Berkeley Krav Maga

Danny

Lead Instructor Danny began fighting at the age of 15 when he was introduced to boxing.His natural abilities propelled him to win competition after competition. He eventually became state champion of Israel for his age and weight class. In 1985, he was introduced to Krav Maga while serving in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). In 1986, he joined the International Krav-Maga Federation and served in a combat unit. His commanders noticed his exceptional abilities and sent him to the prestigious Wingate Institute to receive instructor's training in Krav Maga. After finishing his certification, Danny returned to train other IDF units in Krav Maga and served faithfully until his commitment was fulfilled. When he moved to the Bay Area, his natural passion for fitness and Krav Maga led him to the National Training Center in Los Angeles where he was also certified to teach civilians. Danny is one in only few instructors in the US who are certified by both the International Krav-Maga Federation as well as Krav Maga Worldwide. Danny's soft spoken and no nonsense approach to fighting has created a following in the Bay Area. A successful business entrepreneur and instructor, Danny is inspiring on both a personal and professional level.

Nina (Walnut Creek Krav Maga)

Nina is one of the few high rank female Krav Maga Instructors in the United States to be certified by theInternational Krav Maga Federation (IKMF). Nina earned a B.A. degree and a M.A. degree in Psychology, and became a certified personal fitness trainer to compliment her Krav Maga training. This has influenced her unique style of teaching Krav Maga in a straight forward approach by integrating the mental and physical aspects that are also involved with learning self defense and fighting. While searching for a means of self-defense, she came across Krav Maga and loved the practicality the system teaches for living in a modern day world. She soon excelled in the system and began sparring in fight classes to broaden her skills. This peaked her interest in fighting as a sport, and she also began training in boxing. She has been intensively training in Krav Maga since 2002.

Gaby

Gabriel (Gaby) Gliksman, partner in the Berkeley Krav Maga Training Center, is an IKMF certified instructor. Originally from Israel and now living in Berkeley with his family, Gaby has a background in competitive Judo, Krav Maga, and also played basketball for many years in the Israeli National Junior League.

James (Grappling)

James Maiz has trained in the US and Brazil with various masters of martial arts, including Carlson Gracie, Carley Gracie, Rinaldo Santos, Amal Easton, Matt Thornton, Tom Oberhue, Chris Haueter, Bitta de Lima and others. He medaled twice in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu US Open, where he submitted an opponent weighing 100lbs heavier in open weight competition. He developed a takedown and restraint system specifically for health care workers in dangerous situations, and has taught marines, policemen, and prison guards.

Deanna

Deanna M. Perez is the instructor for the kids program. She has been training Krav Maga for almost two years and fell in love with the practice and theory. Her love and enthusiasm for Krav Maga and children has inspired her to teach the kids program at the Berkeley Fitness Center under the guidance of head instructor Danny Zelig. Deanna has over 13 years of experience working with children in a classroom setting and has previously taught gymnastics. Deanna lives in the bay area with her husband and two children who also practice Krav Maga.

Samantha (Kettle Bell)

My unique training style was born out of a desire to always improve as an athlete. I have been a competitive diver for fifteen years and have also competed in Olympic Lifting and Kettlebells. My training style draws on a multitude of non-traditional techniques and disciplines forged by a need for efficiency. I started Olympic lifting to increase my explosiveness and soon after became the W.A state Olympic Lifting champion. I then discovered Kettlebells and found that I could achieve the same level of explosive strength without increasing my body mass. Through my achievements in Kettlebells I was invited to study combat applications with the special forces and tactical operations teams and was subsequently certified as a combat applications specialist (CAS). It was during this period of study that I really started seeing a relationship between efficiency of motion and of time. Soon after I received a diving scholarship to Cal Berkeley and I am currently preparing for the 2112 Olympics. In short, desire and necessity have led to my ability to create highly efficient and unique workout programs that allow my clients to pursue and then obtain goal(s) in a timely manner.

Danielle

Danielle started practicing Hatha Yoga at age 15. Enjoying the physical challenge, her passion for fitness quickly developed eventually leading her to Krav Maga. Danielle studied fitness instruction at Diablo Valley College she now leads the Sport Yoga class and manages the office in Berkeley.

Sarah

Sarah Boyd is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brown belt under UFC veteran and World Champion Alberto Crane. She has studied Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for over 10 years and has competed in Mixed Martial Arts, as well as numerous grappling and Jiu Jitsu tournaments. She has over 6 years of experience teaching men, women, and children.

Accomplishments include:

Pan American champion
US open champion
Arizona Combat club champion
Grappler's Quest champion
3 x Grappler's Quest silver medalist
Abu Dhabi west coast trials silver medalist
King of the cage winner- 1st woman to fight in KOTC in New Mexico
Inferno winner