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 discussion. It confuses outcomes, and in this world outcomes are often life and death.

Most people use words like self-defense, fighting, sport, and martial art interchangeably. They are not the same. In this episode, I unpack why those distinctions matter, where Krav Maga actually sits once the language is taken seriously, and why the line between sport and martial practice is far less clear than people assume.

This isn’t about labels or branding. It’s about clarity, responsibility, and understanding what we are really training for.

www.kravmagaisrael.com

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 the mat and in life.

www.kravmagaisrael.com

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 home. A candid, hard-hitting look at survival, strategy, and the fight ahead.

www.kravmagaisrael.com