TV Interviews and Krav Maga - The problem
BY MOSHE KATZ 
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL

May 8, 2025, Israel

MosheOyama1987

We all love free publicity. And, let's face it, if you are teaching martial arts as a full-time job, running a school, a dojo, you need all the help you can get. Paying the bills is not easy, and it always involves some compromise. So when you receive a call from the local TV station saying they want to interview you and see a demonstration of what you have to offer, Urika, Fantastic, what can be better!! This is great for business, great for your ego, just great.

Only it is usually not. 

I have been interviewed many times, for newspapers, radio and a few times for TV. What I never do is demonstrate techniques. I will explain why. 

Here is the usual scenario: You have a man in a suit and tie, wearing slick shoes, he has never done a day of martial arts, or any other similar activity, in his entire life. With him is a woman, she is shapely, beautiful, wearing a mini skirt, high heels, and lots of makeup. She is dainty and clearly not a fighter of any sort. The guest, the martial arts instructor, is of course wearing his gi, his karate uniform. He looks ridiculous in my opinion. That outfit is reserved for the dojo, training hall, wearing it with shoes in a TV studio just comes across as silly, just my opinion. Next, the martial arts master, sometimes accompanied by a couple of goon-like students standing on the side in a ridiculous martial arts pose, takes the hapless male newscaster and gently show him how he can quickly disarm or disable him. 

This is accompanied by "Whoa!" as the newscaster quickly falls to his knees acting very impressed with the skills of the martial arts master. Next, in a very macho way the instructor, and this is true even for guest female instructors, take the dainty female broadcaster and in a very easy way, guide her step to step to mastering a simple technique. It is done of course on one of the professional martial artists, and lo-and-behold, it works magnificently.

Now the news team advertises the name and location of the studio, and the instructor feels like a king. 

Number 1 - I have never know any of these stunts to bring in students. Perhaps it does bring in one or two, but my experience is that he who desires wisdom shall seek it. One does not need advertising. The true student will make the effort to search for the best instructor. Long before internet I did my search in New York City. I used the Yellow Pages, made phone calls, and went by train and by foot to many schools until I decided upon the Oyama Kyokushin dojo. 

Training involves commitment, enjoying a little stunt on TV rarely leads to new students. But, who knows, perhaps it sparks a little interest.

2. My main issue is that that techniques usually are terrible, but no one knows. The newscasters know absolutely nothing about martial arts, and of course they just go along with whatever is being done. The entire scene is so predictable that I find it laughable. I have turned down such offers. People watch, enjoy, and believe that these techniques are really effective, which is most cases they are not. But who would know the difference? 

3. Personally, I find the whole experience demeaning. It feels to me like a monkey with an accordion, just a show.  If you are serious, come to the training hall, come see us in person. We are not a vaudeville act.  We are serious instructors here to teach you life-saving skills. I am not an actor nor an entertainer.

Moshe2021

Moshe Katz, 7th dan Black Belt, Israeli Krav Maga. Certified by Wingate Institute. Member Black Belt hall of fame, USA and Europe.

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