Posts by Lori Weintraub

Keith Burregi is our FIMA Representative for Louisiana and has trained in a variety of traditional martial arts including Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Aikijujitsu, Aikido, and Lung Shou Pai Kung Fu. Keith has been studying Krav Maga through Krav Maga Alliance under the direction of Soke Tony Morrison and FIMA Director John Whitman…

FIMAFeature of the week: David Rubinberg David is the son of Samuel Rubinberg. Samuel came to the USA from Poland with the other members of his family that survived the Holocaust. Many of the family went to Israel while some stayed and made the USA home. Israeli survival techniques were shared amongst family as they…

Patrick Bittan  was born in France and has lived in Israel, the United States and is currently residing in Spain. Nurtured in Judo since the age of 6 (black belt in 1992), forged in Krav Maga (black belt in 1991) training since the age of 12 with former Israeli commando Joseph Kalfa, educated in Mixed…

Michael Rüppel is well-known throughout Europe and in Israel. He began working in security in 1992 as a bodyguard for such notables as Gerhard Schröder, Dr. Ben Weider, Jean-Claude van Damme and many others. While Rüppel trains in other martial arts (purple belt in BJJ), since 1998 he has focused on Israeli Martial Arts. His…

Francel Acosta Torres was born in Cuba. He has been involved in martial arts for thirty years. He has been practicing a variety of Martial arts such as Wushu, Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, kick boxing, Karate – Wado Ryu (1st Dan) and Hawaiin Kajukembo (2nd Dan) for many years. He became a Cuban champion in kumite in 1998.…

FIMAFeature of the week: Frank Castiglione Master Frank has more than 30 years of experience in martial arts. Starting in Karate, he received his black belt in Yoseikan Budo and began competing in full contact kickboxing and then armed combat arts. Frank has trained in Israeli systems since 1998. He has trained with multiple high level…

FIMAFeature of the week: Nir Maman Nir served in the Israeli Special Forces Counter Terror Unit and Counter Terror School in several capacities including: Operational Team Leader for Active Shooter/Terror Attack Interventions and high-risk search and arrest operations targeting wanted terrorists in war zones. Nir was a Lead Counter Terror Instructor in charge of training IDF…

Dr. Itay Gil is an IDF Major. He served in Israel’s special forces paratroops brigade. He was chosen to join Israel’s elite counter-terror and hostage rescue commando unit, “Yamam”, where he became an operative and then chief close-quarter combat instructor. Capt. Gil was the executive director of all training programs for the Israel Border Police as…

John Whitman is a 6th degree black belt in Krav Maga, a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, and a certified USAW Sport Performance Coach. He holds a Senior Instructor degree from the prestigious Wingate Institute in Netanya, Israel. He served as president of Krav Maga Worldwide for 7 years and has…

Haim Gozali is an Israeli and IDF veteran who has dedicated his life and career post-service to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and representing Israel on the world’s most important stages. From Madison Square Garden in New York to record-breaking events in Tel Aviv, and at The Forum in Los Angeles. Gozali represents Israel with pride…