Who we are?

People training in Defendo are part of Saario Academy—an international martial arts school founded by Finnish master Jyrki Saario. This organization brings together instructors and students from across Europe, unified by the goal of developing real self-defense skills. Since 2009, we’ve been active in Poland, offering training sessions, instructor courses, and specialized events for both enthusiasts and professionals.

Portrait of Jyrki Saario, half in shadow

Jyrki Saario

The creator of Defendo is Jyrki Saario—a Scandinavian martial-arts master and pioneer whose life has long been dedicated to training and teaching. He gained knowledge by traveling the world, training, coaching, and running professional clubs throughout Scandinavia. His goal was to create a system that is effective, modern, and easy to implement—both for uniformed services and everyday civilian life—which he called Defendo. The culmination of his decades of work was the founding of Saario Academy—a global school uniting his students.

In 2024, Master Saario passed the leadership of the organization to István Nagy, granting him the highest training rank within Defendo—Master Instructor.

Portrait of István Nagy in a red Defendo shirt, arms crossed

István Nagy

Defendo Red Master Instructor – 6th Dan Black Belt. Leader of Saario Academy since 2024, appointed by Jyrki Saario as his successor. The pioneer of Defendo in Poland, involved in martial arts since 1987. He went from student to one of Europe’s leading self-defense experts. He has completed and conducted over 120 instructor courses within Saario Academy. For years he has been conducting training across many countries, traveling throughout Europe and developing the international Defendo community.

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International team

Portrait of Jussi Jokinen

Jussi Jokinen

5th Dan Black Belt

Head of the Defendo White Program, designed for paramedics and professionals in medical, social, and educational sectors. Based in Finland, Jussi has served in the Valkeakoski Fire Department for over 20 years, currently as a unit commander, and has long trained firefighters and medical staff. A martial artist since 1986, he holds black belts in Defendo, Krav Maga, and Kickboxing, with additional experience in Kyokushin, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and professional MMA (record 6–1).

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Portrait of Petteri Kantola

Petteri Kantola

5 Dan Black Belt

Head of Defendo Green, the hand-to-hand combat program developed for soldiers. Petteri is a retired Major of the Finnish Defence Forces with over 40 years of experience in martial arts and combat systems. He began instructing in 1999 in cooperation with Jyrki Saario. When Defendo was introduced to the public in 2005, he became one of its first practitioners, earning his black belt from founder Jyrki Saario in 2009. He currently holds the rank of 5th Dan in Defendo.

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Portrait of Lari Kaurala

Lari Kaurala

5th Dan Black Belt

International instructor of Saario Academy and Coordinator of Defendo Blue in Finland. Lari serves in the Finnish Military Police and has worked in the security field since 1997, including over 15 years as a use-of-force instructor. He began training in martial arts in 1995 and has taught Defendo since 2007. He is the head of Defendo Kotka, one of Finland’s leading Defendo clubs, and regularly conducts seminars across Finland while supporting instructor education within the Academy.

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Portrait of László Tóth

László Tóth

5th Dan Black Belt

The pioneer of Defendo in Hungary and one of the international coordinators of Saario Academy. Involved in martial arts since the 1980s, over the last decade he has conducted numerous trainings, seminars, and camps for students and instructors in several countries. His main responsibility is to develop and strengthen the Saario Academy community in Central Europe.

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Portrait of Jouni Rovio

Jouni Rovio

3 Dan Black Belt

Jouni Rovio Serves as the Coordinator of Defendo Red in Finland and the national representative for the Safe Kid program. Jouni leads his club in Pori, where he conducts regular trainings and instructor courses. He holds a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Defendo. Known for his structured and professional approach to teaching, Jouni actively participates in national and international seminars, supporting the growth of Defendo and the Saario Academy community across Finland.

