shaan saar Krav Maga Orlando
florida’s gold standard
for real world self defense, no gi jiu jitsu
2 locations in Central Florida · Dr. Phillips & Lake Mary
Contact us at 407-730-1523
Why TRAIN AT Shaan Saar Krav Maga?
Built on criminal Justice, behavioral science & Real-LIFE SELF DEFENSE Experience
At Shaan Saar Krav Maga, we don’t motivate through fear — we prepare with clarity.
Fear fades. Reality Remain. This is what we train for.
Our methodology is designed by threat management experts, federal law enforcement professionals, and clinical forensic psychology specialists to equip students with real-world self defense skills in Krav Maga, No Gi Jiu Jitsu, and trauma-informed defense. With 75+ years of combined experience, we deliver a standard of safety training that martial arts schools simply can’t match.
Why train at Krav Maga Classes and No Gi Ju Jitsu at Shaan Saar Krav Maga?
Developed and informed by threat management specialists, federal law enforcement professionals, and clinical forensic psychologists
Over 75 years of combined experience in real-world violence prevention and defensive tactics
Home of the Evidence-Based Self Defense™ system – integrating Krav Maga and Japanese No Gi Jiu Jitsu
Small classes with individualized attention, taught by Certified, Master Krav Maga Instructors, licensed private protection, human trafficking investigations and board-certified threat management
Master essential self defense skills at Shaan Saar Krav Maga by the Shaan Saar LLC Security Group, 75+ year family legacy of service to professional protection, federal law enforcement, military, and the criminal justice system. Creator’s of the Evidence Based Self Defense System™
Central Florida’s Most Experience Instructors・ Individualized Attention, Beginners Welcome ・Learn Essential Self Defense Skills in Private Krav Maga Classes
Adult KRAV MAGA classes
Real World Self Defense & No Gi Jiu Jitsu
Learn real world self-defense that works under pressure. Our adult Krav Maga and No Gi Jui Jitsu classes (18+) are evidence-based, psychology-informed, and led by certified master instructors actively working in threat management.
Small groups.
No belt fees.
Built for real life.
Women’s SELF DEFENSE CLASSES
Trauma Informed Self Defense™
From the creators of Trauma Informed Self Defense™, clinically informed and recommended by law enforcement and clinical psychologists, the Shaan Saar Krav Maga women’s program is rooted in trauma-informed principles, evidence-based threat management, and behavioral science. We help trauma survivors and women from all walks of life build autonomy, confidence, and boundary-setting skills through real-world self-defense.
Our women’s self-defense training and Krav Maga classes gives a strategic advantage teaches practical, real-life strategies to recognize threats to prevent an attach, defend effectively under pressure, and create the opportunity to escape safely.
No belts.
Just what works.
Youth SELF DEFENSE ages 7+
KIDS KRAV MAGA classes
Shaan Saar is Central Florida’s only evidence-based self-defense program for youth, combining Krav Maga, No Gi Jiu Jitsu, and social skills coaching. Kids learn to spot unsafe situations, set boundaries, and respond with earned, not false, confidence; emotionally and physically.
Unlike traditional martial arts schools, enrolling your child in self defense classes at Shaan Saar Krav Maga offers access to Florida’s only Evidence-based self-defense™ program for kids.
Children learn to spot danger early, enforce boundaries, and respond with confidence, physically and emotionally.
What makes us central florida’s best Self defense KRAV MAGA classes & No Gi Jiu jitsu?
Shaan Saar Krav Maga, operated by the Shaan Saar LLC Security Group, offers Orlando’s most qualified instructors for comprehensive self defense. Our trademarked Evidence Based Self Defense™ system delivers real-world protection skills grounded in psychology, physiology, and threat management science.
Unlike traditional martial arts, our training is built on real-life application, not sport. We combine Israeli Krav Maga, No Gi Jiu Jitsu, and verbal de-escalation strategies with insights from federal law enforcement, criminal behavior specialists, and elite CQB (Close Quarters Battle) instructors.
A family-owned business with over 70 years of legacy, Shaan Saar’s roots include:
Military DD-214 service
Federal law enforcement
Israeli Krav Maga and CQB
U.S. National Nuclear Administration threat protocols
Criminal behavioral analysis and countermeasures
We are proud to be the only program in the United States offering the Evidence Based Self Defense™ system, uniquely designed to address the autonomic stress response. This method helps students, from civilians to first responders, develop rapid, regulated, and effective reactions under pressure.
