Today we’d like to introduce you to Asim Francis.
Asim, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was originally born on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands but raised primarily in Tallahassee, Florida. My introduction to martial arts began early—first with Taekwondo as a youth, and later I explored Capoeira, which introduced me to the cultural side of movement and discipline.
After high school, I attended and graduated from Tallahassee State College (formerly Tallahassee Community College) with an associate’s degree in Computer Programming & Analysis. While tech gave me a foundation in systems and problem-solving, I found my true passion outside the cubicle—through movement, training, and purpose-driven protection.
Around 2007, I began immersing myself in Japanese martial arts and took a more serious interest in firearms training. By 2009, I formally began my journey in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, a classical Japanese martial art that includes elements of samurai and ninja traditions. That same year marked the start of a lifelong path that would impact everything I’ve built since.
In 2015, I relocated to Tampa, Florida, where I began training more diligently under my teacher, Dai Shihan Ed Figueroa. I also deepened my firearms education, which eventually led to my certification as a Firearms Instructor. In 2019, I officially launched Black Star Defense Training & Tactics—a company rooted in empowerment through practical self-defense, firearms instruction, and situational awareness. I trained members of my local gun club and the broader Tampa Bay community until 2021.
That year, I moved to the Atlanta Metro Area, where I’ve continued my mission—training, educating, and empowering those often overlooked in traditional defense spaces. In 2022, I was promoted to Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt) under Shihan Jovaun Brown, and I continue to train in the Bujinkan to this day.
Over the years, I’ve also earned and maintained multiple certifications from respected organizations such as the USCCA, NRA, ALERRT, and the Stop The Bleed Coalition. I’m a Training Counselor, Instructor, and Range Safety Officer—and I pair that tactical knowledge with business acumen as a Certified Master Business and Entrepreneurship Coach.
In 2024, I began conceptualizing a new kind of platform—one that would move beyond just individual self-defense to community resilience and cultural protection. After a year of development and reflection, DRIP Community launched in early 2025. DRIP stands for Deeply Rooted In Protection. It’s the evolution of everything I’ve done—from martial arts to firearms, coaching to community-building. It’s about protecting more than just bodies—it’s about safeguarding minds, culture, legacy, and future.
That’s my story. A path shaped by movement, purpose, struggle, and the determination to give people the tools to protect what matters most.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. No worthwhile journey ever is. But every struggle has taught me something invaluable.
One of the biggest challenges has been finding balance, especially recently with the launch of the DRIP Community project. That came with many sleepless nights, constant planning, and trying to pour into a vision while still balancing family, work, and personal well-being. It’s hard when your passion keeps you up at night and responsibilities are pulling you in different directions during the day.
But beyond the personal grind, one of the deepest challenges I’ve faced is the struggle to unify people. We come from such a rich diversity of cultures, experiences, and opinions—which is a strength, but it can also be a barrier. Sometimes we get divided over the smallest things, even when we’re facing the same threats or issues. It’s difficult to bring people together around a cause that directly affects them, their families, and their communities, especially when egos, trauma, or mistrust are in the way.
With Black Star Defense, the message is clear—prepare, protect, empower. But with DRIP, I’m asking people to dig deeper. To think long-term. To invest in collective power over individual gain. That takes patience, repetition, and a lot of heart.
There are also the usual roadblocks like limited resources, building trust, and constantly having to prove your value in spaces that may not understand your mission yet. But I’ve learned that staying rooted in purpose and being consistent will give you the steadfast heart to help you push through all that.
At the end of the day, I’m not just trying to build programs, I’m trying to build unity, strength, and legacy. And that’s never easy, but it’s always worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
DRIP Community is a movement, a mindset, and a model for sustainable empowerment. It stands for Deeply Rooted In Protection, and that’s not just physical protection, but also cultural, mental, emotional, and economic defense. What people should know is that DRIP didn’t come out of nowhere, it was born from years of groundwork laid through my company, Black Star Defense Training & Tactics.
Black Star Defense teaches people how to protect themselves, navigate real-world threats, and sharpen their situational awareness. It’s where I introduced self-defense, tactical training, and survival readiness to people who are often left out of those conversations. But over time, I realized protection had to go further than the physical. That’s where DRIP Community comes in.
DRIP expands the mission and takes that tactical mindset and applies it to how we live, how we learn, and how we lead. It’s rooted in three pillars: Education, Training, and Protection. We teach people to protect themselves not just from physical harm, but from misinformation, financial vulnerability, and social fragmentation. We aim to train people in critical thinking, resourcefulness, cultural awareness, and collective responsibility.
What sets DRIP apart is that it speaks directly to our people, our needs, and our future. It’s not charity, it’s strategy. It’s not reaction, it’s readiness. We’re building a culture of resilience from the ground up with workshops, programs, content, and community that all aim to prepare, uplift, and unify.
What I’m most proud of is that both DRIP and Black Star are living blueprints—they evolve, they respond to what’s happening on the ground, and they always stay rooted in purpose. If there’s one thing readers should know, it’s that this work isn’t about fear—it’s about fortifying the future.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck? Honestly, I think people often overplay luck when it comes to success. Yes, it’s played a role, but I wouldn’t say I’ve ever relied on it. The reality is, I’ve had both good and bad luck, but I’ve learned that neither will carry you. What you do with it is what matters.
In the early days of Black Star Defense, I had some good luck—meeting the right people, getting small opportunities that helped the business grow. But for every lucky break, there were a hundred tough days—when I was grinding with little recognition, working long hours, and dealing with financial stress or people who didn’t get the vision. There were times I thought I’d hit a dead end, and no matter how hard I pushed, I wasn’t making the progress I wanted. But what I learned is that bad luck isn’t really bad; it’s just part of the process. It’s what you make of it.
When DRIP Community came into the picture, it was born out of the lessons from Black Star Defense. It was the culmination of all the good and bad moments. The tough times in Black Star made me realize that protection isn’t just about teaching people how to defend themselves from physical threats—it’s about defending their communities, their future, and their minds. So while DRIP was a natural next step, it wasn’t all luck. It was years of training, setbacks, failures, and wins that created the foundation.
If I’m honest, I’ve had moments where bad luck has tested DRIP Community—getting people to see the vision, building trust in something that wasn’t mainstream, and trying to get the right resources to fuel it. But those challenges just make the wins even sweeter. They remind me that this isn’t about finding luck; it’s about putting in the work, learning from mistakes, and building something that lasts.
At the end of the day, I don’t sit around waiting for luck to strike. I go out there and create my own opportunities—and I’m seeing DRIP Community grow because of that mindset. Whether I’m teaching self-defense, building community connections, or having conversations around cultural awareness and empowerment, the real success comes from consistency, grit, and staying true to the mission, no matter what luck has thrown my way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blackstardefense.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DRIP.Community.ETP/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DRIP.Community.ETP/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/AsimAFrancis
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/BlackStarDefenseTrainingLLC
