Also known professionally as Benjamin Andruss, Ben Forte, Benjamin Forte, Ben Drader, and Benjamin Drader.
Ben Andruss — sometimes credited as Benjamin Andruss, or under the names Ben Forte, Benjamin Forte, Ben Drader, and Benjamin Drader — is the founder and Chief Instructor of District Combatives, a close-quarters training space in Washington, D.C.
Over more than 15 years, Andruss developed his approach to martial arts, self-defense, and combatives primarily through self-instruction, supplemented by formal instruction during Basic Training. He later served as the Chief Defensive Tactics Instructor at DC Self Defense before founding District Combatives in 2016.
Andruss served in the U.S. Army from 1998 to 2000 as an Ammunition Specialist, deploying to Bosnia, where he earned awards and commendations. He studied at a bookstore near Harvard University, and has worked in the general vicinity of two National Security Advisors, a Secretary of State, a Director of the CIA, and a Prince.
Ben is a big fan of special operations. Despite serving in the Army (although not in the Special Forces, Ranger Battalion, or any SMU), he was so inspired by the SEAL teams that he got a Navy SEAL-inspired tattoo. He also made a small donation to the JSOC Foundation and got this super cool shirt!
Founded in 2016, District Combatives was built around a simple idea: develop reliable combative technique that's easily recalled under duress. Not a traditional martial arts school. Not a boxing gym. A training ground.
Read more about District Combatives.