Amir Khillah
Founder / Master Instructor
Amir Khillah is a peace officer, retired professional MMA fighter, and the founder of Centurion Modern Subject Control. He previously taught subject control and served as a role player at a regional police academy, and has extensive experience as a use-of-force and subject control subject matter expert.
Amir founded Centurion Modern Subject Control, which trains officers in subject control built to hold up under stress, and Guardian Ludus, Kalamazoo's civilian defense school for hand-to-hand, knife, pistol and rifle skills beyond the CPL. He holds an M.S. in Human Performance and a B.S. in Exercise Physiology from Western Michigan University, and he has written 7 Police1 articles on defensive tactics, stress inoculation, and officer performance.
Additional Credentials
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US Army Combatives Level II Instructor
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2nd-Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt
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6th-Degree Combat Hapkido Black Belt
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5th-Degree Taekwondo Black Belt
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1st-Degree Tang Soo Do Black Belt
Amir’s focus is practical, high-performance training that prepares officers to stay effective on the job and durable over the long term.
Publications by Khillah
Stop Teaching Officers Jiu-Jitsu (Law Officer, October 2026)
Amir Khillah, peace officer and founder of Centurion Modern Subject Control, explains why officer defensive tactics training should be built for the officer who has to use it under stress, not for sport grappling.
Read the article on Law Officer
Why Every Officer Should Carry a Duty Knife (Police1, April 2025)
Why a duty knife belongs on every officer's duty gear.
Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the Optimal Defensive Tactic for Law Enforcement? (Police1, April 2025)
Why BJJ should be a cornerstone, not the whole structure, of an officer's defensive tactics, with the focus on staying up or holding top position.
4 Variables to Remember During a Melee Attack (Police1, November 2019)
Distance, footwork, head movement and blocking: the four things that decide a close-quarters fight.
3 Ways Cops Can Take Their Physical Performance to the Next Level (Police1, April 2018)
Practical ways officers can train for the physical demands of the job.
Why Body Armor Is a Cop's Best Training Buddy (Police1, February 2018)
Why training in your vest makes your skills hold up in the gear you actually wear.
After the Police Academy: 3 Ways New Cops Can Stay Ahead of the Game (Police1, December 2017)
How new officers can keep their skills sharp after graduation.
Why Stress Inoculation Is Critical for Police Recruits (Police1, November 2017)
How training under realistic stress prepares recruits to perform when it counts.