Bushido is an ancient Samurai ethical system or code that emphasizes justice, courage, mercy, politeness, honesty, honor loyalty, and self-control. The word “bushido” translates directly into “warrior path or way”. Today, we continue to carry the eight virtues of the Bushido code as a way for private, law-abiding citizens to understand the warrior within us. Our mission is to inspire the everyday citizen to gain the knowledge and skills to defend oneself and the people they love by connecting the world’s professionals, in the Imperial Valley region.
Our Instructors
Donnie Wharton, Founder & Head Instructor
Donnie Wharton is of Japanese descent and raised with many of the same guiding principles as the bushido code. He has over 25 years of experience in both public and private sector training. He is an Air Force veteran and currently serving his community as Reserve Deputy Sheriff. Donnie has also had an extensive aviation background and served as the Chief Pilot for the Imperial County Narcotics Task Force for a decade. He has experience in a vast array of disciplines across the force continuum. He specializes in personal defensive weapons and hand-to-hand tactics. Donnie holds certifications including NRA Pistol Instructor-Range Safety Officer-Range Development, California DOJ Firearms, CA POST Firearms Instructor, and practitioner of multiple martial arts. He is also the primary trainer for Concealed Coalition in El Centro, CA (Imperial Valley).
Javier Pacheco, Instructor
Javier Pacheco is an Imperial Valley native and US Marine Corps veteran with approximately 45 years of Law Enforcement and Martial Arts/Weapons experience. His background encompasses fours years as a Military Police/Patrol-Narcotics Canine Handler with an overseas tour to Okinawa, Japan, where he began his true Martial Arts studies. He served as a police officer for the City of Brawley for two years before transferring to the US Customs Service/Department of Homeland Security retiring after 34 of service. He held positions as an instructor for Tactical Insertions, FLETC Tactical Instructor for foreign police/military, attended the Riverside Sheriff's POST SWAT course, and got certified as a FBI ASP instructor. He has also been a Martial Arts and Weapons instructor for approximately 40 years, training at the Humbo Dojo in Okinawa, Japan, since 1988.
Bill Smerdon, Instructor
Bill became interested in shooting at the age of six when he started going dove hunting and pheasant hunting with his father. After passing the California Bar Exam Bill entered active duty in the U.S. Navy's Judge Advocate General's Corps. As a Navy JAG Bill served as a prosecutor and defense attorney in Navy courts-martial. While serving in the Navy Bill earned the Expert Rifle and Pistol medals and trained with NIS with small arms. His love of shooting led him to pursue additional training. He trained with Costa Ludas, Professional Force Concepts, Dark Angel Medical and a number of lesser know instructors. Bill is an NRA certified instructor in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun and is also an NRA certified Range Safety Officer. When Border Tactical opened in El Centro, Bill was one of the first employees hired as a Range Safety Officer and taught pistol and carbine classes.
Our Partnered Training Locations
The IVRPA "Wheeler Range"
511 Series: Border Tactical
511 Series: Border Tactical
Bushido Training Group uses the IVRPA's "Wheeler Range" for Carbine courses only. It is located at 9.6M NNW of Seeley, California in Imperial County, California, U.S (Superstition Mountain BLM OHV area, N of NAS) at 2250 West Wheeler Rd Imperial County, California
511 Series: Border Tactical
511 Series: Border Tactical
511 Series: Border Tactical
Bushido Training Group holds most of their courses at the Border Tactical firing range. They are located at 925 North Imperial Avenue in El Centro, CA 92243.
Brawley Dojo
511 Series: Border Tactical
Brawley Dojo
Brawley Dojo is used to teach Bushido trainees self defense. It is located at 180A North Plaza Street in Brawley, CA 92227.
Partners & Affiliations
USSCA
We are a proud USCCA Official Partner and encourage every gun owner to take advantage of what the USCCA offers. Click the link below to get your FREE Concealed Carry Guide for more life-saving knowledge.
Alpha Employment Testing
Alpha Employment Testing is committed to providing and helping individuals, local businesses, and employment entities in Imperial County establish a safe and regulated workplace environment by providing background checks, livescan fingerprinting, drug testing and more.
Firearms Legal Protection
Firearms Legal Protection provides uncapped legal defense coverage for its members who legally use a weapon in self-defense or defense of others. Firearms Legal Protection is a legal service plan that provides its members with peace of mind that they can protect themselves and their loved ones.
Concealed Coalition
Concealed Coalition aims to change the way people feel about firearms. Every day we open minds through next-gen digital learning and extinguish fear through hands-on education experiences. They are the leading the industry with a direct passion for firearms. We exist to inspire hope, extinguish fear, and bring help to people searching for solutions in the real world. Join us.
More Affiliations
National Rifle & Pistol Association
California Rifle & Pistol Association
National Rifle & Pistol Association
The National Rifle Association is America's longest-standing civil rights organization. Together with our more than five million members, we're proud defenders of history's patriots and diligent protectors of the Second Amendment.
Gun Owners of California
California Rifle & Pistol Association
National Rifle & Pistol Association
Do you believe the Second Amendment guarantees the First Amendment, and each Amendment that follows? If so, join the fight for real solutions to the issue of crime – with your help, we can make a difference without sacrificing our Constitutional rights and the ability of the law abiding to protect our homes, our families, and even our country.
California Rifle & Pistol Association
California Rifle & Pistol Association
California Rifle & Pistol Association
The California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA), founded in 1875, is a nonprofit membership and donor supported organization with tens of thousands of members throughout California. CRPA works tirelessly and relentlessly to defend the civil and constitutional rights of individuals to choose to responsibly own and use firearms.
We Are a Proud Veteran Owned Business
