Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Orlando's Premier Evidence-Based Self Defense Training
Shaan Saar Krav Maga stands as Central Florida's premier self-defense training facility, combining decades of expertise in threat management, behavioral science, and real-world combat techniques. Founded by a team of board-certified threat management specialists, federal law enforcement professionals, and clinical forensic psychologists, we deliver evidence-based self-defense systems tailored to adults, women, and youth. Our methodology integrates Krav Maga, No Gi Jiu Jitsu, and trauma-informed principles to equip students with practical skills for high-stress scenarios. With over 75 years of combined experience, we prioritize individualized instruction in small classes, ensuring students develop physical proficiency, mental resilience, and situational awareness.As creators of the Evidence-Based Self Defense (EBSD) and Trauma-Informed Self Defense (TISD) systems, we emphasize scientific rigor and real-world applicability. Our family-owned legacy spans military service, federal law enforcement, and criminal justice, positioning us as Orlando's gold standard for comprehensive safety education. We serve diverse communities, including trauma survivors, law enforcement referrals, and families seeking lifelong protective skills.
Services
Adult Krav Maga Classes
Women's Self Defense
Youth Programs
Private Training Sessions
Trauma-Informed Defense
Details
- Year established: 1954
Highlights and features
- 75+ years of combined experience in federal law enforcement and threat management
- Trauma-informed programs developed with clinical forensic psychologists
- Small classes with board-certified instructors actively working in security fields
- Family legacy spanning military service, Israeli CQB, and criminal behavior analysis
- Only facility in Florida with Israeli-trained CQB and Krav Maga master instructors
Associations and certifications
- Evidence-Based Self Defense (EBSD)
- Trauma-Informed Self Defense (TISD)
What people say
Life-changing confidence
Exceptional instructors
Trauma-informed approach
Real-world effectiveness
Supportive community
Services
Adult Krav Maga Classes
Adult Krav Maga classes combine Israeli Krav Maga, No Gi Jiu Jitsu, and threat management science for real-world scenarios. Students learn stress-inoculation techniques, boundary-setting, and autonomic response training under board-certified instructors with federal law enforcement backgrounds. The 90-minute sessions use high-intensity interval training to develop physical techniques and psychological resilience, emphasizing practical application over sport-oriented forms. Classes operate four evenings weekly with required equipment for safe ground training.
Women's Self Defense
Women's self-defense programs integrate trauma-informed principles with evidence-based combatives, addressing unique safety challenges women face daily. Led by female instructors and criminal behavior analysts, the curriculum includes verbal de-escalation, ground defense against larger attackers, and post-incident psychological strategies. Sessions occur four evenings weekly and Saturday afternoons, featuring state-licensed protection agents who specialize in survivor advocacy. The program emphasizes privacy with secure facilities and no random observers, catering specifically to trauma survivors and confidence-building.
Youth Programs
Youth programs teach evidence-based self-defense concepts to children aged 7-17, combining Krav Maga fundamentals with social-emotional learning. Instructors focus on recognizing unsafe situations, setting boundaries, and developing situational awareness through age-appropriate drills. The curriculum addresses predator grooming behaviors and bullying prevention, with separate classes for 8-12 and 13-17 age groups. Sessions occur at the Rosen JCC facility featuring safety mats and structured to improve both physical capabilities and mental resilience in Central Florida's only clinically-backed youth defense program.
Private Training Sessions
Private training offers customized self-defense instruction tailored to individual needs, including trauma survivors, executives, and special populations. Sessions combine evidence-based combatives, threat assessment, and psychological preparedness with one-on-one attention from master instructors trained in Israeli CQB and federal countermeasures. Available at both Orlando and Lake Mary locations, private programs accommodate specific scheduling requirements and physical limitations while maintaining the same evidence-based methodology as group classes without compromising instructional quality.
Trauma-Informed Defense
Trauma-informed defense programs specifically address needs of survivors through clinically-backed methodologies developed by forensic psychology professionals. The curriculum integrates autonomic nervous system regulation techniques with physical defense skills, emphasizing student autonomy and trigger management. Instructors include a Doctor of Clinical Forensic Psychology candidate and licensed victims advocates who collaborate with mental health professionals. This specialized program requires pre-enrollment discovery sessions to customize pacing and ensure psychological safety while developing practical self-defense capabilities for real-world scenarios.
People
Gabriel Mora
Founding Partner & Chief Defensive Tactics Instructor
Board-certified threat management specialist with 18+ years teaching defensive tactics. Trained under IDF Special Forces instructors and FBI hostage negotiation experts. Holds a 3rd Dan Israeli Blackbelt and Criminal Justice Masters Candidate at UCF. Inducted into Action Martial Arts Magazine's Hall of Honors in 2018.
Rene Rose
Criminal Behavior Analyst
Clinical Forensic Psychology PsyD candidate and Trauma-Informed Self Defense Program Director. Educated at Tulane University and Harvard's Eger Method program. Specializes in offender profiling and survivor advocacy, working closely with homicide departments and clinical psychologists to develop trauma-responsive curricula.
Vern Valdez
Founding Partner
Retired US Navy Master Chief with three combat tours and 2x Purple Heart recipient. Former federal law enforcement officer in the US National Nuclear Security Administration Threat Response Unit. Brings extensive field experience in high-risk threat scenarios to instructor training programs.
Aaron Hadida
Security Director
25+ years in private security and executive protection across Israel, Canada, and the US. Specializes in crowd control and close-quarters protection. Author of 'Hate 2.0' and current National Director of Herut Canada's security operations with expertise in antisemitism-related threat management.
Questions
What makes your 2-week trial unique?
Our $99 trial offers unlimited access to all programs including Evidence-Based Self Defense, Trauma-Informed Self Defense, and youth classes with no commitment required.
Are instructors qualified to teach self-defense?
All instructors are board-certified professionals with backgrounds in federal law enforcement, military combatives, and clinical psychology actively working in security fields.
How does Krav Maga differ from martial arts?
Krav Maga focuses on real-world threat scenarios using instinctive movements rather than sport-oriented forms, incorporating behavioral science and trauma response training.
Do you offer women-only classes?
Yes, we provide trauma-informed women's self-defense classes led by female instructors with privacy-focused facilities and survivor-sensitive teaching approaches.
Are youth programs evidence-based?
Our youth programs combine Krav Maga fundamentals with social-emotional learning, developed over 70+ years of professional protection experience and clinical research.
Can I train privately?
Private sessions accommodate individual needs with customized training plans, available at both Orlando and Lake Mary locations with master-certified instructors.
