Krav Maga Experts Team
The most certified Krav Maga team in New York City!
Tsahi Shemesh
Tsahi Shemesh founder and chief instructor, began his Krav Maga journey in Israel, 1988, where he trained under Imi Lichtenfeld’s (the founder of Krav Maga) very first students. During his three-years in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Tsahi served in the paratrooper’s brigade, trained in dignitary protection at the School of Counterterrorism, completed the commander’s course, VIP protection program and civilians instructor’s training. He served in the West Bank and holds a Sergeant First Class rank. In 2007, Tsahi obtained his Krav Maga Instructor certification at the Wingate Institute – Israel’s National Center for Education and Sports. He also completed the Krav Maga Instructors course certified by the International Krav Maga Federation and held the positions of USA Director and Instructor Course Trainer in Gabi Noah’s Top-Team.
In 2010, Tsahi established the first Krav Maga Experts (KME) flagship location in New York City. He certified dozens of instructors and trained thousands of students from all over the world – both domestically and overseas. Besides KME’s full-time program, Tsahi and his team also lead various initiatives including the Columbia University Club, Pace University, NYU, EMTs, NYPD’s police officers and contributory workshops at domestic violence organizations. Tsahi’s national television appearances as a self defense and personal safety expert have featured his signature Rape Prevention Series and Counter Terror workshops.
Elaine
Elaine began her training with Krav Maga experts in 2015. Since that time she has accrued almost 1000 hours on the mat under the instruction of KME’s exceptional team of certified experts. She completed the instructor training course under the direct guidance of chief expert Tsahi Shemesh in 2021. In her own teaching, Elaine draws upon principles she has learned from cross-training in Muay Thai, boxing, and her extensive yoga practice. Beyond the mat, she is a Ph.D. candidate in Slavic Languages at Columbia University. Her pedagogical training in the academy informs her work at KME; she espouses and practices inclusive teaching and views every classroom as a space of dialogue and empowerment.
Breo
Breo has been training Krav Maga since 2006 and is a Certified Instructor under Tsahi Shemesh. He started training martial arts in 1984 (teaching since 1992) and, additionally, holds a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and Brown Belts in Shotokan and Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. During his competitive days, he competed and medaled in a significant number of Karate and Tae Kwon Do tournaments; and refereed several competitions. After a successful career in Wall Street, Breo retired from the hedge fund world in 2019 and now focuses his time on his teaching passion, volunteering as Krav Maga, Karate and Tae Kwon Do instructors. Additionally, he is a Part-Time Professor at Rutgers Business School, a frequent guest lecturer at a number of MBA programs, and a recurrent newspaper article contributor.
Jon
Jonathan has been learning Krav Maga for over 13 years, supplementing his training with Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, and other martial arts disciplines. For the last 9 years, Jonathan has taught Krav Maga both as group and private sessions. Teaching students of ages 3 to 75, Jonathan tailors his instruction to every individual's personality, size, strength, and physical ability, fully believing that no person is too young or too old to learn how to protect themselves.
Emily
Emily has been practicing martial arts for most of her life. Her first karate school emphasized the importance of learning as many variations as possible, catering techniques to individuals. It was a combination of several traditional and modern Japanese styles that also integrated aspects of Judo, Japanese Jiu Jitsu, and practical self-defense. She trained in Kyokushin and Shotokan while living in Japan for three years, learning sparring techniques and teaching kata to fighters. Upon her return, she trained in Muay Thai and Jeet Kune Do for several years and ran cardio kickboxing classes on Zoom in 2020. In classes both on and off the mat, she expresses her belief that martial arts help to form some of the best communities in the world, allowing practitioners to better understand and push the boundaries of their own potential while forging practical skills and self-confidence. She applies her knowledge of and experience with martial arts to her academic work as a Ph.D. candidate in Philosophy of Religion at Columbia University, where she is currently writing her dissertation about embodiment, imagination, and virtuality.
David
Even though he practiced martial arts all along his childhood (mostly judo), David consider that his true martial arts journey started in 2003. After a couple of year of Aikido and kick boxing, he discovered Shorinji Kempo, a Japanese martial art he consistently got involved in until 2019. Over the years, he won the french Taikai (annual SK tournament) three consecutive years, ended two times at the fourth place in European and World competitions, and participated in numerous international events, as a demonstration performer (Embu). After a two-years break due to COVID crisis, and an expatriation to New York City, he started a fresh new curriculum in Krav Maga with Tsahi Shemesh and got his instructor certification last July. David firmly believes that martial arts changed his life for the better and expect now to give back to others what was given to him years ago: technical knowledge and self-defense skills of course, but also self-confidence, and rigor.
Marco
Marco’s astonishing experience in the worlds of martial arts and self defense spans over more than three decades of persistence and dedication in both his training and his instruction of the practices. Marco’s journey between 1985 and 2018 is marked with several highlights including achieving a 4th degree black belt in Karate, a brown belt in Judo and a KMMA 2nd Degree Black Belt. In 2018, Marco joined the KME family. He has trained and progressed under Tsahi Shemesh and achieved a G2 level. His well-rounded experience of the various practices enhances his understanding of how Krav Maga is different than adjacent martial arts fields, thus delivering high-end knowledge, a superb skill set and an abundance of instruction experience. Among Marco's various accomplishments are 1997 2001 kickboxing Record 5:1. Competed in in Top Kick Kickoxibg Championship Super Heavyweight and Ring of Combat 1997 2001 Finals and Semi Finals in Bare Knuckle Knockout Kyukushin Karate Tournaments; Ultimate Test, Mas Oyama Gold Cup, 2nd North American Kyokushin US Open 2020 Program Director Chief Instructor in Self Defense, Kickboxing Instructor, Kids Chief Instructor Striking 101 Sensei John
Ronnie
Ronnie specialized in teaching children of all ages. He’s worked with ages 9 months to 13 years of age in various fitness settings, instructing martial art classes within multiple NYC after school programs, along with other physical fitness activities best for a child’s gross motor skill development. He has practiced shotokan karate since the age of 11, whilst including cross-training in kickboxing/boxing in his years of practice. His incredible approach to teaching incorporates emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication skills amongst his students in order to foster their empathy for others and self-empowerment!
Kristin
Kristin’s love of fighting started when she discovered her interest in kickboxing back in high school. In 2013, a couple of years after moving to NYC, she took up Krav Maga and found an even greater passion for this area of the fighting world. She became an instructor and spent 6 years teaching Krav before coming to KME, achieving her G4 rank along the way. Kristin also enjoys cross training in boxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and she credits her lifelong training as a dancer for aiding in her exploration of the wide world of martial arts, which she likens to a form of dance where people hit each other. Off the mat, Kristin holds Masters degrees in Social Work and Public Health and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She specializes in trauma and works in a mental health clinic at a child welfare agency for children with special needs, while running a private therapy practice on the side. Kristin incorporates a trauma-informed lens in her style of instruction and understands how empowering and healing Krav Maga can be.
Harrison
Harrison is a martial arts instructor and personal trainer. He has been training in martial arts for over 15 years. Included in his experience are MMA, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Western Boxing. He holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do. He loves to try new systems and arts and has spent time cross-training in other full-contact arts, including Brazilian Jiujitsu, Historical German Martial Arts, Filipino Martial Arts and boxing