In this episode, Joel Ellenbecker and CJ Kirk sit down for an important conversation about where Krav Maga Worldwide has been—and where it’s going next.

Following the passing of Darren Levine, KMW leadership has spent significant time considering how to carry forward the system he dedicated his life to developing: preserving what makes Krav Maga uniquely effective while continuing to refine, test, and evolve it in response to real-world experience.

In this episode, Joel and CJ explore what it actually means to take a system-first approach to self-defense. They discuss why Krav Maga isn’t simply a collection of techniques, how decades of feedback from civilian, law enforcement, military, and other force applications have shaped the system, and why meaningful evolution should be deliberate rather than change for the sake of change.

They also examine the difference between combat sports and self-defense, the risks of building a system around an individual practitioner’s size, strength, speed, or specialized background, and why training must remain accessible and effective for people with vastly different physical capabilities.

The conversation also looks toward the future—including the continued integration of Krav Maga principles with weapons training, new developments within the system, the strength of the KMW community in Los Angeles and around the world, and upcoming opportunities for the Krav Maga Worldwide community to train and reconnect.

Key Highlights:

• Remembering Darren Levine and carrying his vision forward

• Why Krav Maga Worldwide has remained deliberate about how the system evolves

• The difference between a system-first and technique-first approach

• How real-world feedback informs KMW curriculum and methodology

• Why “adding more techniques” doesn’t necessarily create better self-defense

• The difference between combat sports skills and a comprehensive self-defense system

• Training for decision-making and performance under stress

• Integrating Krav Maga principles with handgun and edged-weapon training

• The continued presence and future of Krav Maga in Los Angeles

• What KMW has been developing behind the scenes

• A preview of the October public seminar and December KMW community event

Krav Maga has never been about preserving techniques simply because they’ve always been done a certain way. It is about preserving principles, learning from experience, and continually asking how we can prepare ordinary people to protect themselves and others as effectively as possible.

This episode is both a look back at the foundation Darren helped build and a look ahead at the next chapter of Krav Maga Worldwide.

Krav Maga Worldwide OG Kevin Lewis joins host Joel Ellenbecker for a deep, wide-ranging conversation—from Kevin’s first exposure to Krav Maga in the Navy (on a beach with Finnish commandos), to the early days of training at the National Training Center alongside legendary instructors, to refining teaching through Kaizen and principle-based decision making.

They unpack what gets lost online when “Krav Maga” becomes a label instead of a standard: the importance of simultaneous counterattack, taking back initiative, and training for perception–decision–reaction under stress—not just collecting techniques. Kevin also shares what it was like to work closely with Darren and Marni Levine, the responsibility instructors carry now, and why environment dictates tactics (especially when weapons and multiple attackers are real variables).

Kevin closes with a fresh chapter—bringing KMW to Hawaii—and a school-owner truth bomb: you have to promote before you exist.

Key Highlights:

• Early Krav Maga Worldwide history and training during the National Training Center’s formative years
• Why principle-based Krav Maga and decision-making under stress matter more than collecting techniques
• Reflections on Darren Levine’s legacy and the responsibility instructors carry forward today
• Core concepts often misunderstood online, including initiative and simultaneous counterattack
• Kevin’s next chapter bringing Krav Maga Worldwide to Hawaii—and building momentum before opening

Situational awareness is one of the most talked-about—and most misunderstood—concepts in personal safety. Too often it gets reduced to vague advice like “pay attention” or “trust your intuition.” In this episode, the conversation reframes situational awareness as a structured, trainable system built for civilians. From preserving optionality and “escaping relevance,” to stress physiology, responsibility context, and legal articulation, this discussion introduces the SEER-O framework—Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape, and Opportunity—as a practical model for making better decisions before, during, and after critical incidents. The result is a deeper look at situational awareness as pre-contact Krav Maga: disciplined perception, ethical clarity, and actions you can live with long after the moment has passed.

