David Kahn (martial artist)

David Kahn
Nationality	United States
Style	Krav Maga
Teacher(s)	Rick Blitstein, Alan Feldman, Haim Gidon
Rank	4th dan black belt (Israeli Krav Maga Association [Gidon System]) in Krav Maga , 5th dan black belt (American Judo Association Combat Jiu-Jitsu)
Other information
Website	http://www.davidkahnkravmaga.com/

David Kahn is an American martial artist and author of seven Krav Maga instruction books. He is a third generation Krav Maga black belt directly descendent from Krav Maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld. A student of Israeli martial artist and Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA) President Grandmaster Haim Gidon—an original student of Lichtenfeld—Kahn is the IKMA United States Chief Instructor, and an IKMA ^[1] and FIMA [Federation of Israeli Martial Arts] board member. ^[2]

Biography

David Kahn played Varsity football at Princeton University, and began Krav Maga instruction with Krav Maga senior instructor Rick Blitstein (a 1981 graduate of Imi Lichtenfeld’s first international instructor course) while a law student at University of Miami Law School. ^{[3] [4]} After graduating law school, Kahn began regular travel between the U.S. and Netanya, Israel for Krav Maga training with Grandmaster Gidon. ^{[5] [6]} He travelled between the U.S. and Israel for training approximately 30 times over the next 15 years. ^[7]

Career

Kahn has published seven Krav Maga books, three of which are published by Macmillan Publishers' St. Martin’s Publishing Group. His instruction emphasizes morality, integrity, and the historical context that gave rise to Krav Maga. ^{[8] [9]} While that context required the essential movements of Krav Maga work for anyone, Kahn’s civilian Krav Maga self-defense curriculum also encourages physical fitness. ^{[10] [11]}

Kahn provides personal Krav Maga training to public figures, including the late James Gandolfini, who played Tony Soprano in the six-series HBO drama The Sopranos. ^[12] Gandolfini was also a founding business partner in Kahn’s IKMA U.S. training facilities. ^[13]

David Kahn, center, teaches Krav Maga to United States Marine Corps Sergeants at MCAS Iwakuni.

He has provided martial arts instruction to over 250 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including the armed forces of the United States since 2000. ^{[14] [15]} IKMA U.S. police force courses include relationship development between police forces and community members, as well as non-lethal self-defense tactics training for police officers. ^{[16] [17]} Kahn's U.S. law enforcement and military training clients include police departments in the State of New Jersey, ^[18] the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ^[19] the United States Marine Corps, ^{[20] [21]} and United States Special Operations Forces. ^[22]

In addition to teaching Krav Maga, David Kahn is a technology entrepreneur: his co-invention of a personal data aggregating cryptocurrency method and system was patented in 2024. ^[23]

Education

• AB, Princeton University; 1994. ^[24]
• JD, University of Miami Law School; 1998. ^{[25] [26]}

Published books

• Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method—for Self Defense and Fitness (New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press. 2004.) ISBN   978-0312331771
• Advanced Krav Maga—The Next Level of Fitness and Self-Defense (New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press. 2008.) ISBN   978-0312361648
• Krav Maga Weapon Defenses (Wolfeboro, NH: YMAA Publication Center. 2012.) ISBN   978-1594392405
• Krav Maga Professional Tactics (Wolfeboro, NH: YMAA Publication Center. 2016.) ISBN   978-1594398940
• Krav Maga Defense—How to Defend Yourself Against the 12 Most Common Unarmed Street Attacks (New York, NY: St. Martin’s Griffin. 2016.) ISBN   978-1250090829
• Krav Maga Combatives: Maximum Effect (Wolfeboro, NH: YMAA Publication Center. 2019.) ISBN   978-1594396816
• Krav Maga Fundamental Strategies (Wolfeboro, NH: YMAA Publication Center. 2021.) ISBN   978-1594398131

