Your Best Defense is a Strong Offense
Krav Maga
Train for More Than the Fight
At Combat Krav Maga SF, we teach more than punches and kicks - we teach proactive self-protection.
The best fight is the one you never have to fight.
Our Krav Maga program builds awareness, prevention, and readiness so you can avoid danger before it starts. If you must defend yourself, respond with clarity, confidence, and control.
We help you walk with confidence, wherever life takes you.
What Is Krav Maga — and Why It Matters
Krav Maga is a modern self-protection system built for real-world threats - not sport, not competition.
It was developed to help ordinary people survive extraordinary situations: surprise attacks, grabs, chokes, weapons, multiple attackers.
At Combat Krav Maga SF, we’ve refined this system into a training experience focused on situational awareness, tactical prevention, and decisive action when there’s no other choice.
We teach you to:
- Detect and avoid potential threats before they escalate
- De-escalate conflict with calm and control
- Defend efficiently if physical contact becomes unavoidable
- Recover quickly, physically and mentally, after an incident
In short: We prepare you for life, not the ring.
Self-Protection vs. Self-Defense
Most gyms focus only on self-defense - how to fight back once an attack happens.
We teach self-protection first - how to stay alert, confident, and prevent the fight altogether.
Self-Protection is proactive: awareness, de-escalation, prevention.
Self-Defense is reactive: striking, escaping, surviving.
We train both, but we live by the principle:
“Protection is smarter than defense.”
Why Train at Combat Krav Maga SF
At our San Francisco academy, every class blends real-world readiness with a strong, supportive community.
You’ll train in a safe, structured environment designed for every level - from complete beginners to experienced martial artists.
Every session is built around the Combat Krav Maga SF philosophy:
Train for life, not for sport.
What makes us different:
Philosophy-Driven Training
We teach the mindset before the movement - how to stay aware, make smart decisions, and prevent danger before it starts.
All Levels Welcome
Every training session meets you where you are. No experience needed - just a willingness to learn, move, and grow stronger.
Functional Fitness Meets Real Readiness
Build real-world strength, mobility, and reflexes that work when it counts - not just in the gym.
Community-First Culture
Train with people who have your back. We push each other to improve, protect, and walk with confidence together.
Scenario-Based Drills
Learn through realistic situations - not routines. Every drill prepares you to think, move, and act under real pressure.
Expert Instructors
Our certified instructors bring years of Krav Maga and combatives experience, guiding you safely through every technique and mindset shift.
Who is krav maga for
Krav Maga is for anyone who wants to live safer, stronger, and more confident without fear.
Perfect for:
- Professionals commuting or traveling alone
- Parents protecting their families
- Teens learning confidence and control
- Older adults improving strength and situational awareness
- Anyone seeking functional fitness with purpose
If you want to feel safer, sharper, and stronger - this is for you.
What does training look like
Every training session is a mix of movement, mindset, and mastery.
You’ll learn:
- Striking fundamentals (hands, elbows, knees, kicks)
- Defenses against grabs, chokes, and holds
- Ground escapes and recovery strategies
- Weapon-awareness and defense
- Movement and reaction drills
- Stress inoculation: staying calm under pressure
Training sessions are 60 - 90 minutes, scalable for all fitness levels.
Just wear comfortable clothes and bring water - we’ll handle the rest.
No prior experience needed. Just show up ready to learn.
Meet our Instructors
Dedicated professionals driving our success
Joel Brown
Sensei
A passionate Krav maga expert with over 45 years of experience! His journey began in 1979 while he was in the U.S. Air Force. He had the privilege of training with amazing instructors like Moshe Katz and Eli Avikzar in Israel, and he honed his skills with the IDF and Mossad. After earning his 1st Dan black belt in 1990, he founded Combat Krav Maga in 2005, where he shares his love for real-world self-defense.
Robert Bunting
Senpai
Rob's family had a strong martial arts background. He started training in Isshin-RYū Karate at 10, then explored Gōjū-ryū, Kempo, and Shōrin-ryū Karate. In the US Army, he learned Krav Maga, later delving into Wing Chun and Tai Chi. Now, he focuses on Krav Maga at "Combat Krav Maga" as the senpai.
Erik
San Carlos Krav Maga Instructor
Erik has a self-described eventful history that has made him motivated to help the people he cares about in the world to feel safe, both with and without him around. He started practicing Krav a little over a year ago and quickly (pun intended - he’s so fast!) became dedicated to helping others learn to protect themselves.
Ready to walk with confidence?
