At a Glance
Narrates real self-defense encounters on the Active Self Protection channel.
Schools
- Active Self Protection (founder)
Accomplishments
- U.S. Navy veteran
- Reviewed more than 40,000 real-world violent encounters
- YouTube channel passed 3 million subscribers
- United States Navy
- 2011 founder of Active Self Protection
- You Tuber
https://activeselfprotection.com/
About John Correia
John Correia is the founder of Active Self Protection (ASP), the Arizona-based training company and YouTube channel known for narrated breakdowns of real-world self-defense encounters caught on video. A U.S. Navy veteran who served as a nuclear electronics technician, Correia was also a pastor in the Phoenix area and taught Arizona concealed carry classes before ASP became his full-time work. His approach is simple: study what actually happens in violent encounters, then draw practical lessons on awareness, de-escalation, marksmanship and medical response.
ASP began by posting narrated videos on Facebook to promote Correia’s gun training business, reaching about 100,000 followers by early 2015. The channel moved to YouTube in 2016 and passed 600,000 subscribers by December 2017, when Correia also launched a second channel, Active Self Protection Extra. By 2021 it was described as a business with millions of followers, and it has become a common reference point in training discussions. Correia continues to teach classes, appear on firearms podcasts and analyze high-profile incidents in 2026.
Key Facts
- Early 2015: ASP Facebook page reached about 100,000 followers
- 2016: Active Self Protection moved to YouTube
- December 2017: Channel passed 600,000 subscribers; second channel launched
- September 2021: Discussed evidence-based armed defense training on The Reload podcast
Sources
- Gun Culture 2.0: John Correia of Active Self Protection (2017)
- The Reload: John Correia on Evidence-Based Armed Defense Training (2021)
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