UTKM Krav Maga Instructor Team

Here is the list of UTKM instructors. The list includes all instructors who are either currently teaching at a UTKM school or have been at some point certified by UTKM to teach.

Instructors that have not trained directly with UTKM for longer than 2 years, or have not proven they are teaching up to current UTKM standards and curriculum will have a listing of Credentials Not up to date however this does not take away from their initial achievement of receiving their respective Instructor Status as it was well earned. It simply means they are not teaching, or not teaching Krav Maga to UTKM expectations.

There are three levels of instructors at UTKM:

Lead Instructors, Full instructor, and Assistant Instructor.

Each has gone through extensive training to receive their designation. At UTKM do not offer week-long courses for Instructor certification as this cannot possibly be enough time to teach a person how to teach. Persons listed here may have let their certifications expired, and are listed as Not up to date. The previously certified instructors have not updated or continued their training with UTKM nor can UTKM Vouch for their current ability to teach.

Always check with UTKM HQ if you have any questions about any of our instructors.

Lead Instructors

Lead Instructors are the most senior members of the Instructor Team and are certified to create other UTKM Instructors. In addition, they may hand out belt ranks up to one rank below their own in the UTKM System. To be considered for this one must have a UTKM Black Belt, with Full Instructor Certification and have at least 5 years teaching experience as a Full instructor with regularly teaching for at least 5 years. And are working directly, in person or virtually under a Lead instructor or have operated a school under the UTKM Brand as a Full Instructor. Currently, only one of the founders of UTKM hold this title.

Jonathan Fader - UTKM Lead Instructor — **Jonathan Fader – Lead Instructor**

Since a young boy, I had always been fascinated with the military and martial arts. It was not until the age of 21 when I decided that my career in Occupational Health and Safety was not exactly what I wanted to be doing at this stage in my life. I decided to drop everything and pursue my dreams of learning martial arts and joining the military. Because of my Jewish heritage I choose to join the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). From the time I made that decision until the time I moved to Israel, I started my Martial Arts Journey starting with Krav Maga. That was in 2008, originally under the IKMF lineage.

In 2009 I moved to Israel and served almost 2 years in the 84th Givati infantry brigade, 424th battalion (Shaked). During my military service, I was trained as a rifleman, Light Machine Gunner , and Infantry Sniper. I also learned military Krav Maga as required by the training. I did tours of duty in both the West Bank and the Golan Heights. I was involved with everything from roadblocks to arrests and riots.

In the late summer of 2011, I returned to Canada. I felt that this was my home and where I had to be. I immediately started training Krav Maga again with my former colleagues and IKMF Master level 3 Marcus Torgersen. In order to improve my combat skills since my return, I also started learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and dabbled in other styles from Kyokushin to Muay Thai. On top of my Military Firearms training from the IDF and I updated my training under organizations like CT707 with Nir Maman.

Since then I have also become a certified instructor in various other Krav Maga organizations such as INSTINCT IIC under Kfir Itzhaki, IKF Under Amit Himmelstein , CT707 under Nir Maman, CKMI with Lior Ofenbach, IKI with Moshe Kats and have trained with individuals from, IKMF, IKMA, KMG and others. I have done this with the goal to truly understand Krav Maga and the different approaches all while updating my skills and knowledge regularly.

On top of my Krav Maga Training, I regularly train and compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu where I currently hold a Brown Belt. I originally started under team megaton Black belt Trevor Clarkson, but when I started teaching Krav out of Budo Mixed Martial Arts I made the switch. Originally under multi-time world champion Scott Boudreau, Under WCBJJ founder Don Whitefield (Black Belt under De La Riva). Now I train regularly under Black Belt Mike Hanson, Originally a WCBJJ Black Belt but now a Zenith Black Belt under Legendary Instructor Robert Drysdale. I have also trained via seminars or school visits the likes of Renzo Gracie, Luanna Alzuguir, Lucas Lepri, Megaton, Michael Langhi, Bernardo Fario, Marcelo Garica, Rob Biernacki, and Matt Kwan to name a few.

