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WORLD OF FIREPOWER
T
atiana Whitlock may describe herself as a mom and a firearms educator, but really she is a force to be reckoned with. Hanging up in her closet is her Shaolin Kempo black belt. Besides being a badass, Whitlock also runs her own personal training business and is involved with a number of other organizations in various capacities, including being the COO at GAT Marketing and the Director of Training at both Howell’s Indoor Range & Gunshop and for the national women’s organization, A Girl & A Gun. But that’s not all. If you ever watch the Pursuit Channel, you might catch her hosting the “Trigger Time” TV show, and she also cohosts “The Weaponized Woman” on the Lock N Load Radio show. As Whitlock so aptly put it, “There’s no dust on these shoes.” So, dust off a chair and grab a seat. You’re about to get up close and personal with one of the hottest commodities in the firearms industry today.
Firepower: When you were growing up, what were your goals?
Tatiana Whitlock: I’m the family slacker. I've got 12 or 13 patents right now and everybody else has about 200 apiece. I really thought I would be in the thick of it in the product design plastic world. I never saw this coming. Everyone in my family, all of my elders, are extremely creative and passionate people who just immerse themselves in their area of interest. That was the example that was set for me growing up. They have changed career paths and pursued radically different fields because that’s where their passion led them. That seems to be my story, too. If you asked me 10 years ago if I would be a professional gunslinger, I would think you’re kidding. I’ve only been doing this for seven years now. My son is 8 years old. Right before his first birthday I took my first gun class. I never picked up a rifle before that day, and now here we are. Now, 100% of my professional efforts are within the firearms community.
Whitlock: I was 10 years old when my 5-year-old little brother was getting bullied on the playground. He was getting roughed up every day so my grandmother decided to take action. To build his self-confidence, she signed him up for some martial arts lessons. During his lessons, I would go and watch him with my mom. As a kid, I was excruciatingly shy, but one day I gathered the guts to whisper in my mom's ear, “I think I would really like to try this.” My mother just about fell off her chair. She signed me up immediately. At a very young age, I fell in love with the martial arts.
your degree helped you grow your business?
Whitlock: I received my degree in
prompted you to start your own business?
Whitlock: I pursued firearms training because I loved it. I loved being a student. I
didn’t have a goal of becoming an educator. And that’s what I really identify myself as— an educator. Sharing my knowledge with people who are really interested in firearms themselves is a passion of mine. That’s been the thing that has driven me to learn more and share what I know with those looking to learn.
Firepower: How has
Firepower: What
Firepower: What sparked your interest in self-defense?
Whitlock’s interest in the martial arts resulted in an introduction to firearms as a means of self and home protection.
As a 10-year-old, Whitlock fell for the martial arts. She was inspired by watching her brother train.
Fine Arts and majored in Industrial Design at Rhode Island School of Design. Coming from an artistic background gave me an appreciation for exceptionally well-made and well-engineered products. I’m a complete nerd when it comes to product designs. Being able to be a contributor and not just a user has been a