Mark Slane is the United States Krav Maga Association founder and chief instructor. In 1999 Mark Slane was a member of the very first group of outside instructors ever trained at the Krav Maga National Training Center in Los Angeles. He then went on to open one of the first half dozen Krav Maga schools in the United States. Mark became a black belt in November of 2003 (one of only two dozen in the U.S. at the time), tested with the USKMA to Second Degree Black Belt in 2009, to Third degree in 2012 and received 4th degree black belt in 2016. Make then received his 5th degree black belt in 2019. Mark has trained in Israel with one of only 12 whom the founder of Krav Maga (Imi Lichtenfeld) trained to black belt, Grandmaster Yaron Lichtenstien.
Mark has studied the martial arts for over thirty years. Mark started his training in Tae Kwon Do and holds a fourth degree black belt in that art. In Olympic style Tae Kwon Do he won a national championship in sparring in the light weight division – 33 to 40 year old age group. He has also coached and trained dozens of national medalists, national champions, U.S. team members and World medalists. Mark has trained in boxing for several years with Olympic Gold Medalist, Jerry Page and has spent years studying Muay Thai, BJJ, and Mixed Martial Arts as well.
Mark has been published in Black Belt magazine and is the author of Be Safe! Self Defense for Women In the Real World, American Krav Maga, Krav Maga For Law Enforcement, Defending the Blade & the Barrel and Adults in the Dojo, Where’d they go?.
Brannon Hicks
USKMA certified Krav Maga instructor / Primary Law Enforcement instructor
Brannon is a USKMA certified Krav Maga instructor and our primary Law Enforcement instructor. Brannon is a Police Officer and works as a Sergeant, defensive tactics instructor, Taser instructor and SWAT Assistant Team Leader. As a law enforcement officer, he has participated in undercover operations, created defensive tactics curricula, trained police officers in survival skills and planned and executed tactical missions. Brannon brings nearly thirty years of martial arts experience from styles and systems including Shaolin Kung Fu, Kali Silat, submission wrestling and kickboxing to USKMA. Brannon is also a certified Reality Based Training Instructor, law enforcement fitness instructor and has a bachelor’s degree in Workforce Education with a specialization in Curriculum Development and Enhancing Learner Performance. He received his 3rd degree black belt in 2018.
Mike Jozwiak
USKMA 2nd Degree Black Belt Krav Maga
Mike served in the United States Army from 2002-2010. During his time in the Service he was a Sniper, Sniper Section Leader, Pre-sniper Instructor, and Reconnaissance Scout. He has multiple combat tours, and was a hand to hand combat instructor within his Recon unit. Mike fought in several military sponsored combatives tournaments and continued undefeated in his weight division for his term in the service. He became a highly decorated Sergeant before his honorable discharge, earning several medals including a Bronze Star with Valor device.
Mike has studied, and instructed many arts over the years including wrestling, BJJ, Muay Thai, kick boxing, submission wresting, offensive/defensive knife tactics, advanced firearms training, and Krav Maga. He has complied 15 years experience in training and instructing these arts. He is a Level 5 Certified USKMA instructor, and a USKMA 2nd Degree Black Belt.
Juan Acosta
USKMA 3rd Degree Black Belt and certified instructor
USKMA 3rd Degree Black Belt and certified instructor
Krav Maga Instructor Course Wingate Institute (Israel)
CrossFit L2 Coach
CrossFit Mobility
USAW Club Coach
World Kettlebell Club Trainer
Certified Personal Trainer
CPR/AED
Alexis Acosta
USKMA 3rd Degree Black Belt and certified instructor
USKMA 3rd Degree Black Belt and certified instructor
Krav Maga Instructor Course Wingate Institute (Israel)
CrossFit L1 Coach
CrossFit Gymnastics
CPR/AED
7th Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do
5th Degree Black Belt Hapkido
3rd Degree Black Belt Krav Maga
Wingate Krav Maga Instructor
Muay Thai Instructor
Senior Cane Instructor
Purple Belt Carlson Gracie Jr.
SGT. Matt Kissel
USKMA 3rd Degree Black Belt and USKMA Instructor
3rd degree black belt
21 year law enforcement veteran, 16 years with SWAT
Law Enforcement defensive tactics trainer
NRA pistol instructor
Bobby Day
USKMA Black Belt/ Kentucky State Police
Mr. Bobby Day is an instructor with USKMA, currently holding the rank of Black Belt. Mr. Day has built a distinguished career within the operational, administrative and command functions of the Kentucky State Police since 1991. A Kentucky Law Enforcement Council certified instructor, Mr. Day has taught military and law enforcement personnel throughout the United States and abroad. He has vast instructional experience in the areas of defensive tactics, tactical command, critical incident management, special event planning, firearms, threat/risk assessment, and foreign counter-terrorism and hostage rescue. From 2001-2012, Mr. Day served as instructor, Director or Training and Program Development for Operational Tactics and Op-Tac International. During this time he taught and developed curriculum for military and law enforcement personnel, both foreign and domestic, in all areas of special operations. Mr. Day currently serves as an instructor for the Department of Criminal Justice Training where he is responsible for the training and coordination of Diminishable Skills which consists of; combat firstaid/tac-med, defensive tactics, legal, firearms and driving. Mr. Day has received numerous commendations and awards for outstanding leadership, performance, and field operations. These include three Trooper of the Year awards, six Commissioner Commendations, three Life Saving Medals, and the Kentucky State Police Medal of Bravery. An informed professional, Mr. Day has also provided expert commentary for several media outlets, including Fox, MSNBC and CNN and has been qualified through both Federal and State Courts to provide expert witness opinions and testimony regarding the use of physical and deadly force.
