The Ron Engelman Podcast

What is Krav Maga supposed to be? In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Hoover for a direct and honest conversation about evolution in self-defense, the difference between teaching and coaching, and why many systems lose their way. We speak openly about: Why Krav Maga must evolve or become irrelevant The difference between an instructor and a coach How ego and insecurity damage students Why wrestl...

Is Krav Maga a martial art? Language is not just how we describe reality. It is how we organise it. When the language is sloppy, the thinking that follows is sloppy. You cannot have clarity downstream if the foundation is vague or emotionally loaded. Krav Maga operates in the realm of force, harm, violence, and authority. That is dangerous ground. Mislabeling something here does not just confuse d...

In this episode, I sit down with David Bergman — one of my most senior students, a black belt, coach, and relentless learner. We explore his unconventional path into Krav Maga, how teaching shaped his practice, and why he’s been experimenting with ecological training methods. Together, we unpack the difference between knowledge, skill, and attitude — and what it really takes to build competence on...

In this powerful conversation, recorded as a guest on The American Gunfighter Show , Ron Engelman recounts the events of October 7th from an Israeli perspective—when communities were overrun, bases fell, and the country braced for a multi-front war. Ron shares where he was when the attack began, the three-wave assault that unfolded, and the intelligence failures that made it possible. From battlef...

Continuing the discussion from Part 1, Ron Engelman dives deeper into the aftermath of October 7th—balancing duty to his unit with protecting his family, forming a community quick-reaction force, and deploying back to the frontlines. He discusses modern warfare, the moral dilemmas of fighting an enemy that hides among civilians, and the mindset required when the battlefield is just minutes from ho...

Undercover narcotics cop–turned–close-quarters-combat pioneer Craig Douglas pulls back the curtain on fights where guns, knives, and fists share the same breath. Craig and host Ron Engelman unpack the messy middle where deception meets violence: how informal selection puts the right officers undercover, why ambiguity beats choreography, and what an “ugly clinch” at bad-breath distance teaches abou...

In this raw and unfiltered episode, two friends and Krav Maga instructors, Ron Engelman and Ron Rotem, sit down—over homemade moonshine and fine bourbon—for a no-holds-barred conversation on tradition, technique, and the deep Israeli roots of Krav Maga. From the battlefield to the training mat, they debate everything from knife defense and lineage to instructor integrity, the culture clash between...

Sagi Dovev, former head of Krav Maga for Israel’s elite special forces unit Sayeret Matkal , shares his extraordinary journey from shaping warriors to rebuilding them. After October 7th, he began training severely wounded soldiers—many of them amputees—using martial arts as a tool for physical and emotional rehabilitation. In this powerful episode, we explore the warrior mindset, resilience under...

Ofer Lidar spent over two decades inside Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, heading its hand-to-hand combat program. In this episode, we talk openly about what real-world violence looks like—and how Krav Maga needs to adapt to meet it. We unpack where traditional training falls short, how to build fighters—not just technicians, and why mindset—not just technique—decides who walks away. We explore:...

Paulo "GN" Rubio is a martial artist and tactical trainer celebrated for his unique approach to self-defense and mixed martial arts. Growing up between the urban and natural jungles of the Philippines and later moving to Canada, he faced many transformative experiences that shaped his training philosophy. Paulo combines insights from law enforcement, military, and civilian perspectives t...

Nick Rians is a former US Marine, urban warfare specialist and bodyguard. Nick founded a tactical training facility,  off the grid, in the desert of New Mexico. His school - Ghost Ring Tactical provides firearms courses, hand to hand combat training, tactical first aid and long range precision rifle training to the general public.  Earlier this year I was invited as a guest instructor to teach a K...

Tsahi Shemesh is a lifelong Krav Maga pratitioner. He grew up in Israel where he learned Krav Maga from an early age and joined the Israeli paratroopers where he served in combat. In 2010 Tsahi moved to New York and founded Krav Maga Experts which is a Krav Maga school with branches across the city. Tsahi trains Krav Maga instructors, works with numerous Krav Maga school around the world as well a...

Yousef Badou is a former Marine Infantryman with multiple combat tours, and an industry leading expert in the areas of Situational Awareness and Behavioral Analysis.   He was requested by name, to serve as the Predictive Threat Analysis Lead to the Marine Corps Combat Hunter Program.  Yousef served as the certifying authority for instructors in subjects pertaining to Enhanced Observation, Predicti...

Matt Larsen is a former United States Marine, United States Army Ranger and lifelong martial artist. Matt is credited with establishing the United States Army Combatives School at Fort Benning and the Modern Army Combatives program. Larsen is also a Evolutionary Psychologist specializing in Combat Psychology. He is currently the Director of Combatives at the United States Military Academy at West...

This is THE most controversial topic when it comes to self-defense and martial arts. I don't expect you to agree with me. Some of what I say may piss you off. That's ok. Frankly, it doesn't matter if you agree or not as long as it gets you thinking about the topic. In this episode, I go on a solo deep dive into the problems with Boxing, Brazilian Jiujutsu, and Krav Maga when it come...

Marc MacYoung is a self-defense expert. In fact, he is one of the OGs. He is written multiple books on the topic and is often called to serve as an expert witness in court proceedings that involve self-defense. In my first conversation with Mark, we discussed what you can expect if you have to plead self-defense for use of violence in court. We discussed the important difference between being asse...

Danny Netzer is the head Krav Maga instructor for the Israeli Defense Force. His responsibilities include putting together the training programs and overseeing the syllabus that's delivered to every single soldier in the IDF. He heads the Krav Maga instructors school that trains the instructors themselves that teach Krav Maga throughout the Israeli army. And he debriefs and studies all instan...

Ron Rotem is a 5th degree black belt in Krav Maga.  He has served as head of the Krav Maga instructional division in the IDF and as head of Krav Maga for the Israeli prison authority. In this episode, I sit down with my good friend,  training partner and world renown Krav Maga Instructor to have a conversation about Krav Maga, it's history and what it's all about, over a bottle of single...

Marc MacYoung is a violence professional.  He has written quite a few books on the topic - in fact more than 21, including What You Don’t Know Can Kill You, and Beyond The Picket Fence. Marc is regularly called to testify as an expert witness in self defence cases and has an in depth, experience based understanding of the complexity of pleading self defense in a court. His areas of expertise inclu...

Tony Blauer is a self defense pioneer whose name and expertise are well known in martial arts and MMA circles. He has regularly appeared on the covers of martial arts magazines and is a go-to expert for understanding the neurological responses the body goes through when  threatened. Coach Blauer has been in the martial art & defensive tactics industry for over four decades.  He has helped thou...

Rory Miller served seventeen years in corrections working maximum security, booking and mental health. He has lead a tactical team; and has taught subjects ranging from Defensive Tactics and Use of Force to First Aid and Crisis Communications with the Mentally Ill.  Rory worked was an advisor to the Iraqi Corrections System while he was based out of Baghdad. He also holds a degree in Psychology. ...

Dr. William Von Hippel is a professor of psychology at the University of Queensland and author of The Social Leap. His research focuses on social psychology and evolution and reveals how major challenges from our past have shaped some of the most fundamental aspects of our being. From leadership and innovation to aggression and happiness. He was a guest on the Joe Rogan Podcast and does work with...

A former military intelligence officer, Tim Larkin was part of a beta group that redesigned how Special Operations personnel trained for close combat. He has a 25 year career where he has trained people in 52 countries in how to deal with imminent violence. He is the best selling author of When Violence Is The Answer and Survive The Unthinkable. www.kravmagaisrael.com