Team Vunak Member Profile
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Ricky Baer
San Diego, California, United States
About
Team Vunak Executive Director Ricky Baer is a U.S. Army airborne veteran, martial artist, and instructor dedicated to preserving and advancing the realities-based combat principles of Paul Vunak. With a background in psychological operations and military service, Ricky brings a practical, pressure-tested mindset to self-defense and combat training.
A senior instructor under Paul Vunak, Ricky specializes in Rapid Assault Tactics (R.A.T.), close-quarters combat, street-oriented Jeet Kune Do, and functional self-protection methods designed for real-world violence. His teaching emphasizes aggression, simplicity, adaptability, and emotional control under stress.
Beyond martial arts, Ricky is committed to personal discipline, leadership, and service. His path includes study within the Benedictine spiritual tradition as a lay oblate, reflecting a balance between warrior ethos and personal integrity.
Through Team Vunak, Ricky continues to teach and mentor students seeking practical skills, fighting spirit, and a deeper understanding of combat as both an art and a mindset.