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Portrait of Tomasz Maczuga

Tomasz Maczuga

5th Dan Black Belt

Tomasz Maczuga – International Coordinator of the Defendo Blue program, and National Coordinator of Defendo in Poland. A Doctor of Physical Education, court expert, and former lecturer at the Polish Police Training Center in Legionowo (retired Police Lieutenant Colonel). Author and experienced instructor with over 20 years of practice in training law enforcement personnel and tactical instructors in Poland and abroad.

Become an instructor

How to become an instructor?

Defendo instructors form an international community of professionals who share their knowledge and passion for self-defense. If you want to join this group, Saario Academy offers a clear development path and access to the best training programs in Europe.

A large group stands in a ring around three instructors in a forest clearing

Join our team of instructors!

By joining the instructor team, you become part of an international network that shares knowledge, experience, and support. Our instructors teach both civilians and professionals – police officers, soldiers, paramedics, and firefighters.

A choke-from-behind drill on a city street between two men in winter jackets

Requirements for joining the instructor course

The candidate must meet the following criteria:

  • be at least 21 years old,
  • have experience in combat sports or self-defense systems,
  • demonstrate a passion for learning and teaching,
  • maintain good overall physical condition,
  • have no criminal record.
A strike drill outdoors: a man in a green shirt, a woman and a second man

How to start?

Fill out the application form below. Our team will contact you and guide you through the next steps in the recruitment process.

Become an instructor

How to join us?

How to start?

If you are interested in joining the Saario Academy instructor group, contact us through the Contact page or by writing to our e-mail saarioacademy@gmail.com

How to join the group of the instructors?

After reviewing your sports background, you will receive an invitation to a preparatory course aimed at selecting suitable candidates for the international Defendo instructor course.

To participate in the basic instructor course – Defendo Hard Target – a positive recommendation from the Head of Defendo Training in Poland, Istvan Nagy, is required.

Go to: Become an instructor

Requirements

The requirements every Defendo instructor candidate must meet are:

  • age: minimum 23 years old;
  • minimum 3 years of Defendo training with a licensed Defendo instructor or at least 5 years of experience in sports / martial arts;
  • no criminal record;
  • overall good physical condition.
About Defendo

Defendo philosophy

Intuition

“In a threat situation, you will use Defendo not because I taught it to you. I teach you Defendo because that is exactly how you will act. I will teach you to do it more effectively, without hesitation, and with surprise. You can only surprise once—don’t waste that chance.”

Our strength

“It’s better to be a student of reality than a master of illusion. In the martial arts world, many myths are treated as facts. Our strength is that we speak of scientific facts and street realities. That is also our weakness—because not everyone wants to hear the truth.”

Less is More

“It is better to learn three techniques and practice them a thousand times, than to learn a thousand techniques and practice them only a few times. That is Defendo math.”

Be first

“Don’t wait for the aggressor’s first move. Strike first, finish the fight—don’t wait for the situation to escalate.”

Learn more about the system

European roots

Designed for real-world threats and realities of European streets.

Unique methodology and instructors

Training built on logical steps tailored to each student.

Safety and quality

Classes conducted responsibly to avoid injuries.

Transparent progression

Structured training path, exams, seminars, and instructor certification.

A community with character

Join passionate, level-headed, action-ready people.

No false promises

We show the path and build from the ground up.

FAQ

Looking for answers?

Find the answer to your question.

How to start training Defendo?

To start training Defendo, go to the Find a Club section and choose a location that suits you. You can also contact us at defendo@gmail.com or through the Contact page.

How to become an instructor

To become a Defendo instructor, you need to meet certain requirements and criteria. More information can be found in the Contact section, or you can get in touch with us there and submit your application.

Do I need experience to start training?

No! Defendo is a system you can start training regardless of your age or experience.

Is Defendo training safe?

Defendo training is based on learning safety, so instructors pay special attention to ensuring safety during classes.

What is the difference between Defendo and Krav Maga?

Defendo is not a combat sport, but a self-defence system focused on teaching the right reactions in dangerous situations. It was designed to neutralize as many threats as possible using as few techniques as necessary, following the principle that “less is more.”

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