“ Shaan Saar Krav Maga is not only an amazing place to learn a proven self defense system and self defense skills, but will also provide you with a wonderfully diverse community of friendship and support.”
—A. Smith (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Google Reviews) Adult & Children’s Krav Maga Classes
Krav Maga defensive tactics training classes for self defense
Getting Started at Shaan Saar Krav Maga
Looking for Krav Maga classes in Orlando, Lake Mary, or Winter Park, real-world self defense training, or No Gi Jiu Jitsu in Central Florida?
We’ve got your six.
🎯 Limited Time: 2-Week Trial $99
Test drive our evidence-based self defense program and experience the difference of training with Central Florida’s most experienced instructors.
During your 2-week trial, you’ll:
Learn the foundations of Krav Maga and self defense psychology
Train with our on-staff Criminal Behavior Analyst and protection professionals
Attend unlimited small group Krav Maga classes and No Gi Ju Jitsu training
Build both physical technique and the mindset to succeed
If it’s a good fit for both sides, you’ll be invited to continue with full membership in our elite training and education program.
BE READY.
BE STRONG.
Be UNSTOPPABLE.
Your Loved Ones Safety Starts at Shaan Saar Krav Maga
Self defense programs are crucial for young people to develop autonomy and self advocacy skills. Unlike martial arts programs, Shaan Saar Krav Maga by the Shaan Saar LLC Security Group teaches not only physical concepts in self defense but provides mentorship and skills to build awareness and confidently advocate for their autonomy, safety, and development. Personal safety education for students with the Board Certified educators, professional threat management experts working within criminal justice and behavior will equip your child with much more than just confidence, but for comprehensive safety and self defense skills for a lifetime.
Teen Krav Maga and Self Defense: We renowned for Orlando’s best teaching quality are proud to offer self defense seminars and classes on the UCF campus though student groups such as Yehudi, to help students learn the defense skills they need to feel more secure.
Addressing an increased level of antisemitism on college campuses, by equipping Jewish students with the confidence to embrace their identity, advocate for themselves, and stand up against hate and discrimination confidently. While other self defense seminars and special events for person safety are frequently provided on college campus their limited scope of training, one size fits all approach, and lack of crucial education in psychological preparedness with licensed and board certified professionals can provide a false sense of safety and confidence. Shaan Saar Krav Maga by the Shaan Saar LLC Security Group offers a holistic approach tailored to student populations for physical, psychological, and situational aspects of personal safety.
Florida’s gold standard in Krav Maga Classes, Real Life Self Defense, and No Gi Jiu jitsu

Discover the benefits of evidence-based and trauma-informed Krav Maga self-defense at Shaan Saar Krav Maga.
Central Florida’s gold standard in Krav Maga classes and No Gi Jiu Jitsu. More than just martial arts, our programs provide a comprehensive approach to awareness, escalated conflict, and post incident education so you can defend yourself confidently.
FAQs
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We offer small group classes with Orlando’s most experienced instructors, an encouraging community, and an evidence based system of personal protection for the whole family.
Students learn to defend themselves in real world scenarios with not only a variety of physical fighting styles, concepts, and self defense concepts but psychological concepts and personal awareness which reinforces violence prevention not taught in any martial arts class. The best way to get a feel for class is to enroll in a 2-week trial.
Classes are physically and mentally intense, and presented in a high intensity interval training fashion. Mindset matters, and we’ll help you build it!
You can expect classes to be challenging, engaging and fun for a variety of levels while imparting education you won’t find anywhere else!
For those student more comfortable moving at either a slower or accelerated pace we also offer private classes. -
Unlike martial arts, Krav Maga internationally is known for knife attacks and standing self defense concepts but incorporates and modifies the best concepts from Brazilian Ju Jitsu, JiuJitsu, Catch Wrestling, and other ground combatives in addition to Muay Thai, boxing, and other combative striking.
However, it is important to note that the idea that 90% of fights ending up on the ground is based on a YouTube study of street confrontation versus academic studies in threat management of violence. There are presently no scholarly research evidence or studies which indicate the majority of physical altercations will end up in a ground fight.
Evidence based matters when it comes to teaching quality and our professionals are committed to a safer experience for your entire family versus false confidence of recreational self defense classes.
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A: Widely known as a self defense system used by Israeli law enforcement to survive knife attacks, defend Jewish neighborhoods, its aggressive and brutal nature, Krav Maga translates directly from Hebrew to English as "contact combat" very much like the American term "defensive tactics".