References

1. Kaplan, Ron (2004-10-21). "New Jersey martial arts maven extols benefits of Israel's Krav Maga". New Jersey Jewish News — Central NJ. Whippany, NJ. p. 30.
2. "Leadership". Federation of Israeli Martial Arts. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
3. Hersh, Pam (2023-05-20). "Davy Kahn Stands Up for His Beliefs, from Princeton Public Schools to the International Stage". TAPintoPrinceton. Princeton, NJ. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
4. Kaplan, Ron (2004-10-21). "New Jersey martial arts maven extols benefits of Israel's Krav Maga". New Jersey Jewish News — Central NJ. Whippany, NJ. p. 30.
5. Seeklander, Mike (2019-02-06). "A Complete Fighting System - Israeli Krav Maga with United States Chief Instructor David Kahn" (Podcast). The American Warrior Show. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
6. Ross, Lillian (2001-10-28). "Combat on Madison". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
7. Kahn, David (2013). "Krav Maga: From Defending A Nation To Self-Defense". Chutzpah Magazine (Passover 2013 ed.). p. 58-61.
8. Murray, Rick (2008-01-20). "Krav Maga Delivers . . . Eye-Popping Methods To Beat Thugs: Israeli self-defense school educated 'Tony Soprano'". The Trentonian. Denver, CO: Digital First Media. p. 5.
9. Roberts, Dan (2005). "No holds barred: Krav maga is the world's most brutal martial art – and it's a great way of getting fit. We met one of its leading exponents, David Kahn, for a lesson we'll never forget". Men's Fitness Magazine (June ed.). pp. 34–37.
10. Botton, Sari (2002-02-18). "Killer Exercise: Krav Maga and other martial arts offer a great workout — and lessons in self-defense". New York Daily News. Tribune Publishing. p. 52.
11. Harper, Jason (2002). "Ultimate Fighter: Krav Maga ensures you'll be da man". Gear Magazine (January/February ed.). pp. 105–107.
12. Carter, Kevin L. (2022-01-11). "Schmooze, Nosh, Kick Like Hell". Princeton Info. Lawrence, NJ: communitynews.org. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
13. Clerkin, Bridget (2012-03-09). "Israeli martial arts takes hold in Bordentown". Times of Trenton. New York, NY: Advance Publications Inc. p. B8.
14. Hersh, Pam (2023-05-20). "Davy Kahn Stands Up for His Beliefs, from Princeton Public Schools to the International Stage". TAPintoPrinceton. Princeton, NJ. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
15. Carter, Kevin L. (2022-01-11). "Schmooze, Nosh, Kick Like Hell". Princeton Info. Lawrence, NJ: communitynews.org. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
16. Shea, Kevin (2002-01-23). "Jiu-jitsu policing? Why more N.J. cops are being trained in the martial art". NJ.com. Advance Publications Inc. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
17. "Philly police get advanced training to avoid use of deadly force". 6abc Action News. 2018-06-11. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
18. Shea, Kevin (2002-01-23). "Jiu-jitsu policing? Why more N.J. cops are being trained in the martial art". NJ.com. Advance Publications Inc. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
19. Hersh, Pam (2023-05-20). "Davy Kahn Stands Up for His Beliefs, from Princeton Public Schools to the International Stage". TAPintoPrinceton. Princeton, NJ. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
20. Mink, A. C. (2008-08-20). "No uniforms, no blue ribbon, no holds barred: Krav Maga". Roto Vue. New River, NC: Marine Corps Air Station. p. 20+.
21. Clerkin, Bridget (2012-03-09). "Israeli martial arts takes hold in Bordentown". Times of Trenton. New York, NY: Advance Publications Inc. p. B8.
22. Mink, A. C. (2008-08-20). "No uniforms, no blue ribbon, no holds barred: Krav Maga". Roto Vue. New River, NC: Marine Corps Air Station. p. 20+.
23. USpatent 12093928B2,David Brener Kahn and Sorat Tungkasiri,"System and method for valuing and regulating a data asset backed cryptocurrency",issued 2024-09-17 
24. Hobson, Katherine (2001-10-28). "Take that! David Kahn '94 teaches New Yorkers self-defense". Princeton Alumni Weekly. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
25. Hobson, Katherine (2001-10-28). "Take that! David Kahn '94 teaches New Yorkers self-defense". Princeton Alumni Weekly. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
26. Kaplan, Ron (2004-10-21). "New Jersey martial arts maven extols benefits of Israel's Krav Maga". New Jersey Jewish News — Central NJ. Whippany, NJ. p. 30.