Norm Bettencourt is a naïve of Thunder Bay Ontario. He began studying martial arts in 1983-training in the style of Monkey Kung Fu. Within 9 months of beginning his training he was asked to leave by his Sifu due to his involvement in drugs and crime. Years later Norm reexamined his life when one day he experienced a near fatal overdose. Norm entered rehab and began his road to recovery. With the help of the martial arts his focus and discipline grow which in turn helped kick his habit.

The year of 1993 Norm began focusing on the tournament scene-receiving numerous gold and silver medals in kata (forms) and kumite (fighting). In the spring of 1997 he received his Shodan (black belt) from the All Japan Karate Federation. Later that year he began teaching martial arts. Upon coming home one night from teaching one of his martial arts classes Sensei Norm was attacked and hurt.

The experience motivated him to begin researching many different combat arts and self defense systems.  Training one-on-one with different ex military personnel from different parts of the world. Researching medical books and interviewing doctors on the effects of adrenaline and the best anatomic weaknesses of the human body. Investigating accelerated muscle memory training methods. Norm also became certified in Crisis Intervention and Prevention and became a licensed security professional.

Through his dedicated research and passion he created the TACT Self Defense System (Tactical Alliance Combat Techniques) putting his self defense system to the ultimate test as a bouncer/bodyguard. Being only 5’6 in height and weighing 170lbs Norm was considered small but quickly made a name for himself in the security industry.
His services were requested by his clients and colleagues all across Canada. The TACT Self Defense system quickly excelled also teaching many how to protect and defend themselves without having to be big, strong or put forward years of training.

In 2005 Norm produced the HOW TO GET OUT ALIVE CRIME PREVENTION CD-ROM which retails at SPYZONE, MIKADO MARTIAL ARTS, GOLDEN ARROW MARTIAL ARTS and KUEW WAY MARTIAL ARTS stores. In the beginning of 2006 he opened the TACT SELF DEFENSE ONLINE TRAINING CENTRE which teaches his self defense method online. Norm publishes a FREE bi-weekly TACT TIPS NEWSLETTER that is highly recommended to subscribe too- it’s filled with self defense tricks, tips and techniques to keep you safe. He has been interviewed by CBC RADIO ONE VANCOUVER and has  written for mixed martial arts magazines such as IRONLIFE MAGAZINE and many of his articles have been featured in other publications. He resides with his wife Meredith in Vancouver, BC Canada.