How to Learn Self-Defense: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Many people come to self-defense training with a clear picture of what they want to learn: knife disarms, high kicks, or the chance to hit an instructor as hard as they can. In this episode of Krav Talk, Tsahi Shemesh, founder of Krav Maga Experts, and instructor Daniel Soler explain why effective training starts with awareness, distance management, honest practice, and basics a student can perform under pressure.Daniel, a former high school math teacher who now teaches at Krav Maga Experts, opens up the thinking behind how instructors decide what to teach. He and Tsahi break down the difference between an instructor who follows a lesson plan and a coach who finds the right level of challenge for each student. They walk through the preparation that happens before anyone steps on the mat: checking the roster, planning the space, setting a goal for the class, and using the warmup to get people from very different jobs and backgrounds ready to train.Questions this episode answers:What should beginners learn first in self-defense?How can one class serve 20 people with different ages, bodies, and goals?Why is training for the street different from preparing for a match?What happens when a student's fantasy gets in the way of what they need?How do you know if you are fooling yourself in training?What does progress look like for someone who is afraid of any confrontation?Along the way, Daniel and Tsahi share real encounters on New York streets and subways, a classroom standoff at a Seattle high school, and what those moments reveal about body language, boundaries, de-escalation, and managing your emotions when someone gets too close.By the end, you will understand why a good self-defense curriculum builds principles before scripts, why progress looks different for every student, and why hope is not a strategy.Listen to the full conversation, then tell us: what did you want to learn when you started self-defense training, and what turned out to matter more? Reply on Instagram at @kravmagaexperts.Know someone who trains or teaches self-defense? Share this episode with them.Krav Maga Experts: https://www.kravmagaexperts.com/Meet Daniel and the KME instructor team: https://www.kravmagaexperts.com/krav-maga-experts-instructors-team-nycInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kravmagaexperts/Support the showThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!

You hear someone scream for help. You run around the corner, see a man on top of a woman, and you stop him. Then you learn he was the one who saved her. What does New York law say about you now?In this episode of KravTalk, Tsahi Shemesh, founder of Krav Maga Experts, sits down with Yariv, a firearms instructor and commercial real estate lawyer, to walk through how self-defense law works in New York City. Whether you carry a firearm, train in Krav Maga, or simply want to know what you are allowed to do when a situation turns violent, this conversation gives you a clear picture of where the legal lines are and what happens after you cross them.In this episode:- When you can legally defend yourself in New York, and the difference between deadly and non-deadly force- Why New York is not a stand-your-ground state, what the duty to retreat means, and how the castle doctrine protects you at home- The two-part test a jury uses to decide whether your use of force was reasonable- Defending someone else: the good Samaritan problem, and why good intentions are not a legal defense- A Brooklyn homeowner who pulled the trigger on an unloaded gun and still found himself under investigation- Why more training can lead to harder questions in court, and what the Daniel Penny case shows about public pressure- What follows a self-defense incident: the criminal case, the civil lawsuit, and the cost to your family and community- Why attitude matters as much as skill for anyone who carriesAs Yariv puts it, carrying is a responsibility and training is a commitment.This conversation is general education, not legal advice. For your own situation, speak with a qualified attorney.Yariv and Tsahi are teaching a joint workshop on November 15, 2026, covering New York self-defense law, firearm retention, and practical Krav Maga.If you want to build the skills, mindset, and judgment discussed in this episode, Krav Maga Experts offers classes in Manhattan (Upper West Side) and Brooklyn (Park Slope): https://www.kravmagaexperts.comHave a question about this episode? Leave a comment, Tsahi reads and answers them.Support the showThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!

Ariel Averbuch made a documentary challenging the narrative surrounding Israel's war with Hamas. Then came millions of reported hacking attempts, a website shutdown, and death threats.His film, Naza: The Real Story, examines Hamas's operations in Gaza, including allegations that civilians and children are deliberately placed in danger.I invited Ariel to KravTalk to discuss what he documented, why he decided to make the film, and what happened after its release.Our conversation goes further. I share an incident from my military service involving an armed child and a decision that could have ended very differently. We discuss October 7, antisemitism, misinformation, education, and why intelligent people can become so convinced of something they refuse to examine the evidence.Self-defense begins with awareness. That includes the willingness to question what we believe and recognize what is happening around us.Watch Naza: The Real Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptk6uxfUQdAKravTalk is hosted by Tsahi Shemesh, founder of Krav Maga Experts in New York City. Follow KravTalk in your podcast app for new conversations on self-defense, Krav Maga, and the psychology of violence.Krav Maga Experts: kravmagaexperts.comInstagram: @kravmagaexpertsSupport the showThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!