In addition, I have dabbled in Boxing, Kyokushin Karate, Arnis, Kickboxing, JKD, and knife fighting under various individuals of different backgrounds and linages.

However, no matter what martial arts I have learned I have always found that Krav Maga is by far the simplest and easiest and most effective system. Other systems take years to be able to actually use in self-defense situations while Krav Maga takes months (Regular training). Without a doubt, it is the most effective form of self-defense on the planet. I wish to work hard so that I can achieve my goal of becoming a full instructor.

I hope to see you in our classes and look forward to helping you develop confidence and learn the art of self-defense.

I have also continued to maintain my tactical shooting skills via training and teaching.

Teaches out of: UTKM Burnaby

Full Instructor

A full must hold the rank of UTKM Blue Belt or higher and has completed both the UTKM Assistant Instructor and has 3 years teaching experience, or 2 years directly under a Lead Instructor and has shown the ability to run tests or has achieved the rank of UTKM Black Belt and has passed the Full Instructor Certification Black Belt Designation . A full Instructor is certified to operate a UTKM school independently or in cooperation with UTKM. In addition, they may hand out belt ranks up to one rank below their own in the UTKM System. A Full instructor MAY NOT certify another instructor under UTKM.

Born and raised in the far East of Germany she started practicing Judo at the age of 6. In December 2012 she decided to move to Vancouver, Canada and stumbled into Krav Maga at the end of 2014 at a gym downtown Vancouver.

In fall of 2016, she switched to UTKM and is enjoying the great community of Kravists here. After this she rekindled her passion for Judo and earned her Black Belt in Judo and trains and teaches out of Kensington Judo Club in Vancover. To further advance her skills she started her BJJ journey where she currently hold a blue belt under 2nd Dan Black Belt Michael Hanson.

Petra earned her Full Instructor designation in 2022 after teaching regularly in Burnaby, BC under Lead Instructor Jonathan Fader. Petra was also certified as an IKF instructor in June 2019 under Amit Himmelstein.

UTKM Rank: Blue Belt

Teaches out of: UTKM Burnaby, BC

Instructor Status: UTKM Credentials UP TO DATE

Assistant Instructors

An assistant instructor must hold a minimum rank of UTKM Orange Belt or higher and has completed the UTKM Assistant Instructor course (Including BOTH the online Theory and In person Training and Teaching Practicum). An Assistant Instructor is certified to teach at a UTKM school without supervision so long as there is a Full/Lead UTKM instructor running the overall program. In addition, they may hand out belt ranks up to one rank below their own in the UTKM System. An assistant Instructor MAY NOT operate their own school under the UTKM Brand or certify another instructor under UTKM.

Instructor Status Meaning: An instructor who has been assessed by a Lead Instructor to have kept up to date with UTKM curriculum and expectations in the last 2 years will have a status indicating UP TO DATE. For those who have been previously certified but have not kept up their UTKM training, they will be listed as not up to date. For those who have not updated their credentials and training their rank and instructor status still stand just know they may not be teaching the most up to date UTKM Curriculum and it may not represent our current teachings and expectations.

Assistant Instructors – UP TO DATE Credentials

Karch has been training with UTKM since 2016, and despite having a martial arts background (Tae Kwon Do & Boxing), nothing had been able to keep his interest until joining Krav Maga. Aside from teaching, Karch also trains in has continued to train in Boxing and has also dabbled in kickboxing and Muay Thai.

UTKM Rank: Green Belt

Teaches out of: UTKM Burnaby, BC

Instructor Status: UTKM Credentials UP TO DATE

Karis was born in the lower mainland and is the oldest of her siblings. She was also the first one to start Krav with Urban Tactics Krav Maga in 2015.

