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Small Town Big Seminar
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
October 13, 2026, Weißwasser, Germany-Israel
Weißwasser, Germany, some of the many participants. It was ausgebucht, sold out!
What I am about to present is a lesson, a Master Lesson of how to create a successful seminar against all odds. I will be open and honest, and the point is to share a positive experience for educational purposes, not to rebuke or put down anyone. Sometimes, despite all our efforts we still fail. Sometimes even if we do everything correctly, we still do not succeed. But here I wish to share a lesson that we can all learn from.
Weißwasser is an economically suppressed area. It was part of the Soviet bloc, the German Democratic Republic, East Germany, until 1990. During this time many enterprises had to close. When German reunification took place, only a few enterprises remained. Weißwasser still struggles with the after-effects of German reunification, as this has a devastating effect on the economy and many businesses relocated. There are few jobs in town and most young men leave to study in other cities, very few ever return. The population is shrinking and is down from 40,000 to about 12,000. Many are older people. And this was reflected in the seminar as well, but I must tell you, when I shook the hands of these older men I felt power. I felt arms strengthend and hardened from hard physical labor.
The main industry, the glass factories, have closed or relocated, the town suffers from a high percentage of unemployment. Many young people live in the hope of finding work elsewhere, now that Germany is reunited and there are more opportunities elsewhere.
Thus, we have a dwindling, aging, population, high unemployment and low income, and yet the seminar was a huge success.
How?
I will share my thoughts and perspective.
Vision - It becomes with a goal, a dream, of hosting a successful seminar. You must always begin with a vision, and have faith in your vision.
Humility - The next important point is humility. None of the people involved had any ego at all. No one was trying to take "credit" or be the boss. The goal was shared.
Teamwork - the next thing I noticed was the incredible teamwork. While the head instructor Sebastian was clearly in charge, he delegated authority and responsibilities to others, based on their particular talents and abilities. He was not trying to control anyone; they were all focused on the goal.
Networking - Many students came from other martial arts schools. To achieve this sort of success one must be a genuinely good person. This is not a matter of poaching students, or trying to claim that "our system is better than yours". It is a matter of building trust and respect among martial arts professionals. I feel it is correct that instructors should attend the seminars of their local colleagues, as a show of support and respect. If an IKI instructor were to attend a Kung Fu seminar, this is not a matter of abandoning our style, it is a matter of supporting a fellow school owner and perhaps learning something interesting and useful. Then, in turn, the Kung Fu instructor will attend our seminars along with his students and learn something useful and interesting as well. For this to happen, however, there must be a long-term relationship of trust and support.
Unity - The seminar was also attended by IKI instructors from as far away as Poland. These are the words sent by our IKI representative in Poland, Jacob, It was wonderful to see you again and to spend these two days training and learning together. For me, IKI has always been about much more than Krav Maga. It's about people, friendship, mutual respect, and the values we share. I truly believe in this family, and supporting you and other IKI instructors is something that comes naturally to me. I am proud to be part of it.
These are the words I wish to hear.
Value - The most important aspect of any seminar trip for me, is to feel valued, not a burden, not an "expense". I do not seek to be spoiled, and I never make any excessive or expensive demands, however being treated in a way that expresses that my teaching is appreciated and respected, and is worth the financial outlay, makes me feel Valued as an instructor. This in turn, motivates me to give more, and more. And indeed, I give 120% at every seminar, but when I feel valued, I do not feel drained by this effort that always comes after long flights and overnight delays at airports.
Profit - The goal of the instructor here was for himself and his students to profit, not financially, but from the experience. They were able to fully cover their expenses, but they were willing to take the risk of having to cover the expenses themselves, if need be. The goal was not financial profit, but to gain in terms of knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
When the focus is not on the training but on profit, that is the beginning of the end. We have instructors who host seminars and tell me the following. When I attend one of your seminars in another country, (which many do), I must pay for a flight, a hotel, eating out etc. But when I host you I do not have those expenses and therefore if I need to pay a few hundred Euro out of my own pocket, it is well worht the money.
When I hear words like that, I feel valued. And when I feel valued, you get a better seminar. If I feel like a burden, in any way, I am gone.
Training - I found all the students very serious in their training. In fact, they were often reluctant to take any breaks. I did not see anyone loitering around, bored, and waiting for something more exciting. If I had left them alone, they would have kept training on the same technique until I stopped them. Many of the participants were themselves masters in other styles, Jujitsu, Kung Fu, knife fighting, yet they humbly applied themselves to my techniques and teachings.
Off Time - During the times we were not training I was never left to feel "neglected", I was not left in the hotel for hours on end waiting for the next session. And yes, this has happened in other places! I was given the option of resting, if I need it, but if not they were always there for me. And again, this was a team effort. I was taken shopping so that I could buy presents for my family. They made certain to have appropriate food for a kosher diet.
The event was a 100% success, from every possible angle and perspective. I left tired but exhilarated.
This event had every excuse for failure, ready in advance; the economy, the history, the location, the aging and unemployed population and so forth, and yet it was a sold-out event. The goal, based on the size of the dojo was 26 and we had 28-30 participants at each session. We even had the event covered by the local press!
A humble team of dedicated students and instructors, united in their goal. The result: a Big success in a Small town! This is a Master Lesson in success.
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
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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How has Krav Maga developed in Israel and what are its goals?
All that and more in this unique book.
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