Appreciation
BY MOSHE KATZ 
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL

September 3, 2026, Los Angeles


Fall IKI Krav Maga tour 2026 has come to an end and I want to express my appreciation to all those who hosted me, and to all those students who participated in the seminars. Without all of you the tour could not take place. 

Appreciation is important, on both ends. 

I know that is it often difficult to take off time to come to seminars, I know it is often not easy to get students to understand the value of attending seminars. I know how much work is involved in staging a successful event. I have been on that side many times myself, it is a labor of love, but it demands time and effort in order to be successful. It is much more than just putting out a flyer and hoping or praying that people attend. As I learned from my older brother the preparation starts months in advance; creating a "Buzz" in class, getting people to talk about it, to spread the word for free (not paid commercial advertisements). We must get people talking about it, we must call up past participants and potential future participants, and we must follow up. There is work involved, I do not just show up to a packed room and take it for granted. I Appreciate the effort. 

I was taught young the value of Appreciation. When someone hosted us for a meal and thanks were offered, the host usually answered with, "Oh, it was no trouble at all!"

My father, may he rest in peace, said this is a lie. 

The correct answer is, "It was quite an effort, but you are worth it." That is more honest, and that attaches value to the guest. Saying it was no effort implies that the person also has no real value. We were eating anyway, so you can join us, no big deal. That is how it comes across, and no one learns about Appreciation of Value. 

My father taught me that it is a big deal. 

Someone worked hard for the money to buy the food. Someone went shopping and bought the food, someone prepared the food, and that someone gave a lot of thought to what food to prepare and how to set up the table, and someone will have to clean up the mess, wash the dishes and put everything away. To say it was no effort is not to be true. It is an effort, but I value your company, so I am happy to do it. 

My father taught me honesty. My father taught me appreciation, and my father taught me to express appreciation. My mother taught me that everyone needs Appreciation, no matter how successful they are.  

So I express appreciation to my hosts; I thank them for organizing the event and working hard to make it a success.  I myself have organized such events and I understand what is involved; finding a venue, creating a flyer, calling up potential participants, following up and so forth. I hope they see value in what I do, it is not "Oh, it was no trouble" but I hope it was "You are worth the effort, we value you, we value your teachings and the effort it took to get here".

But Why?

But why is Appreciation necessary? Can't we just assume that the speaker or guest know this?

I recall watching a George Burns movie with my dear mother, may she rest in peace. Burns was basically playing a version of himself. I do not recall anything at all about the movie other than one scene that had a huge impact on my life, I would say that in many ways it shaped my life. Burns had just done a stand-up comedy routine to a packed theater. Every seat was filled and the crowed was loving the show. They laughed, they cheered, they applauded. And of course, at this point in his life George Burns was already a huge star, very successful as an actor, a show man, a great entertainer. But what happened next was the most meaningful. He was in the car being driven back to his hotel by his regular chauffeur. Burns kept badgering the Chauffer; Do you think they liked the show?
Yes, Mr. Burns, they loved it.

Really? Do you think it went well? Did they like the joke about...etc.

And I was thinking to myself, what is wrong with this guy? He is a huge success, and the event that night was clearly a phenomenal success. The crowd was going crazy for him, why does he keep seeking reassurance and validation from his loyal and obedient driver?

And then while I was thinking this to myself, silently, alone in my thoughts, my mother said, "That is your father". What she meant was my father was a great speaker, when he delivered his Shabbat morning or holiday sermons, my hair stood on edge, but what I gathered from this brief interaction was that despite his success he always sought my mother's validation and confirmation that his sermon was good, interesting and well-recieved.

We Need Validation/Appreciation

That was a powerful lesson: No matter how successful one is, they need confirmation, validation, Appreciation, Positive Reinforcement. This will make them work even harder, knowing that they are appreciated. 

I heard an interview with Paul McCartney, one of the most successful musicians and composers of all time and clearly a huge success. He described how while out in public someone commented to him that they loved his new album. McCartney expressed how much this meant to him, to hear such positive feedback directly from a fan, not statistics, not sales, not record reviews. This should teach us a great deal.

Paul McCartney, with all his unparalleled success, still needs validation, confirmation, Appreciation. And I want to address the question, why?

As a fan, as an outsider, one may see this as unnecessary and even perhaps as egotistic. George Burns, Paul McCartney, they have received so much praise, why do they need more? It must be due to a huge ego. 

It is not. That is incorrect. It has nothing to do with ego.

When you are a writer, a performer, a speaker, you need to feel the validation, to know you are on the right path. It is not ego, it is like the GPS telling you that you are on the correct path, that you have not made a wrong turn, that you should continue along this path. Sometimes this is difficult to put into words, but every performer knows this. 

When you tell a joke, you need to hear the laughter, when you tell a story you need to see the look in the eyes of the listeners, when you play a song, you need to see the swaying bodies of the dancers. When you teach a lesson, you need to see and feel the students paying attention. This is the echo of your works. It is the feedback that guides you next move. The joke got a response, you continue with that line of jokes, it fell flat, you move on to a different topic.  We do not operate in a vacuum, we need feedback. The only way we can improve is by the feedback we receive. 

In the synagogue each Friday night a member of the congregation will deliver a little message, his thoughts on the Bible, as he walks down back to his seat, I will say, Yeshar Koach, more power to you, well done! This always brings a smile to the face of the recipient, and it costs me nothing. I know he needs this, I know because I too am a performer. No feedback = no progress. No growth.

On the Day of Atonement each year a man named Michael BG pours his heart out as he leads the special services. He chants in the Eastern European tradition that has been passed down to him from many generations. As the service ends and he walks out of the synagogue, a few will nod and say, well done, but most go on their way. They don't know. They don't understand. They are not performers. They simply don't "get it". It is not ego, it like the breath that we breath. 

I walk up to him, wait for a free moment and say, "I truly enjoyed your leading of the services, I was inspired, I was transported back to a different time, thank you. I truly felt the prayers."

The reaction; suddenly he stops, he is no longer in such a hurry to get home to his waiting family. His face brightens and a beautiful smile appears. "Really? I worked so hard, I practiced and prepared for so long, I trained my voice, I truly tried to inspire, I get it my all, my heart and soul. Thank you for feeling this."

They are not Performers

The man has worked very hard, but most people do not sense this. They are not performers, they are not public speakers, and they simply don't get it and do not appreciate how much effort goes into this type of activity. We cannot blame them for lacking this sensivitivy. 

This fellow Michael took time to talk to me, and tell me about his training and his family history. This encounter brought us closer together. A little appreciation goes a long way. All I did was, I "saw" him. I took a moment to recognize the massive effort, the heart and soul and desire, that went into this "performance" and he not only needs it, he deserves it. 

A Moment of your Time

The lesson was not lost on me, a few words can change a man's soul, raise him up and motivate him, encourage and inspire him to work even harder, and it doesn't cost a penny, just a moment of your time, and ...the sensitivity to notice. 

To all those how hosted me, I see you, I see the effort, I know the effort. To those who took time off of work to come to the seminars, to those who drove long distances, to those who picked me up at the airport, to those that brought me coffee to the seminars, I see you, I acknowledge you, I appreciate you. And I hope you appreciate me as well. I do my best.  

Moshe2021FlagA

Moshe Katz, 8th dan Black Belt, Israeli Krav Maga. Certified by Wingate Institute. Member Black Belt Hall of fame, USA and Europe.

Understand the Israeli Fighting Mentality - Israel a Nation of Warriors by Moshe Katz

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