SGT. Danny Caudill
USKMA 2nd Degree Black Belt and USKMA Instructor
Approximately 21 years experience in law enforcement. Law enforcement assignments have included uniformed patrol, field training officer, supervisor and chief executive officer. Worked for municipal, county and state police agencies. Completed thousands of hours of formal law enforcement training with the Department of Criminal Justice Training and the Kentucky State Police. Specialty training includes: Krav Maga, ASP Tactical Instructor, firearms training, less-lethal weapons, supervision, dignitary protection, DUI detection, accident investigations and general investigations. Approximately 34 years martial arts training, including more than 11 years Krav Maga experience. 2nd Dan Black Belt in martial arts and 2nd Dan Black Belt Krav Maga Instructor.
Jon Benditz
USKMA Black Belt and Digital Marketing
Definitely the nerd of the group, Jon has been practicing Krav Maga for 4 years. He started as a way to gain control of his health. After a short time he was addicted, and that passion kept growing. Not only did he continue training, but rose to a certified instructor. He’s currently a USKMA Black Belt. Not only could he kick your butt, he might be able to save it too with his CPR certification to top it all off.
However Jon does not forget his nerd roots, he still battles in the gaming wasteland, and has more hard drives than shirts. With 15+ years in mailing and printing, 10+ years building websites, and 3+ years with Social Media Marketing, Jon continues to expand into new enterprises and industries. His most recent venture becoming CTO of a rising audio theater podcast network.
BJJ BLACK BELT (Helio Soneca)
USKMA Black Belt
CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist)
Fitness Instructor Louisville Metro Police Department
CrossFit Level 1 Coach
Russian Kettlebell Instructor
CICS (Certified Indian Club Specialist)
In 2014, Garrett Watson founded MADE Fitness and Training Center located in Louisville, KY. This martial arts and dynamic exercise company, otherwise known as MADE, is the culmination of all of Garrett’s Fitness expertise and martial arts training for the past 15 years. In 2018, Garrett received a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from World Champion, Helio Soneca. Garrett also studied Muay Thai kickboxing under the internationally recognized instructor, Eric Haycraft, and for several years fought MMA for Team Haycraft. During that time, Garrett served as a training and sparring partner for many high-level MMA competitors including Bellator MMA standout, Brent Wedman. Garrett has won several grappling competitions in both Gi and No Gi divisions. Garrett is a USKMA instructor and will receive his black belt in October 2019. Garrett has performed self-defense workshops for companies such as KFC, Papa Johns, and LG&E.
After Graduating Eastern Kentucky University with a Criminal Justice degree, Garrett earned several fitness certifications such as CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist), Russian Kettlebell, CrossFit Level 1 coach, and many more. Garrett has worked with numerous individuals and teams of all types from youth to professional athlete. He specializes in tactical strength and conditioning which is focused on the needs of police, fire, and military personnel. He currently is a strength and conditioning coach for the Louisville metro police department where he is responsible for the physical training of new police recruits and is utilized by current officers for many fitness related services.
5th Degree Black Belt in the ABD system under Master Paul Garcia
4th Degree Black Belt in Pyong Hwa Kunin Tang Soo Do under Master Steve Voelker
1st Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Marcio Stambowsky, trained since 2000.
Level 5 Krav Maga Instructor, United States Krav Maga (9/20)
Level 1 Krav Maga Instructor, Krav Maga Alliance (5/12)
Level 1 Muay Thai Instructor under Master Tran (11/09)
Certified CT707 Israeli Special Forces Krav Maga Instructor under Nir Maman (9/12)
Brown Belt in Judo at Norwich Judo Dojo
F.I.G.H.T. Israeli Martial Arts Instructor (10/08)
Certified LOCKUP Police Ground Fighting instructor under Rob Magao (6/15)
CPR/First Aid/AED certified
AMOK Knife Defense student under Tom Sotis
Author of two books on martial arts training: “Sensei Secrets For Mom & Dad”, a general martial arts guide for parents to help their children succeed in martial arts training, and “Sa Bom Nim Secrets For Mom & Dad”, a similar manual specific to parents of children who train in Tang Soo Do Karate.
With over 25 years of experience, Sensei McShane has traveled all over the US and to England to study and compete in martial arts, as well as learn modern teaching and motivational techniques.
Competitive Achievements:
1999 ITSDMGKF World Championships, Watford, England – Gold Medalist: Lightweight Sparring
2003 IGTSDA World Championships, London, England Team Captain – Gold Medalist: Weapons, Gold Medalist: Team Forms
2003 AAU US National Jiu-Jitsu Gold Medalist, Lightweight Gi Division, Houston Texas
2003 AAU US National Jiu-Jitsu Gold Medalist, Lightweight No-Gi, Houston Texas
2003 AAU US National Jiu-Jitsu Gold Medalist, Lightweight Traditional, Houston Texas
Sensei McShane has also instructed the Hartford Police in unarmed techniques, as well as taught a self-defense course at the Navy Base in Groton.
As a full-time, professional martial artist since 1996, Sensei McShane has trained with instructors like Royce Gracie, Helio Gracie, Rickson Gracie, Kru Mark Dellagrotte, Marcio Stambowsky, Master Hung Tran, Eddie Bravo, Jake Steinmann, Marco DeLima, and top USJA instructors Bill Montgomery and Joan Love.