Martial Arts Woburn

Head Instructor - Gershon Ben Keren

Head Instructor, Gershon Ben Keren began his martial arts training in 1980 (Judo and Karate), going on to win regional and national titles in Judo, both as a junior and adult competitor. He is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Judo. In 1990 he started working in the security industry as a doorman, providing security services for pubs and bars. In 1993 he started training in Krav Maga in Israel, going on to gain his instructor certification with the IKMF (International Krav Maga Federation) – who at the time – was run by Eyal Yanilov. He has since trained with other notable Israeli instructors, including Avi Moyal (now head of the IKMF), Mikki Assulin, Gabi Noah, and Haim Gidon etc. He also holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in the Israeli martial art of Hisardut (meaning “survival” in Hebrew), and for a time taught the system under Dennis Hanover. In 2010 he was inducted into the Museum of Israeli martial arts in Herzliya, Israel (members of the school attended the awards ceremony, and also trained and toured in Israel). He has written three books on the martial art of Krav Maga and is the author of the weekly Krav Maga Blog.

Gershon has two master’s degrees: one in Psychology and the other in Criminology and Criminal Psychology (he is a member of the APA – American Psychological Association – and the ASC – American Society of Criminology). He stays up to date on current research concerning violent crime and offending. This academic approach, along with his firsthand experiences of violence working in the security industry, influences the way he teaches the martial art of Krav Maga.

Gershon teaches almost 100% of the classes at our school in Woburn (other members of the instructor team will sometimes teach a class), and also runs the beginner program/classes, that introduces people to the Israeli martial art of Krav Maga. If you would like to attend one of these, please click here.