In 2022, I asked documentary filmmaker Brad Rothschild to give me eight months. I wanted to put people who had lived through trauma on the Krav Maga mat and show on camera how they changed. Brad, who also trains at Krav Maga Experts, warned me: you never know with documentaries how it's going to end.We were about seven or eight months in when October 7 happened.Brad and I talk about how our film became In the Path of Peace, a documentary about Krav Maga as a response to rising antisemitism in New York City. One participant left the project, unwilling to train with an instructor who supports Israel. A man holding a torn hostage poster threw a punch at me while I was holding my two young children by the hand. A student we trained showed up as a volunteer security guard at a pro-Israel rally.We also talk about Brad's path from banking to filmmaking, why he volunteers on his synagogue's security team, and a question I still ask myself: should I have gone back to Israel to fight?KravTalk is hosted by Tsahi Shemesh, founder of Krav Maga Experts in New York City.Krav Maga Experts: kravmagaexperts.comInstagram: @kravmagaexpertsSupport the showThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!

Decision-making under pressure is one of the most critical skills in life, yet also one of the least understood. When stress hits, most people do not rise to the occasion. They lose access to clarity, communication, and options they normally rely on. Vision narrows, time distorts, emotions feel like facts, and hesitation or freezing becomes the real threat.In this episode, Tsahi Shemesh sits down with Shahar Or, a fighter and security professional with real-world experience in high-pressure, life-threatening situations. Together, they break down what actually happens to the mind and body under stress, why training matters more than talent, and how habits and values dictate decisions when thinking is no longer available.This conversation explores decision-making under stress, performance under pressure, stress response, fight flight freeze, mental preparedness, leadership under pressure, and situational awareness. It also translates these lessons from combat and security environments into everyday civilian life, including work stress, parenting, relationships, and crisis situations.You will learn why stress does not create chaos but removes options, how emotions distort judgment, why freezing is often the most dangerous response, and how gradual exposure to stress through training builds clarity and reliability. This episode is not about fearlessness or heroics. It is about preparation, responsibility, and learning to act when clarity is gone.Relevant topics include decision-making skills, stress management, crisis leadership, self-defense mindset, mental toughness, high-pressure situations, tactical thinking, and real-world training principles.This episode is for anyone who wants to think clearly, act decisively, and become more reliable when pressure shows up.KravTalk is hosted by Tsahi Shemesh, founder of Krav Maga Experts in New York City. Follow KravTalk in your podcast app for new conversations on self-defense, Krav Maga, and the psychology of violence.Krav Maga Experts: kravmagaexperts.comInstagram: @kravmagaexpertsSupport the showThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!

In this episode, we speak with Shahar “Sean” Or, an Israeli security professional and senior Krav Maga instructor with decades of operational experience in personal protection and third-party protection. Sean brings a background in IDF Special Forces, law enforcement command, and executive protection, and specializes in training people to protect themselves and others in real-world situations.The conversation focuses on everyday situational awareness, risk assessment, and decision-making under stress. We discuss how protecting others changes the way you must think, move, and respond, and what to pay attention to in daily life before a situation escalates. Sean also explains how to adapt when things do not go according to plan, and how to maintain clarity and control when pressure is high.This episode is relevant for anyone interested in self-defense, personal safety, Krav Maga, executive protection principles, and developing the mindset required to act responsibly when others depend on you.Shahar - Sean Or - is the  Founder & CEO of 3SIXZERO Ltd an Israeli-based company with global reach, which provides services in the fields of executive protection, security management, training,a nd more costume services. KravTalk is hosted by Tsahi Shemesh, founder of Krav Maga Experts in New York City. Follow KravTalk in your podcast app for new conversations on self-defense, Krav Maga, and the psychology of violence.Krav Maga Experts: kravmagaexperts.comInstagram: @kravmagaexpertsSupport the showThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!