Key Highlights:

• Why “just pay attention” isn’t a system—and how disciplined perception creates actionable awareness
• The concept of preserving optionality and recognizing danger early enough to avoid unnecessary confrontation
• Breaking down the SEER-O framework: Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape—and Opportunity as the meta-skill that allows you to shift modes
• What stress does to perception (tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, cognitive drop) and how breath control supports regulation under pressure
• Legal and ethical coherence: developing a personal ethos and articulating decisions before high-cost, highly visible outcomes occur

In this episode of the Krav Maga Worldwide Podcast, Joel Ellenbecker sits down with Yuri Boiarsky, lifelong Krav Maga practitioner, Israeli-trained instructor, and managing partner of Krav Maga Orange County, to explore a powerful reconnection to Krav Maga’s roots.

Together, they unpack the history and significance of the Wingate Institute (now Levinsky–Wingate Academic College), the premier academic institution where Krav Maga instructors in Israel have been trained for decades. Long before Krav Maga spread globally, Wingate provided the scientific, educational, and instructional foundation that helped legitimize and professionalize the system.

This conversation dives into:

• How Krav Maga originally partnered with Wingate to integrate anatomy, physiology, psychology, and instructional science
• Why reconnecting with Wingate now is about protecting Krav Maga’s roots while modernizing its delivery
• What the new Krav Maga Worldwide × Wingate certification will offer instructors, school owners, and motivated students
• How science-based education improves student safety, learning speed, instructor confidence, and long-term retention
• Why distance learning and technology are becoming essential tools for global growth—without sacrificing standards

Whether you’re a school owner, instructor, or dedicated student, this episode offers rare insight into how Krav Maga Worldwide is strengthening its global standards by reconnecting directly to the source—ensuring that Krav Maga continues to evolve without losing what makes it effective, authentic, and life-saving.

In this episode, Joel Ellenbecker sits down with CJ Kirk to answer a question many people wrestle with: How do I know which martial art or self-defense system is right for me—and how do I choose a school I can trust? CJ breaks down the three broad categories of martial arts, why context and mission matter more than flash, and how modern threats demand principle-driven, architecture-based training rather than a catalog of memorized techniques. Drawing from his own story of being robbed at gunpoint, discovering Krav Maga, and becoming a “reluctant instructor,” CJ shares how clear mission, critical thinking, and staying connected to the source shaped his path. Together, Joel and CJ walk through what to look for in an association, how to evaluate a local school, when “something” is not better than nothing, and why Krav Maga Worldwide is investing so heavily in student development, instructor growth, and new opportunities for people who want to protect themselves and their families.

Key Highlights:

• The three broad categories of martial arts — and why context and intended purpose matter more than flashy techniques
• How CJ’s “12 Days of Christmas” training in Houston uses traditional arts to teach students about mission drift and realism
• Why systems built for swords, horses, and sport rules don’t always translate cleanly to modern violence
• The importance of source, lineage, and staying connected to authentic Krav Maga principles through Darren Levine and Imi Lichtenfeld
• What to look for in an association: knowledge transfer, neuroplasticity, myelination, stress inoculation, and integrated handgun/knife/legal awareness
• How to evaluate a local school beyond marketing claims — from instructor growth plans and student development paths to cleanliness and culture
• CJ’s story of being robbed at gunpoint, realizing he had “no answers,” and going all-in on Krav Maga to protect himself and his family
• Why “something is not always better than nothing” when training can actually create points of failure in real self-defense situations
• How Krav Maga thinking teaches you not just how to move, but how to think — in self-defense and beyond
• Krav Maga Worldwide’s current growth phase, new tools like the Student Development Manual, and opportunities for like-minded people to train, lead, and represent the system

In this episode, Joel Ellenbecker steps out of the host’s chair and into the spotlight to share his journey through Krav Maga. From childhood karate lessons inspired by Power Rangers, to discovering the realism of Krav Maga, to testing for his black belts and overcoming the setback of a torn ACL, Joel’s story weaves together lineage, lessons, and leadership. Now serving as Deputy Chief Instructor for Krav Maga Worldwide and co-owner of Fortitude in Wisconsin, Joel reflects on how relationships, resilience, and relentless learning shaped his path as a martial artist, teacher, and leader.

