Israeli Krav Maga Western Pennsylvania (DK)
Come join us. Your first class is always free!
Israeli Krav Maga Western Pennsylvania (DK)
Come join us. Your first class is always free!
BECAUSE NOT ALL KRAV MAGA IS THE SAME...
Israeli Krav Maga Western Pennsylvania (DK) is the only Israeli Krav Maga Association gym in Western Pennsylvania. All of our training is developed and established from the Israeli Krav Maga Associations Grand Master Haim Gidon, The Gidon Fighting System, based in Netanya Israel. Our training is directly supervised and distributed by the Israeli Krav Maga Associations United States Chief Instructor David Kahn. The Israeli Krav Maga Association Western Pennsylvania (DK) conducts training for civilians, law enforcement, EMS professionals, and football players in David Kahn's Football Combatives.
MEET THE TEAM
Emerich "Imi" Lichtenfeld
Emerich "Imi" Lichtenfeld
Emerich "Imi" Lichtenfeld
Founder, Krav Maga
Emerich "Imi" Lichtenfeld established the non-profit Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA) on October 22, 1978, to promote Krav Maga throughout the world. After Imi’s retirement in 1964 as the military’s chief instructor of physical training and self-defense, Imi focused on adapting his system to provide both professional security agencies and ordinary civilians – men, women, and children – with solutions to avoid and/or end a violent encounter.
Haim Gidon
Emerich "Imi" Lichtenfeld
Emerich "Imi" Lichtenfeld
Grand Master
Israeli Krav Maga Association
Haim Gidon, the highest-ranking individual in the world at 10th-degree black-belt, currently heads the IKMA as Imi’s appointed successor and President. Grand master Gidon was a member of Imi’s first training class in the early 1960’s, and along with Imi and other top instructors, co-founded the IKMA. In 1995, Imi nominated Haim as the top authority to grant 1st Dan Krav Maga black-belt and up. In an IKMA ceremony, Imi awarded Haim Gidon his 8th Dan and stated 9th and 10th Dans “were to come”, designating Haim as the highest ranking Krav Maga instructor. (Video clips of the ceremony are available at www.kravmagaisraeli.com). As President and Grand master of the IKMA, Haim has taught the defensive and military tactics for the last thirty years to Israel’s national police, security, and military agencies.
David Kahn
Emerich "Imi" Lichtenfeld
Albert "Poodie" Carson
United States Chief Instructor
Israeli Krav Maga Association
David has trained with Israeli Grand Master Haim Gidon more than 40 times in Israel, and received his advanced black belt certifications from Grand Master Gidon. David is the only American to sit on the IKMA Board of Directors. David was also awarded a 5th degree black belt in combat Jiu-Jitsu by the United States Judo Association. David has trained all branches of the U.S. military including the United States Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) along with the Royal Marines including dozens of special operations personnel. David has also trained more than 130 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including having taught at the FBI Academy (Quantico) and is a certified instructor by the State of New Jersey Police Training Commission.
Albert "Poodie" Carson
Albert "Poodie" Carson
Albert "Poodie" Carson
Owner and Lead Instructor
Israeli Krav Maga Western Pennsylvania (DK)
Lead Instructor and owner of the Israeli Krav Maga Western Pennsylvania (DK), Poodie received both his civilian I, II, III and Law Enforcement I,II, III certifications in the Israeli Krav Maga Association (Gidon System) from United States Chief Instructor David Kahn, and has trained under the direct supervision of the Israeli Krav Maga Association Grand Master Haim Gidon in Israel and the United States. Poodie is also a Instructor and trainer under David Kahn in the David Kahn Krav Maga Football Combatives System. Poodie has served and continues as a law enforcement officer for the past 28 years as a patrol officer, narcotics investigator, SWAT operator, K9 handler, and head defensive tactics instructor.
Alan Alto
Albert "Poodie" Carson
Uri Shatten
Senior Instructor
Israeli Krav Maga Western Pennsylvania (DK)
Senior Instructor for the Israeli Krav Maga Western Pennsylvania (DK) with five years of Israeli Krav Maga Association (Gidon System) training in Florida and Pennsylvania. Alan received his civilian instructor certification from the Israeli Krav Maga Association (Gidon System) United States Chief Instructor David Kahn. Alan also has an extensive wrestling background.
Uri Shatten
Albert "Poodie" Carson
Uri Shatten
Senior Instructor
Israeli Krav Maga Western Pennsylvania (DK)
Senior Instructor for the Israeli Krav Maga Western Pennsylvania (DK) with four years of Israeli Krav Maga Association (Gidon System) training. Uri received his civilian instructor certification from the Israeli Krav Maga Association (Gidon System) United States Chief Instructor David Kahn.