Although all her siblings have trained at UTKM for varying amounts of time, she is the only one who has continued to train. Karis earned her yellow belt in 2016, orange belt in 2017, and was volunteered for the assistant instructor program in 2017 by peers and her instructor. She earned her green belt first and then finally became a qualified assistant instructor in August 2023.
Karis has trained briefly in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and kickboxing. She is currently very

UTKM Rank: Green Belt

Teaches out of: UTKM Burnaby, BC

Instructor Status: UTKM Credentials UP TO DATE

Born in West Germany to parents in the Canadian Air Force, Corey came to Canada when he was three years old. He was interested in martial arts at a very early age thanks to the “ninja craze” sweeping through 80’s cinema, though he did not have an opportunity to start formal training until later in life. Corey moved around a lot, such is the life of a military family, spending the majority of his youth in Northern Alberta, where the main physical pursuits were hockey, football, and losing oneself in the forest.
It wasn’t until his twentieth year on Earth that Corey came across an ad for Wing Chun lessons in the multipurpose room of the university he worked at. The class started with eight eager students, but within a few weeks essentially became private training, which allowed for drilling down into the essence of Kung Fu fundamentals. From that day forward Corey consumed any and all martial arts info he could get his hands on (“The Sword Polisher’s Record: the Way of Kung Fu” by Adam Hsu is the only book Corey has ever read through twice). After a brief stint as a bouncer, Corey pursued an Anthropology degree the martial arts continued to be a focus of interest, leading him to write a Master’s thesis comparing the master-student relationship in Hung Gar Kung Fu and Olympic-style Boxing.
After ten years of training Wing Chun, with a few years of Hung Gar, Boxing, and numerous other Kung
Fu styles sprinkled in, Corey found himself (due to yet another move) without access to a good Kung Fu
school. He saw this as an opportunity to try something more practical, less mired in tradition, and
perhaps more applicable to the modern world than butterfly sword forms. Krav Maga fit that description, and Corey has been training with UTKM since 2019. Corey achieved his Orange Belt in 2022 and Assistant Instructor designation in 2023.

UTKM Rank: Orange Belt

Teaches out of: UTKM Burnaby, BC

Instructor Status: UTKM Credentials UP TO DATE

Anna was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada and grew up playing competitive soccer, and later took up cross country running. It wasn’t until her early 20’s that she pursued her interests in martial arts, starting with boxing. She trained for two years under Bridget Stevens at Tribal Boxing in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, before moving to British Columbia, Canada in 2019 and starting her Krav Maga Journey at UTKM. She currently enjoys cross-training in MMA and BJJ to further develop her skills in Krav Maga. Anna achieved her UTKM Orange belt in 2022 and her Assistant Instructor certification in 2023.

UTKM Rank: Orange Belt

Teaches out of: UTKM Burnaby, BC

Instructor Status: UTKM Credentials UP TO DATE

Assistant Instructors – NOT UP TO DATE Credentials

Dave is a musician from Port Moody, BC. Besides his pursuit of musical prosperity, he has also long had an interest in martial arts which his father kindled by putting him in Tae Kwon Do during his teen years. Dave enjoyed the discipline and the training but when he learned of the practical and real-world nature of Krav Maga, he knew he had found the style that suited him best. Training in Krav Maga has become a part of Dave’s lifestyle, and he is currently a student and assistant instructor with Urban Tactics Krav Maga.

UTKM Rank: Green Belt

Teaches out of: Not Currently Teaching

Instructor Status: UTKM Credentials NOT UP TO DATE

Josh has had a passion for martial arts since seeing a video clip of Bruce Lee in action as a kid. He first studied Karate and then at University he began to explore Wing Chun Kung Fu and Capoeira.

After arriving in Canada in 2007 Josh moved to boxing and kickboxing, along with renewing his pursuit of Karate.

In 2014 he represented BC at the Canada Karate Championships – a highlight in his sport martial arts career. As a qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer he often found himself working in fitness and recreation environments where martial arts were occurring. This is where he first encountered Krav Maga. Josh was immediately captivated by the practical, easy to learn, and adaptable nature of Krav Maga. This was a martial art that was continually evolving! Josh completed his UTKM Assistant Instructor training in Sept 2015 which nearly took him a year to achieve.

UTKM Rank: Green Belt

Teaches out of: Not Currently Teaching