Featured Partner
Mantis
Dry-fire feedback and movement analysis designed to make practice between classes more intentional.
Dux Fortis may earn a commission if you purchase through this link, at no additional cost to you.
Protector-Focused Firearms Instruction • Houston, TX
Build Confidence.
Protect What Matters.
Disciplined, real-world firearms training from a former Army Special Forces Weapons Sergeant. Built for first-time owners, families, and professionals who take their responsibility seriously.
Veteran-Owned
Faith-Driven
Real-World Experience
Special Forces Weapons Sergeant
Combat Medic
Afghanistan Veteran
Houston, Texas
Who We Train
Training built around your responsibility, not a range trophy
Every course answers three questions fast: who we are, why you can trust us, and what to do next. No ego, no hype. Just disciplined instruction that sticks.
First-Time Owners
Start with the fundamentals, safe handling, and confidence from your very first session.
Families & Home Defense
Build real preparedness for the people you protect most, at a pace that fits your family.
Professionals
Private, tailored instruction for those who carry a higher standard of readiness.
Skill-Builders
Progress through a structured pipeline from pistol fundamentals to advanced work.
Competitive
Prepare for legitimate shooting competitions under strict time and accuracy standards, the kind used in USPSA, IDPA, and IPSC matches.
Tactical
Develop real-world tactical skills, movement, positioning, and decisive defensive shooting for high-pressure situations.
Now Enrolling
Start Here
The Training Pipeline
A clear path from first shot to advanced work
We show you the whole road ahead. Courses marked live are enrolling now, the rest open as the program grows.
Training Partners
Keep building between range days
The work does not stop when a course ends. We share tools that can help you reinforce safe, deliberate practice at home.
View Recommended GearWhy Dux Fortis
Trust earned in the real world
Every course is taught by a Special Forces veteran and built around your responsibility to protect, not a range trophy.
Real Operational Experience
Taught by a former Army Special Forces Weapons Sergeant and Combat Medic with real deployment experience.
Safety Is the Foundation
Every session is built on strict safety standards, so you train with confidence from the first round.
A Disciplined Path
A clear progression from fundamentals to advanced work, so every course builds on the last.
Your Instructor
Joshua Wathen
Joshua Wathen founded Dux Fortis to train everyday citizens to protect the people they love. He is a US Army veteran qualified as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant, a Special Operations Combat Medic, and an Airborne Infantryman.
Dux Fortis is faith-driven and protector-focused. The standard is discipline you can trust.
How It Works
From booked to graduated, four steps
01
Choose Your Course
Pick the course and date that fits you on one simple calendar.
02
Book & Pay Online
Reserve your seat with secure payment in full. No unpaid holds.
03
Get Your Prep
Receive your equipment list, ammo requirements, and pre-course materials.
04
Train & Graduate
Show up, put in the work, earn your certificate, and take the next step.
Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.
Psalm 144:1
Why Train Here
Why train with Dux Fortis
Earned Certificates
Every course ends in an objective skills qualification. You pass by performing, not by showing up.
Real-World Instruction
Taught by a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant and Combat Medic.
A Clear Path
A progressive pipeline from your first shot to advanced, integrated work.
Ready to train?
Reserve your seat in an upcoming course, or request private instruction on your schedule.
About
Discipline you can trust
Joshua Wathen
Joshua Wathen founded Dux Fortis to train everyday citizens to protect the people they love. He is a US Army veteran qualified as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant, a Special Operations Combat Medic, and an Airborne Infantryman. In that career he learned that people matter more than equipment and that your values are what make you who you are.
Since leaving the military he has built businesses and helped grow veteran organizations ranging from PTSD treatment to business development for transitioning veterans. He teaches from one conviction: competence with a firearm is a responsibility, not a hobby, and every student should leave more capable and more confident than when they arrived.
Dux Fortis is faith-driven and protector-focused. The standard is discipline you can trust.
Discipline
Structured, standards-based instruction. No shortcuts.
Safety First
Range safety is the foundation of every session.
Real Experience
Instruction earned in real operational environments.
