Advertise on podcast: The Ron Engelman Podcast

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

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 battlefield realities to global implications, this is an unfiltered account of Israel’s darkest day. 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

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 about survival, de-escalation, and moral clarity. Expect hard-won lessons on pressure testing, decision-making, tactical first aid, and building a training community that thrives on stress. Listen in and rethink what ready really means. www.kravmagaisrael.com

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 East and West, and how October 7th reshaped their entire perspective on self-defense. Equal parts laughter, hard truths, and war stories—this is what happens when two veterans talk shop without filters. Note: Bring a drink. You’re going to want to settle in for this one. www.kravmagaisrael.com

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 fire, the power of martial arts in healing, and the profound human stories behind recovery. This is not just about combat—it’s about rebuilding strength, identity, and hope from the ashes. www.kravmagaisrael.com

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: Why Krav Maga became “martial-artsy” and how it’s shifting back to its rootsThe gap between sports and survivalHow modern Krav Maga can (and should) evolveTraining agents to make split-second decisions under pressureMindset over method: teaching people to think under fireA raw, honest conversation between two Israelis with combat backgrounds, decades of experience, and a shared commitment to keeping the training real. www.kravmagaisrael.com

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 to teach creative problem-solving and self-expression in martial arts. His methods emphasize understanding core principles like timing, footwork, and distance management, rather than sticking to one traditional style. Known for his authenticity and vulnerability on social media, Paulo has built a strong community by being open to both criticism and praise, continually inspiring him to improve and innovate in the martial arts world. www.kravmagaisrael.com

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 Krav Maga program at the facility which is where I originally met Nick and the rest of his team.  www.kravmagaisrael.com

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 as local law enforcement in New York. Tsahi is also a good friend of mine. In this episode we discuss what it takes to teach Krav Maga, the values behind Krav Maga and what it takes to be a good leader and change peoples lives.  www.kravmagaisrael.com

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, Predictive Threat Analysis and Tracking.    Yousef is routinely utilized by the FBI, Joint Regional Intelligence Centers, Overseas Advisory Council, and all levels of Military and Law Enforcement.   Yousef founded Emergence LLC to innovate new products and bring Behavior Analysis to a wider variety of industries and communities. www.kravmagaisrael.com

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 Point where he trains the leaders of tomorrow. It was great to hear his ideas and outlook on preparing soldiers for combat and the evolution of this process in the United States Army. For more visit www.ronengelman.com Mentioned on the podcast: British Paratroopers Milling: https://youtu.be/qibOpaWhIBI www.kravmagaisrael.com

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 comes to self-defense. I offer solutions on how these problems can be addressed. www.kravmagaisrael.com

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 assertive and being aggressive when it comes to avoiding violence, and we discussed some of the social scripts that potential attackers will use to try and trick you or trap you. But the truth is, we barely scratched the surface. I find Mark one of the more interesting people to talk to, and there are still quite a few questions that were left unanswered. In this episode, we do a deep dive into process predators. Those are the people who will hurt you, trying to gain resources, or worse, those are people who will hurt or kill you for their own amusement. Now, there are no pretty sides to violence, but this is certainly one of the ugliest ones. And if you're looking for nice, neat answers that all tie together and make you feel good, in the end, you're not going to get any of that here. Mark tells it like it is, and he doesn't hold back. He certainly isn't always politically correct, but he's got a great sense of humor, which makes him fun to talk to. www.kravmagaisrael.com