Krav Maga began during WWII and is a system of self defense versus martial art. While Imi Lichtenfeld is widely credited for starting the system and it has been significantly contributed to by the Israeli defense forces, Dr. Dennis Hanover, Haim Zut, Chaim Peer, and Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais.
As Krav Maga began as a system the mission was to evolve over time as threat levels and attacks changed. Today it is known to provide the most effective methods for neutralizing threats and controlling a situation through physical techniques.Come check out Orlando’s ONLY facility with Certified Master Krav Maga and Israeli CQB Instructor who has trained with Dr. Dennis Hanover, Haim Zut, and Chaim Peer.
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Our Orlando training facility in Doctor Phillips is located inside of the Rosen JCC, a state of the art community center designed with your safety and comfort in mind. Our secure faclity provides the ideal environment for learning and practicing self defense for kids and adults of all skill levels. We feature state-of-the-art safety mats that minimize the risk of injury during ground training, and require gear to ensure every student can practice your Krav Maga and No Gi Jui Jitsu with confidence.
In addition to top-quality training equipment, the Rosen JCC offers access to amenities such as locker rooms, showers, and a comfortable waiting area, making it easy to fit training into your busy life.
Shaan Saar Krav Maga Lake Mary: Train where calm meets capability.
Our Lake Mary location offers a private indoor/outdoor facility intentionally designed for both physical and mental conditioning on our family owned mini-farm, just one block from Wilson Elementary. With 2-inch Zebra mats, heavy bags, Wave Masters, and weight equipment, plus access to a nearby running trail it’s the perfect setting for real-world conditioning, environmental conditioning, No Gi Jui Jitsu, and building an unbreakable mindset.NEW LOCATION Shaan Saar Krav Maga Winter Park: (Opening June 2025)
We’re bringing real-world self-defense to the heart of Winter Park!
Opening June 2025 inside the Aloma Shopping Center, right next to Aloma Cinema Grill, our newest location offers the same trusted evidence-based training for kids, teens, and adults, now in a convenient central Orlando location.Whether you're new to Krav Maga and No Gi Ju Jitsu or ready to level up your skills, enrollment is now open. Join the waitlist or claim your trial spot today and be among the first to train at our newest facility.
At Shaan Saar Krav Maga, we are dedicated to providing a safe, well-equipped environment where you can train, learn, and grow—no matter your age or experience level.
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No. Shaan Saar Krav Maga offers the best teaching quality and an Evidence-Based Self Defense™ system created by our professional team with over 70+ years in professional protection, trained with Israeli security forces, US military, Federal counter measures, and criminal behavior analysis.
Many Krav Maga schools will differentiate themselves by pointing to their purist teachings.
In real life threat management and self defense, relying soley on traditional frameworks does not adequately address the dynamic nature of rapidly changing violence or offender MOs. Krav Maga was designed to evolve as threats evolve, and these updated changes from professionals working in the field is what makes Shaan Saar top notch educators.
Krav Maga training with the Shaan Saar Krav Maga training enter teaches mental fortitude, resilience, personal safety, and practical techniques to mitigate physical confrontation for the whole family. The importance of effective defence methods tailored to real-world situations is emphasized, ensuring students learn practical self-defence strategies that go beyond sport-oriented practices. -
Learning to defend yourself is a priceless skillset. Classes at Shaan Saar Krav Maga teach not just physical application of safety but teaches mental toughness, resilience, awareness, the ability to recognize potential threats. It also helps to improve your strength, confidence, and mental endurance. Through our classes, you can develop essential self-defense skills that can be used in a variety of situations to protect yourself and your loved ones.
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A. Krav Maga is different from traditional martial arts, combat fitness classes, and competition fighting as it is designed for self-defense in real-world scenarios. A disadvantage of some martial arts and self-defense systems is that they lack ground fighting, grappling, or weapon training, which can limit their effectiveness in comprehensive self-defense situations. Its emphasis is on practical, effective techniques for dealing with threats and controlling situations. It is also focused on instinctive, gross motor movements rather than on forms or rituals, which makes it easier to learn and recall.
Refined by the Israel defense forces Krav Maga was pioneered by the Jewish Partisan paramilitary organization as a proactive system of survival unlike any traditional martial art.
Ready to explore more about Krav Maga Classes ? Or have questions about our evidence based self defense classes for kids and teens?
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A: Krav Maga has many physical and mental benefits. From improving coordination, agility, balance, and strength to helping build focus, confidence, and mental toughness, it is a skill set which teaches not only self-defense concepts to reduce the risk of violence or harm but offers students practical means of improving overall wellness, mindset, and managing stress.
