After the army, I transitioned back to becoming a civilian instructor. It was not exactly a smooth transition.
I was forged in the military Krav Maga that was geared to take teenagers and turn them into warriors.
Now, I was back to teaching regular civilians. Gone was the discipline and structure, and I didn’t always react well. I found myself yelling at lot, which did not endear me to my students.
Even though the army was a place of strict discipline and consequences, the soldiers were highly motivated to learn the techniques that could help save their lives. A lot of the motivation came from the soldiers themselves, who were eager to prove themselves.
I remember those days as a soldier myself. No one wanted to be seen as weak links on the team. This wasn’t just an ego thing, but the maturity that understood that lives were at stakes. These techniques were there not only to protect us, but our teammates and the civilians we swore to protect. No one wanted to fail.
Also, as I mentioned in a previous article, the commanders were at the Krav Maga classes, watching the practice closely and even participating. No one wanted to disappoint those revered figures, who had earned our respect and whose respect we truly wanted.
So, I had been teaching in a highly motivated environment.
Then I came back to civilian life in Israel, which was very different. I didn’t have that power over students, and they didn’t have the responsibility of being soldiers. Students did talk in class, could be lazy and make silly mistakes. I couldn’t use the same methods I had before, and it was a tough transition for me to work with students again.
I especially struggled with children. While adults made the choice to come to Krav Maga, many children were there because their parents had signed them up for it. They were easily distracted, and could be incredibly stubborn and obstinate. They didn’t always want to be there and their attitude definitely made me feel frustrated.
I am grateful to my older brother and teacher Gal and to my main instructor Gabi Noah for helping me transition. Gal had 20 years of civilian teaching, and Gabi was both a civilian and a military Krav Maga instructor for more than 30 years, so they understood how best to help me.
I was the instructor, but now I had to also be the student and learn a more measured approach.
Gal and Gabi worked with me to help me develop the skills to be patient and empathetic and work with civilians, without relaxing my high standards. I still maintain strict discipline, but I can also adjust that discipline to a civilian level and correct them in a way that is appropriate for the student’s needs and goals, so that they can learn. Sometimes, you can be too intense, and it defeats what you are trying to accomplish.
My work as a civilian Krav Maga instructor means I’m not sending people to war. I am often working with people who have been traumatized by violence. I need to balance giving them enough pressure to help them grow and overcome their trauma, without crushing them through adding more trauma.
That is why I switched my focus to being a role model for my students and earning their respect. Once I had earned the students’ trust as an authority figure, a few calm and sharp, well-chosen words are almost always enough to achieve the results I want.
I shadowed both Gal and Gabi, learning from their years of experience and refining myself as an instructor.
Finally, it was time to leave the “nest” and go out on my own. I got a call from a friend who had opened up a martial arts studio in New York. It felt like a challenge I couldn’t turn down, the chance to come to the United States of America and bring authentic Israeli Krav Maga to a whole new population.
This was my origin story, where it all began. Now that I had to remember it to write it out, I couldn’t be more grateful for every step on the way. The challenges I went through, the mentors and friends I made, it made me ready. I believed I left Israel a true Krav Maga instructor, ready to take on the world.
Of course, it wasn’t that simple. Over the next seven years, I began a whole new chapter of my life, with far different challenges and rewards. I had a lot of adventures as a practitioner and an instructor. I had some tough lessons I had to learn, and I was definitely humbled at times.
Still, I truly find myself grateful for every step, and I am working to learn from my mistakes to do better. I finally am where I am meant to be, and it was Krav Maga that brought me here.
All because I was bored on a day off from school and followed my big brother.
Note: What topics would you want me to talk about in the future?
- Tehran fails to impress on Krav Maga - September 18, 2023
- The Pursuit of Perfection - August 7, 2023
- Grace Under Pressure - March 17, 2023
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