We are certified by top Krav Maga instructors at the National Training Center.

Jay Hodges

Krav Maga Self Defense Instructor

By day, Jay Hodges is a mild-mannered Senior Advisor to Kansas City Mayor Sly James.  By night, he is a screaming ball of anger and rage at Krav Maga Kansas City. 

 

High energy, Jay was one of our first Krav Maga Instructors and has been training with Krav Maga KC since 2001.  Known for drills that are designed to push students physical and mental toughness, Jay has a national reputation as a great Krav Maga instructor.  In addition, Jay was also a member of the Krav Maga KC Fight team, with “multiple” professional MMA fights.  Jay holds all of his degrees from Baker University.

“Stop struggling and keep fighting”

Steve Woolridge

Chief Krav Maga Instructor of K.C.

Steve's background includes over 15 years of martial arts experience and six years of military service. While in the United States Air Force, Steve served as a foreign language specialist in an elite electronic combat unit. Due to the high-security nature of his position, he received extensive training in various survival, escape and evasion tactics. His Krav Maga and martial arts background includes:

  1. •1st Degree Black Belt in Krav Maga (fewer than 50 in the U.S. in 2006)

  2. •Krav Maga Civilian Law Enforcement Instructor

  3. •1st Degree Black Belt in Chuan Fa (Chinese Kenpo)


Steve also has a strong wrestling background, has boxed and studied Jiu Jitsu. Steve was the first certified Krav Maga instructor in Kansas City, receiving his Instructor Certification in January 2001.


In October 2001, Steve established the Krav Maga & Fitness Center in Lenexa, Kansas. Well known for his endless energy, in-depth knowledge and entertaining teaching style, Steve has taught Krav Maga to hundreds of adults and children in the Kansas City area.


Constantly seeking knowledge to ensure the best training for both himself and his students, Steve frequently travels nationwide for seminars and training events. He has participated in Krav Maga weapon defense seminars in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York and Washington DC. He's also completed a 2-day tactical shooting course taught by the top tactical trainer for the LAPD SWAT team (International Tactical Training Seminars, Inc.)


Steve has been interviewed about Krav Maga by local TV, radio, and newspaper publications, including Channels 4, 5, 9 and 41, Kansas City Star, Sun Publications, Kansas City Sports Page and the Jewish Chronicle. His radio interviews include Stations 93.3, 98.9, Star 102, 96.5, and 8.10 Sports Talk and V100.3 in Topeka. In the January 2003 Los Angeles Times, Steve was pictured with Krav Maga U.S. Chief Instructor Darren Levine in an article about Darren. Nationally, Steve had a cameo appearance in the October 2, 2004, episode of 48-Hours -an episode which featured U.S. Chief Instructor Darren Levine.

Roger Jackson

Krav Maga Self-Defense Instructor

Amateur Fighter (MMA and Muay Thai)

Roger was one of our first Krav Maga Instructors, becoming certified in August 2002. He is also a member of the Krav Maga KC Fight team, with amateur fights in Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts. In addition to training students in Krav Maga self defense, Roger is an instructor for our Fight training program, teaching students basic and advanced fight skills. Roger is a graduate of Kansas University where he received his Bachelors degree in Exercise Physiology and has been a Personal Trainer since 1993.

Erik Hulse

Krav Maga Self-Defense Instructor

Krav Maga Force Training Division Instructor

Erik is a Lieutenant with the Overland Park Police Department with 19 years of Law Enforcement experience. Erik is a certified Instructor for Krav Maga Force Training Division and was instrumental in the addition of Krav Maga to the Defensive Tactics program for the Overland Park Police Department. Erik also teaches Law-Enforcement only classes at the Center. Erik has been a certified Krav Maga instructor since 2003 and teaches self-defense classes and Personal Safety Seminars.

Bret Kay

Krav Maga Self Defense Instructor

Bret has been training in Krav Maga with us since 2002 and became an instructor in January 2006. In addition to Krav Maga, Bret has 11 years of martial arts training. He has a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and was a Tae Kwon Do instructor for several years. Bret is a graduate of Kansas University and is a small business owner.

Steve Schrag

Krav Maga Self Defense Instructor

Steve has been training in Krav Maga since early 2004 and became an instructor in January 2006. His athletic background includes years playing basketball, football, baseball and weight training.

Steve is very active in charity work including Big Brothers/Big Sisters and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for The Will to Succeed Foundation (a foundation created by Will Shields, Pro-Bowl right guard for the Kansas City Chiefs) benefiting battered and abused women and children. Steve is a 1993 graduate of the University of Missouri and is a Managing Director focusing on commercial real estate lending nationwide for a large Life Insurance/Financial Services company.

Benny Cohen

Krav Maga Self Defense Instructor

Instructor since 2008. Student since 2001. Currently finishing up on Expert level. Benny was born in Israel. From 1984-1987 he served in the Israeli military with the Givati brigade (Desert Marine Recon). It was here he first trained in Krav Maga at the Wingate Institute. Benny has traveled around the world training in martial arts including Karate-Do in Japan and Thai Boxing in Thailand. Here in the states, he has trained in Bushidokan and Kenpo.

Tim Moore

Krav Maga Self Defense Instructor

Instructor since 2008. Student since 2006. Currently finishing up on Expert level. Tim grew up in Florida playing football and baseball. He also competed in track and weightlifting. Tim has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Oklahoma State. Before starting with us he trained in boxing under UFC veteran Mikey Burnett in Tulsa, OK.  Tim has done extensive fight training with all of our amateur and pro MMA fighters.

Stephanie Hodges

Conditioning Instructor

Stephanie has been with Krav Maga Kansas City since 2002. She received her Krav Maga Fitness Certification in 2003 and has been teaching ever since. Stephanie recently completed a Master’s in Health & Exercise Science from Colorado State University and has a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is a certified personal trainer and has completed her Level 1 certification in Functional Movement Systems (FMS). Stephanie enjoys maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle and loves to teach others how to do so as well.

Rick Staples

Firearms Training Instructor

Information coming soon.