Key Highlights:

• The karate kid who didn’t love forms — and how that led him to crave realism in training
• Why being “just one course ahead” of his students shaped his growth as an instructor
• The Maryland trip that opened his eyes to adult Krav Maga programs and a bigger vision
• Blisters, taped feet, and lessons from Joel’s very first instructor course
• The moment an instructor pushed Joel past “good kicks” to discover his true best
• How a shopping cart, a surprise care package, and the Grand Canyon fit into his testing stories
• What it really meant to rehab a torn ACL and still test for his 3rd Dan 11 months later
• The tension between being an introvert and stepping into leadership — and how listening became his superpower
• Why relationships, not just techniques, have been the throughline in Joel’s journey
• His excitement for bringing Darren Levine and Jon Pascal to Wisconsin this October

In this episode, Joel sits down with Diego, a martial artist from Uruguay who transitioned from Taekwondo to Krav Maga—and ultimately to Krav Maga Worldwide. Diego shares his journey from discovering Krav Maga in 2008 to becoming a full-time instructor, highlighting the challenges of retraining muscle memory, the importance of small details, and his vision for growing Krav Maga in Uruguay.

Key Highlights:

• Diego’s first encounter with Krav Maga through his Taekwondo instructor in 2008
• Why videos are helpful but never a replacement for training with partners and high-level instructors
• The shift from teaching both Taekwondo and Krav Maga to going all-in on Krav Maga full-time
• How Diego built his school through social media, referrals, and foot traffic
• The conversion process to Krav Maga Worldwide: similarities, small details, and the challenge of muscle memory
• Why details make the difference in life-or-death self-defense situations
• The positive community response to the switch and how his students are more motivated than ever
• Diego’s vision: growing Krav Maga Worldwide across Uruguay with instructor certifications and new training centers
• The culture of KMW: building each other up, training realistically, and keeping students safe

To join us for our October Seminar with Darren, head over to: kmwcalendar.com/darrenlevine.

What starts as a required law-enforcement course becomes a life mission. In this episode, Joel Ellenbecker talks with Tonna Thomas—Krav Maga Worldwide’s first licensee in Wyoming and the first graduate of KMW’s Reservation Program. Tonna shares how “training for life” reignited her during a hard season, why humility and fundamentals trump tactics alone, and how failing Phase A the first time reshaped her preparation, mindset, and aggression. From recruiting her 17-year-old son as a first training partner to opening doors in Sheridan, Tonna maps the real steps (and stumbles) it takes to go from interest to impact—with support from KMW instructors like Kelly Campbell and the Force Training Division.

Key highlights

• How “planting the flag” reserved Sheridan, WY and made the path tangible
• Why civilian instruction demands deeper fundamentals, footwork, and communication
• The humility to start over
• Turning problems into solutions
• Meeting people where they are—many who’ve never thrown a punch
• Coaching touchpoints with Joel, Kelly Campbell, and lessons from the Force Training Division

In this episode, Joel Ellenbecker interviews KMW Deputy Chief Instructor CJ Kirk—4th Dan Krav Maga black belt, coach, and author of Conquer Culture: How Warriors and Winners Lead and Succeed. Together they unpack the real-life experiences, training philosophies, and hard-won insights behind the book, showing how Krav Maga principles can shape a life of meaning and momentum.

Key Highlights:

• The armed robbery that sparked the journey
• What it really means to be a warrior and a winner
• Why noticing is the new superpower
• Growth precursors: how to actually change
• Rethinking success, failure, and fulfillment
• Systems for living with clarity and courage
• Why CJ wrote the book for his kids—and for you

In our latest episode of the Krav Maga Worldwide Podcast, we sit down with Gerwin Kranenburg—European Licensing Director, 4th Dan Black Belt Instructor, coach, and entrepreneur—for a conversation that goes far beyond technique.From his first martial arts class at age five to becoming one of the most respected leaders in the Krav Maga Worldwide community, Gerwin’s story is packed with insight, humility, and practical wisdom.

Key Highlights:

• How Krav Maga shaped his mindset—not just his skills
• What went radically different at this year’s Luxembourg training event
• How to train for life, not just for self-defense
• The link between community, courage, and personal responsibility
• What it really means to live ready