Do Teachers Need to be Aggressive
BY MOSHE KATZ 
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL

September 3, 2025, The Valley, San Fernando Valley, California, USA

MosheKickboxing

Hundreds of full contact fights

I am in Los Angeles, I did not begin my martial arts training here but rather in Jerusalem, but I did spend some of my early years training here. I trained in Judo with Sensei Tony, may he rest in peace, with Shidoshi Frank W. Dux, and with Benny the Jet Urquidez, good times and formative years. It is here that the Karate Kid and Cobra Kai stories take place, many memories. 

Since then I have accumulated many years, in many styles, I have fought many full-contact fights, I have been internationally ranked, as a fighter and as an instructor, I am telling this not to boast but to establish credentials. Humility is always in order, but as my cousin Steven pointed out, if I don't know your credentials, why should I bother listening to you or reading what you wrote. So my credentials are listed. (click on my name below the title of the blog and you can see all of my accomplishments in martial arts). 

I want to address the issue of Aggression in Krav Maga, in self-defense, but not the element of aggression in self-defense itself, but in teaching. In other words, how much aggression should the teacher display, how much aggression should the teacher use against his/her own students? How much aggression is appropriate in teaching, what value does in serve and is it productive or counter-productive?

This is the question, and it is important. 

Now there is a certain element of students, in certain styles, who simply love the abuse. They want to be yelled at, pushed to the limits of their mental and physical abilities, they want to be hit, hard! For them it is not about self-defense, it is not about survival, it is about belonging and feeling tough. These are the type of people who might otherwise end up in violent street gangs, so it is better to act out this aggression in the controlled environment of these "Aggressive" styles. 

I have seen these styles, the instructor is young, strong, tough, and perhaps missing a few screws, he can take a beating, he wants students to hit him hard, to prove how tough he is. But is this for everyone? Is this for people seeking genuine self defense? Can the average person take several blows to the head and come out charging against their aggressor? I think not. 

and what if that "punch" to the head turns out not to be a punch, but rather a small knife? and what if, unlike the "cool" videos, the attacker does not do a classic wide swing but rather changes directions at the last split second and cuts open your gut? All the toughness in the world will not stop you from dying. In terms of actual self-defense, these overly aggressive, overly Macho styles, bit the dust. They are simply very low quality styles. 

I am not saying this because I am averse to getting hit, on the contrary, in the USA I trained with the toughest fighters, among the Japanese styles Kyokushin stood out as the toughest styles. A practitioner of another Japanese karate style said to me at the time, there is Karate and there is Kyokushin Karate. I visited several hospitals as results of injuries sustained during full-contact fighting, but I was back in training the next day. 
I trained in full-contact Muay Thai with legendary champion Kru Phil Nurse where the warm-up included 100 knuckle push-ups and 40 minutes of barefooted jump roping. I am no stranger to pain and discomfort. 

On the west coast I trained with champion Benny the Jet, on the east coast with Grand Master Saiko Shihan Shigeru Oyama, who completed the 100-man Kumite and was certified by none other than the legendary Mas Oyama. In Israel I trained for 18+ years with Itay Gil, Israels' best fighter. There too I was no stranger to the hospital. 

I am no stranger to pain, but I am not stupid. I train smart. I learn from my mistakes. Aggression has its place, but it must be controlled aggression, used in the right place, at the right time, in the right dosage, otherwise you are just a brain-dead brute. Covering your head, taking blow after blow, and then rushing in against an attacker, is suitable for Hollywood films, and here too I have the experience, as one of my dearest friends is a producer and writer and I have known many actors and stunt directors over the years (before AI).

We need to separate guys who look like they are applying to be the villain in the next Van Damme movie from real Krav Maga instructors. If you enjoy Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain, If you're not into yoga, if you have half a brain etc...you might be ready to experience some real Krav Maga from someone who has been there, seen that, done that, taken the bruises, had a few teeth broken, and learned a thing or to. Don't fall for the hype.  

Get Real, get IKI Krav Maga, a proven and recognized system, world wide!

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Moshe Katz, 7th 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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What is the cultural background of Krav Maga?  What makes it unique? What makes the Israeli military so effective? Why are Israeli security systems used all over the world?

What are the Biblical origins of Krav Maga and who was the first Krav Maga instructor?

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