Faith-Driven
A protector's mindset rooted in purpose and service.
"Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war."
Psalm 144:1
Courses
The complete training pipeline
We operate a focused set of courses today and show the full road ahead. Enrolling courses are open now, the rest open as the program grows.
Enrolling Now
Coming Soon
Available Now
Learn More
Private Lessons
Prefer one-on-one? Private instruction is tailored entirely to your goals, pace, and equipment.
Recommended Gear
Tools for deliberate practice
Resources we believe can support disciplined training between classes. Your course instruction and safety standards always come first.
Featured Training Partner
Mantis
Mantis systems provide feedback for dry-fire and live-fire practice, helping you turn range instruction into more purposeful repetitions at home.
Dux Fortis may earn a commission if you purchase through this link, at no additional cost to you.
Course Description
Who This Course Is For
Prerequisites
Learning Objectives
Skills Taught
Graduation Standards
Equipment Requirements
Ammunition Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Course Calendar
Every course and event, one calendar
Browse upcoming courses and events, and reserve your seat. New dates are added regularly. If nothing on the calendar fits, tell us what works for you and we will coordinate a date.
Request a Class or LessonUpcoming Sessions
SMTWTFS
Day with a scheduled course or event
Don't see a date that works?
Tell us which course you're interested in and the timeframe that works for you. We'll reach out to coordinate the date, time, and payment.
Thanks. We'll reach out to coordinate a date, time, and payment. Keep an eye on your email and phone.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Pistol 1 is built for first-time owners.
Each course lists its own equipment and ammunition requirements.
Payment is made in full at booking through secure online checkout. No unpaid reservations.
Full cancellation and reschedule terms are in our Policies.
Training is held at Renaissance Shooting Club, 22633 FM 1774, Plantersville, Texas 77363. Final arrival instructions are sent after booking.
Yes. Private lessons are tailored one-on-one to your goals and schedule.
Contact
Get in touch
Thanks, we will get back to you soon.
Location
Houston, Texas • Range location shared on booking
Response Time
We typically reply within one business day.
Policies
Policies & standards
Payment
Payment reserves your seat and is processed securely through Stripe. Pricing is announced per course.
Cancellation
Seats are reserved on payment. You may reschedule up to 24 hours before your session at no charge. Cancellations inside 24 hours may forfeit the class fee. Dux Fortis may cancel or reschedule for weather or safety and will offer a new date or a full refund.
Safety
Safety is never reduced. Every course adds complexity, pressure, or physical demand without ever lowering the standard of safe gun handling. Four rules govern everything we do: treat every firearm as if it is loaded; never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy; keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot; and always be sure of your target and what is beyond it. Any student whose conduct is unsafe may be paused or dismissed.
Liability Waiver
Every student signs the Dux Fortis Firearms Training Agreement before training. In plain terms, it covers the real risks of live-fire instruction, confirms you are legally eligible and unimpaired, gives the lead instructor final authority on safety, and releases Dux Fortis and the hosting range from ordinary negligence claims to the extent Texas law allows. It does not release gross negligence or willful misconduct. It also includes a photo and video release you can opt out of by checking one box.
You can read the full agreement now and bring it signed, or wait for it. Before your class or lesson you will receive an email with the waiver attached along with your equipment list, ammunition requirements, and arrival instructions.
Participants under 18 require a parent or legal guardian to sign as well.
The full agreement governs. The summary above is provided for convenience only.
Download the Training Agreement (PDF)Privacy
Student information is used only to administer training and is never sold.
Payment received
Step 1 is complete
Your Dux Fortis payment went through
Your seat is reserved. A confirmation email is on its way with your equipment list, ammunition requirements and arrival instructions.
Step 2 of 2
Step 2
This part is a separate payment, made directly to the provider who runs it. It is not part of what you just paid Dux Fortis, and your training is not fully booked until it is done.
Continue to Step 2You will also receive an email with this link, so you can come back to it whenever you are ready.
Taking you there in 10s •
Staying here. Use the button above whenever you are ready.
Nothing else to pay
You are all set. Watch your inbox for your confirmation and your pre-class instructions.
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