Krav Maga Worldwide Official Podcast

Krav Maga Worldwide

The official podcast of Krav Maga Worldwide, the best skill-building workout on the planet. Hosted by CJ Kirk and Joel Ellenbecker, along with featured guests, providing listeners with the top information in the world of Krav Maga.

  1. Mar 31

    23. The Adversarial Advantage: Kevin Lewis on Principles, Standards, and Carrying Krav Maga Forward

    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 yearsWhy principle-based Krav Maga and decision-making under stress matter more than collecting techniquesReflections on Darren Levine’s legacy and the responsibility instructors carry forward todayCore concepts often misunderstood online, including initiative and simultaneous counterattackKevin’s next chapter bringing Krav Maga Worldwide to Hawaii—and building momentum before opening

    23. The Adversarial Advantage: Kevin Lewis on Principles, Standards, and Carrying Krav Maga Forward

  2. Feb 26

    22. Beyond "Pay Attention": The KMW Situational Awareness System

    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 awarenessThe concept of preserving optionality and recognizing danger early enough to avoid unnecessary confrontationBreaking down the SEER-O framework: Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape—and Opportunity as the meta-skill that allows you to shift modesWhat stress does to perception (tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, cognitive drop) and how breath control supports regulation under pressureLegal and ethical coherence: developing a personal ethos and articulating decisions before high-cost, highly visible outcomes occur

    22. Beyond "Pay Attention": The KMW Situational Awareness System

  3. Jan 15

    21. Back to the Source: Krav Maga, Wingate, and the Science Behind Real-World Self-Defense

    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 scienceWhy reconnecting with Wingate now is about protecting Krav Maga’s roots while modernizing its deliveryWhat the new Krav Maga Worldwide × Wingate certification will offer instructors, school owners, and motivated studentsHow science-based education improves student safety, learning speed, instructor confidence, and long-term retentionWhy distance learning and technology are becoming essential tools for global growth—without sacrificing standardsWhether 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.

    21. Back to the Source: Krav Maga, Wingate, and the Science Behind Real-World Self-Defense

  4. 12/15/2025

    Mission-Driven Training: How to Evaluate Martial Arts Systems and Schools

    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 techniquesHow CJ’s “12 Days of Christmas” training in Houston uses traditional arts to teach students about mission drift and realismWhy systems built for swords, horses, and sport rules don’t always translate cleanly to modern violenceThe importance of source, lineage, and staying connected to authentic Krav Maga principles through Darren Levine and Imi LichtenfeldWhat to look for in an association: knowledge transfer, neuroplasticity, myelination, stress inoculation, and integrated handgun/knife/legal awarenessHow to evaluate a local school beyond marketing claims — from instructor growth plans and student development paths to cleanliness and cultureCJ’s story of being robbed at gunpoint, realizing he had “no answers,” and going all-in on Krav Maga to protect himself and his familyWhy “something is not always better than nothing” when training can actually create points of failure in real self-defense situationsHow Krav Maga thinking teaches you not just how to move, but how to think — in self-defense and beyondKrav 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

    Mission-Driven Training: How to Evaluate Martial Arts Systems and Schools

  5. 10/02/2025

    Lineage, Lessons, and Leadership: Deputy Chief Instructor Joel Ellenbecker's Journey with Krav Maga

    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 trainingWhy being “just one course ahead” of his students shaped his growth as an instructorThe Maryland trip that opened his eyes to adult Krav Maga programs and a bigger visionBlisters, taped feet, and lessons from Joel’s very first instructor courseThe moment an instructor pushed Joel past “good kicks” to discover his true bestHow a shopping cart, a surprise care package, and the Grand Canyon fit into his testing storiesWhat it really meant to rehab a torn ACL and still test for his 3rd Dan 11 months laterThe tension between being an introvert and stepping into leadership — and how listening became his superpowerWhy relationships, not just techniques, have been the throughline in Joel’s journeyHis excitement for bringing Darren Levine and Jon Pascal to Wisconsin this October

    Lineage, Lessons, and Leadership: Deputy Chief Instructor Joel Ellenbecker's Journey with Krav Maga

  6. 09/15/2025

    Open Mind, Higher Standard - Diego's Path to KMW

    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 2008Why videos are helpful but never a replacement for training with partners and high-level instructorsThe shift from teaching both Taekwondo and Krav Maga to going all-in on Krav Maga full-timeHow Diego built his school through social media, referrals, and foot trafficThe conversion process to Krav Maga Worldwide: similarities, small details, and the challenge of muscle memoryWhy details make the difference in life-or-death self-defense situationsThe positive community response to the switch and how his students are more motivated than everDiego’s vision: growing Krav Maga Worldwide across Uruguay with instructor certifications and new training centersThe 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.

    Open Mind, Higher Standard - Diego's Path to KMW

  7. 08/30/2025

    A Reservation-to-Licensee Journey with Tonna Thomas

    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 tangibleWhy civilian instruction demands deeper fundamentals, footwork, and communicationThe humility to start overTurning problems into solutionsMeeting people where they are—many who’ve never thrown a punchCoaching touchpoints with Joel, Kelly Campbell, and lessons from the Force Training Division

    A Reservation-to-Licensee Journey with Tonna Thomas

  8. 08/15/2025

    Inside the Conquer Culture Book with CJ Kirk

    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 journeyWhat it really means to be a warrior and a winnerWhy noticing is the new superpowerGrowth precursors: how to actually changeRethinking success, failure, and fulfillmentSystems for living with clarity and courageWhy CJ wrote the book for his kids—and for you

    Inside the Conquer Culture Book with CJ Kirk
See All (23)

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The official podcast of Krav Maga Worldwide, the best skill-building workout on the planet. Hosted by CJ Kirk and Joel Ellenbecker, along with featured guests, providing listeners with the top information in the world of Krav Maga.

Information