Punches may be a fundamental and effective self-defense tool in Krav Maga, valued for their speed, power, and practical application in real-life situations to quickly stun or incapacitate an attacker but they are far from the only element necessary to a comprehensive self protection education.
The Evidence-Based Self Defense™ system offers practical concepts in awareness, boundary setting, eliminating a threat, and post-incident response necessary for surviving real-world violence, not just performing in a martial arts dojo.Unlike traditional martial arts, the approach at Shaan Saar Krav Maga is rooted in criminal behavior analysis, threat management research, and real-world case studies. Every element is designed to reflect what actually works under pressure — including high-stress, low-visibility, and impaired response scenarios (such as during panic, injury, or intoxication).
Students are trained not just to defend themselves physically, but to:
Anticipate danger early through situational awareness,
Set and enforce boundaries with confidence and clarity,
Use simplified, high-probability techniques to neutralize threats,
And handle the aftermath, including seeking help, reporting, and emotional regulation.
Evidence-Based Self Defense™ prepares you for the reality of violence, not the choreography of martial arts movies.
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A: No problem, if you have the willingness to learn it's within your grasp.
Shaan Saar Krav Maga teaches to real-life scenarios and is not a martial art, sport or recreational activity. And while our instructors have personally taught thousands of military, law enforcement and personal security professionals methods we offer group and private formats adapted and designed exclusively for civilians who want to learn a practical way to defend themselves. We are constantly updating for attacks, crime and scenarios most relevant to citizens in the United States. We are experienced with and work with people from all walks of life, level of fitness and physical ability and / or limitation.
For those who prefer a slower pace private classes are available. -
A: Great question! Shaan Saar Krav Maga does not teach moves. We teach self defense concepts. Actual attacks do not follow a structured order. They are fast and unpredictable versus the choreographed motions of Tae-Kwon Do or Karate self defense techniques.
In Krav Maga and No Gi Jui Jitsu training at Shaan Saar Krav Maga, students are taught to target vulnerable areas of the attacker's body, such as the head and vital organs, to quickly disable a threat during a street attack.
The more moves or techniques you learn for any single threat the more information your brain is required to remember, process, and perform. Variety and missteps make this recall exceptionally difficult when fighting, and during an attack, every second counts.
Our program helps create and retrain neural pathways for the fastest, most effective response via conceptual education.
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Your safety is our top priority at Shaan Saar Krav Maga. Our evidence-based safety protocols are designed to create a secure and empowering environment for every student. All of our instructors are trained in first aid and CPR, and we have comprehensive emergency response plans in place to address any situation that may arise during training.
We believe that effective self defense training goes beyond physical techniques, it’s about building awareness, learning to understand the human autonomic response, and confidently knowing how to respond during escalated conflict to defend yourself effectively.

Don’t take our word for it.
Check out our 100+ 5-star Google Reviews:
“This is a great investment for your mind, body and future. I started taking these classes about 6 months ago and cannot be more pleased with the results so far. I went into class very unsure and timid. I was made to feel secure by the instructors and actually also by other students because the instructors have built a supportive culture in the classroom that maintains patience, kindness, compassion and encouragement. We get lessons on so many aspects of self protection. I have grown as a person and through coaching and correction I have gotten better at defending myself. This class, at the least for me is not about fighting, it’s more about security. I jokingly call it self-confidence class but I’ve gained so much more. I’m very grateful.”
— Charlene S.
“I found exactly what I was looking for with Shaan Saar Krav Maga. Shaan Saar is a topnotch training facility. Gabe and the rest of his staff are awesome instructors. What I like is it teaches you how to respond to real life street defense situations. Like most people I am not looking for fights, but I want to be able to protect myself and my family should something happen. I highly recommend checking them out. 5 Stars all the way!”
— Johnny H
“Their program is trauma informed, science and research based, and you can tell they are lifelong learners so the information is not stale or out of date. Reneé gave me a piece of myself back that the offender took from me. She gave me my back my body autonomy and my voice...she empowered me with practical knowledge on how to protect myself and my family.”
— Marla S
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Please note ** Shaan Saar Krav Maga and the Evidence Based Self Defense™ program is not affiliated with any other Krav Maga or Self Defense school in Central Florida.
If you were redirected to another facility or misinformed, please contact us directly at 407-730-1523 or visit us at Shaan Saar Krav Maga, 11184 S. Apopka Vineland Road., Orlando, FL 32836.