role as a founder and instructor with the Kenny Florian and A+R Tactics’ Law Enforcement curriculum is the culmination of her extensive training
and experience. Nicole is honored to work alongside experts like Kenny and Altonio to deliver what she believes is an unparalleled and pivotal training system for law enforcement and civilians alike.
Kenny Florian
Partner and Director of Combatives Training
Our Key Objective:
Demonstrate how both firearms and martial arts are intrinsically linked. Common principles are taught and we strive to deliver simple, efficient, and highly effective techniques that will change the way you think about and approach self-defenese.
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A+R Tactics is more than just a training facility; it's a community of like-minded individuals passionate about personal defense and preparedness. Our instructors bring decades of experience from military, law enforcement, firearms, and combat sport backgrounds, ensuring you receive the highest level of training available.
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