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Krav Maga Experts
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
December 3, 2025, Israel
The term expert is thrown around a lot. But what does it mean? Does it guarantee any sort of success? Who stands behind this term? Is there any standard by which this term can be applied? I trusted experts in the financial field and lost more money than I wish to admit. Does it make it any better that I followed the advice of "experts"?
Losing money is bad, but losing your life is much worse. When it comes to Krav Maga the term expert appears everywhere, and it means nothing whatsoever.
I use the term as part of my URL, that was not my idea, but, so it is. But I do not rely upon that term, at each and every seminar I must earn my title "expert" again. For me every night is opening night. If I fail once - I would be out. But how does one prove expertise? I shall get to that.
First let us establish that there is no international board that can verify expertise in Krav Maga. This is not electrical work, or car repairs, it is a very subjective field and anyone, yes anyone can attach the title expert to their name or website, and it means nothing. It guarantees nothing.
I have seen "experts" of many kinds, allow me to elaborate.
There are those who are physically very powerful. They are in the prime of their youth, they are incredibly fit, they can "take a lickin' and keep on tickin", i.e. they are conditioned to withstand a lot of pain, of a certain kind, the kind that you will see in their promotional videos. For most attacks their solution is "accept some pain", as one guy put it, and then Charge in like a raging bull. That might work in some circumstances. In the UFC those who tried that method lost pretty quickly to skilled martial artists. On the street if the attacker has a knife, charging in will not usually solve the problem. During the filming of the Human Weapon in Jerusalem, that was tested and proven again and again. The young athletic fighters were cut badly, "killed", when they attempted this approach. In Israel it has been proven as well, countless times, when a terrorist charges in that way, with full violent intention, the Israeli soldiers move, evade the attack and shoot. In every case that I know, and I have seen hundreds of videos, the terrorist ends up dead on the ground. And yet, those who advocate this system get away with calling themsleves experts. Such "expert" advice and training will most certainly get you killed.
And there is another category of "experts", the magicians. These days with social media, and everyone trying to promote their wares, we see them daily in our feed. They are brilliantly choreographed, and the masters possess perfect timing. "Turn around to watch the jugglers and the clowns when they do tricks for you". With pinpoint wizard accuracy they catch the attacker's arm, move in circles, twist arms and do Houdini like tricks (we now know he was nothing more than showman and a trickster). To the uninitiated, this all looks great, even magical, which it is. But it is useless and these "experts" are putting peoples' lives in danger.
So how can one know what is good and what is not?
I will share my approach.
When I test someone for instructor in IKI Krav Maga, I will have them show the technique, show me that they know how to do the technique, and how to teach the technique both to a beginner and to an advanced practitioner. And then I will have them explain, why do we do it this way, and why do we not do it another way. This is critical. I want to see that you understand the technique, that you have internalized the lesson.
When I teach a technique, I explain the logic behind it. There are two elements, it must make sense logically and it must be proven empirically. Everything is tested full force with full resistance, not just in our laboratory in Israel but all over the world, if it does not work, we hear about it, and we make adjustments. But there is more, we welcome questions. Sometimes a beginner will spot an issue that a black belt did not notice. It must make sense, to everyone! People need to feel free to question the techniques, the strategy, and in IKI, trust me, they do!!
I see techniques being taught that simply defy logic, but I know how these systems not only survive but continue to grow - Trust. When a self-proclaimed master steps on the mat, full of confidence, projecting authority, then anything he says or does is taken as "gospel". I understand that; I was like that for years until certain events prompted me to start questioning conventional wisdom.
I will give just one recent example of what I consider a bit insane. Knife attack situation: I will not go into details (I do not wish to embarrass anyone), but the defense involved running around the attacker (waving the knife), coming at him from behind (explain to me how to do that) and tackling him from behind and bringing him to the ground.
Wow! I have no words! I am imagining a terrorist, of which we have many here in Israel, hell-bent on stabbing to kill, and an ordinary citizen is expected to evade the knife attack, circle around the guy, catch him by the waist, take him to the ground, not get stabbed, and disarm the guy!! Unless you are a combination of Superman and Harry Potter, I think not. But the guy who is teaching this is touted as an expert, but is scariest of all is that he makes claims of having taught "thousands of students, corporations, police etc.". I really hope not!!! (and yes, he served in the Israeli army, that makes him pretty unique.)
Anyone can make claims to be an expert, but you have a God-given right to question everyone. Be respectful, give the instructor time to explain, don't be a jerk, don't walk into your first class and question every move the instructor makes. But as time goes on, and you learn more, make sure it makes sense to you, and that you do not have to be Superman plus Spiderman to make this work. Remember, we are ordinary people. Do not accept things on faith just because the guy projects confidence.
I claim to be an expert, and I prove it in every class I teach, with every technique. I do not rest on titles or ranks or pieces of paper or testimonials from people who do not know any better. I prove it, all over the world, more than 1,100 times and counting. Most of our newer students are already established experts before they join IKI, they are school owners, security experts, military, police, they know what they are looking for, and they know what they have found. An expert must be able to prove it, and an expert must always be improving and learning, and growing, not living by an outdated manual.
When you see the word "expert", take it lightly. If you see a folder full of diplomas, I would question that, you only need one diploma, from one instructor. Being affiliated with five different associations cries out "Insecurity".
Expert status must be proven, to everyone, all the time. May the buyer beware!!!
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
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?
What weapons and military strategies did our Biblical ancestors use?
How has Krav Maga developed in Israel and what are its goals?
All that and more in this unique book.
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