leadership & instruction
Professional, disciplined, and purpose-driven training led by experienced instructors committed to real-world preparedness.
TODD MILLS
Owner, Battle Rock LLC & Battle Rock Krav Maga
Head Instructor, Battle Rock Krav Maga Todd Mills is the Owner of Battle Rock LLC and Battle Rock Krav Maga, where he serves as Head Instructor and Executive Protection Specialist. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to preparedness, protection, and disciplined training.Todd is a Tennessee State Licensed Armed Guard and State Certified Trainer. He is an NRA-Certified Basic Pistol Instructor and an Advanced Defensive Tactics Instructor for military and law enforcement personnel. His professional experience includes executive protection operations, advanced defensive tactics instruction, and defensive and evasive driving instruction. In 2019, Todd trained in Israel with chief instructors from the IDF Krav Maga Division, reinforcing the system’s real-world purpose and principles. He returned to Israel in 2023 for additional advanced training, including work with 5 Stones Intelligence and Caliber 3, organizations recognized internationally for security, counter-terror, and protective operations training. These experiences emphasized situational awareness, rapid threat assessment, and disciplined decision-making under stress — principles that continue to shape the instruction and training environment at Battle Rock Krav Maga.He has served as a military combatives instructor for the United States Air Force (USAF), United States Air National Guard (USANG), the Republic of Dominica Air Force, and special operations training units. Todd’s background in Industrial Engineering informs the structured, progressive training model used at Battle Rock Krav Maga — emphasizing clarity, efficiency, and practical application. Through both Battle Rock Krav Maga and Battle Rock LLC, he remains committed to developing capable, confident individuals prepared to protect themselves and those they serve.
janice MILLs
Head Instructor, Battle Rock Women’s Krav Maga
Executive Protection SpecialistJanice Mills serves as Head Instructor of Battle Rock Women’s Krav Maga and is an Executive Protection Specialist with extensive professional training experience. Her background reflects a unique combination of protective operations, advanced defensive tactics instruction, and medical expertise. Janice is a Tennessee State Licensed Armed Guard and NRA-Certified Basic Pistol Instructor. She is also an Advanced Defensive Tactics Instructor for military and law enforcement personnel and a Defensive & Evasive Driving Instructor. In 2019, Janice trained in Israel with chief instructors from the IDF Krav Maga Division, gaining firsthand experience in the system’s origins and real-world application. Her international training and mission experience includes work in Thailand, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic, and Israel — environments that required adaptability, situational awareness, and disciplined response. Beyond her security and defensive background, Janice is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and an American Heart Association Instructor certified in BLS, CPR/AED, and Emergency First Aid. Her medical expertise brings an additional layer of awareness and responsibility to her instruction, emphasizing both protection and life preservation. As Head Instructor of Battle Rock Women’s Krav Maga, Janice is committed to helping women develop confidence, awareness, and practical skills in a structured, professional, and supportive environment. Her instruction emphasizes decisiveness, control, and preparedness — equipping students not only with technique, but with the mindset to act effectively when necessary. Through her leadership, Battle Rock Women’s Krav Maga provides disciplined training grounded in real-world experience and professional standards.
training heritage & influence
Battle Rock Krav Maga’s leadership has been shaped not only by international and professional training, but also by decades of martial arts tradition and mentorship.
While Battle Rock’s training focus is grounded in real-world Krav Maga and professional defensive tactics, the foundational principles of mentorship, structure, and responsibility remain consistent with the martial arts traditions that shaped our journey.
Grandmaster Pete Mills
Grandmaster Pete Mills is a highly respected martial arts instructor based in Knoxville, Tennessee, with over 50 years of training and teaching experience in Isshin-ryu Karate and self-defense disciplines. He is the founder and head of the Universal Isshin-Ryu Karate Association and the Pete Mills School of Isshin-Ryu Karate.His influence contributed to a deep appreciation for structure, respect, and progression in training — values that continue to inform the disciplined environment at Battle Rock Krav Maga today.His martial arts journey began in 1965 when he began training in Isshin-ryu under Master Harold Long. In 1966, he had the opportunity to train directly under Grandmaster Tatsuo Shimabuku, the founder of Isshin-ryu, deepening his technical base and understanding of traditional Okinawan karate.Over the decades, Grandmaster Mills has dedicated himself to skill development, instruction, and promotion of martial arts. He has operated multiple schools throughout East Tennessee and trained hundreds of students to high ranks, including Black Belt levels. His teaching has spanned traditional techniques, self-defense applications, weapons, and kata.His contributions to the martial arts community have been formally recognized through multiple Hall of Fame inductions, including the International Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame and other martial arts organizations, reflecting his long-standing commitment and influence in the discipline.Known for his faith, and his passion for teaching and development of others, Grandmaster Mills continues to be celebrated for his role in martial arts education and his impact on generations of practitioners in the region.