Entrepreneur Hilroy Alfred went from a setback on the cricket field to building a fitness business and, after tragedy, founding a Krav Maga school. He talks with Tsahi Shemesh about resilience, risk-taking, and betting on yourself.In this episode of Krav Talk, Tsahi Shemesh sits down with Hilroy Alfred, a true entrepreneur whose journey embodies resilience and vision. From a setback on the cricket field to launching a fitness empire and founding a Krav Maga school after tragedy, Hilroy turned pain into purpose. He shares how he overcame obstacles, why betting on yourself matters, and how a positive outlook can transform setbacks into stepping stones. This conversation dives deep into perseverance, risk-taking, and the mindset required to turn dreams into reality. Tune in to learn what it takes to rise from hardship and build something that empowers others.KravTalk is hosted by Tsahi Shemesh, founder of Krav Maga Experts in New York City. Follow KravTalk in your podcast app for new conversations on self-defense, Krav Maga, and the psychology of violence.Krav Maga Experts: kravmagaexperts.comInstagram: @kravmagaexpertsSupport the showThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!

What is resilience, and how do you build it? Krav Maga coach August Ritter joins Tsahi Shemesh to talk about mental toughness, facing adversity, and staying strong under pressure, on the mat and in everyday life.Krav Talk hosting August Ritter.What Is Resilience? In this episode, Tsahi hosts August Ritter, a dedicated Krav Maga coach and resilience expert.August shares his perspective on resilience—what it truly means, how it’s built, and why it’s essential in both self-defense and everyday life. Together, they explore how facing adversity, training hard, and developing the right mindset can transform challenges into growth.BackgroundAugust Ritter is no stranger to pushing limits. With years of experience in Krav Maga and other combative disciplines, he understands firsthand how resilience is forged through discipline, hardship, and self-reflection. Beyond the physical, he delves into the mental and emotional aspects of resilience, offering insights on how to stay strong under pressure and keep moving forward, no matter the obstacle.Support the ShowThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!KravTalk is hosted by Tsahi Shemesh, founder of Krav Maga Experts in New York City. Follow KravTalk in your podcast app for new conversations on self-defense, Krav Maga, and the psychology of violence.Krav Maga Experts: kravmagaexperts.comInstagram: @kravmagaexpertsSupport the showThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!

New to self-defense and not sure where to start? Tsahi Shemesh, founder of Krav Maga Experts, walks beginners through how to learn self-defense step by step, from simple, effective techniques to building confidence and the right mindset.In this episode of KravTalk, Tsahi breaks down the essentials of learning self-defense, making it accessible for anyone—no matter your experience or background. Self-defense is more than just physical techniques; it’s about building confidence, awareness, and the mindset to handle challenges both on and off the mat.Drawing from the last article on the KME blog, A Step-by-Step Guide to Learn Self-Defense, we will walk through practical steps to get started, tips for staying consistent, and why self-defense is a skill every person should master.Tune in to discover:Why simple, effective techniques are key for real-life situations.How to build confidence and resilience through consistent practice.The mindset shifts needed to thrive under pressure and protect what matters most.If you’re ready to take control of your safety and live with more confidence, this episode is for you. Don’t miss it!Support the showThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!

What does self-defense training have in common with therapy? Cognitive psychologist Dr. Oksana Sivkovich Fagin, a hypnosis researcher and college professor, joins Tsahi Shemesh to explore the mind-body connection, resilience, and healing.In this episode, Tsahi sits down with Dr. Oksana, a Cognitive Psychology expert with a PhD specializing in the mechanisms of hypnosis. With over a decade of experience helping individuals through hypnosis, Dr. Oksana brings a wealth of knowledge on the human mind and its ability to heal and transform. As a Borough of Manhattan Community College professor, she teaches courses in Cognitive Psychology, Research Methods, and Behavioral Statistics, shaping the next generation of psychological thinkers.Oksana and Tsahi explore together the fascinating connections between the world of psychology and the physical training mat. Discussing the healing process, the psychology of resilience, and how lessons learned in physical training echo the therapeutic experience. Whether you're curious about the mind-body connection, interested in the mechanics of hypnosis, or looking for new ways to understand healing and personal growth, this episode offers insights that resonate on and off the mat.Enjoy! KravTalk is hosted by Tsahi Shemesh, founder of Krav Maga Experts in New York City. Follow KravTalk in your podcast app for new conversations on self-defense, Krav Maga, and the psychology of violence.Krav Maga Experts: kravmagaexperts.comInstagram: @kravmagaexpertsSupport the showThank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might find it valuable. Stay connected with Tsahi and learn more about upcoming episodes by following on social media or visiting the website.Your journey to growth, resilience, and empowerment starts here—see you in the next episode!