Rooted in Tradition;
Integrated and Evolving
At Forge Krav Maga San Francisco, we offer self-defense training in San Francisco, blending the authentic principles of Krav Maga with modern, cross-disciplinary techniques. Our approach is dynamic, evolving to meet real-world challenges and deliver effective training for the Bay Area community.
The Forge Krav Maga shield logo represents protection, resilience, and strength, while our blue color reflects discipline & readiness. Learn the meaning behind our design and how it connects to our mission of real-world self-defense in San Francisco.
Meet Our
Instructors
Led by Micha Hershman, an expert-level Krav Maga practitioner, our San Francisco Krav Maga school is built on deep expertise and continuous learning. Micha is also an authorized Team Leader with the Pikiti Tirsia Kali Tactical Association (PTTA), enabling us to integrate tactical and edged-weapon defense techniques into our training. He’s also a purple belt associated with Alliance Jiu Jitsu San Francisco.
Our instructor team is certified at the graduate level and beyond, undergoing rigorous training under Danny Zelig at Krav Maga Institute. This ensures the highest standards of Krav Maga instruction, backed by real-world experience.
At Forge Krav Maga San Francisco, we value more than technical skill—we foster a culture built on key principles:
Diversity: Our staff reflects the vibrant, diverse community of San Francisco.
Continuous Growth: Instructors are lifelong learners, always evolving.
Real-World Application: Techniques are tested to work under pressure.
Positive Environment: We balance serious training with fun and camaraderie.
Coaching & Investment: Beyond techniques, we coach for lasting growth.
Principle-Driven Training: We stress adaptability over memorization.
Safety First: Injury prevention is critical for consistent training.
Respect for All: We uphold a respectful, inclusive environment for everyone.
Whether you're new or experienced, our team helps you grow with expert instruction, thoughtful coaching, and a supportive atmosphere right here in San Francisco.
Krav maga Lineage
Our school’s Krav Maga lineage is rooted in the authentic teachings of Danny Zelig, founder of Krav Maga Institute. Danny, who trained under Eyal Yanilov—head of Krav Maga Global and a close student of Krav Maga’s founder, Imi Lichtenfeld—played a foundational role in certifying and training all of our instructors.
While Danny is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the school, he remains an important part of our history and occasionally returns to lead instructor training and specialized seminars focused on traditional Krav Maga.
At Forge Krav Maga San Francisco, we honor our lineage while embracing a modern, evolving approach. Our school builds on traditional Krav Maga principles with cross-disciplinary techniques designed for today’s real-world challenges in San Francisco.
Cross-Disciplinary Training
We believe in being well-rounded fighters, self-defense practitioners, and martial artists. In addition to Krav Maga, our instructors are active students in:
Boxing
Kickboxing
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (we are associated with Alliance Jiu Jitsu San Francisco)
Pikiti Tirsia Kali (we are associated with the Pikiti Tirsia Tactical Association)
At Forge Krav Maga San Francisco, we believe that being an instructor means being a lifelong student. Our team is constantly evolving, learning from other disciplines, and refining our techniques to ensure we provide the best possible training experience for our students across the city.
Whether you're looking to improve your fitness, build confidence, or master real-world self-defense in San Francisco, you can trust that you're learning from a team with deep expertise, authentic lineage, and a passion for teaching.
If you’re in San Francisco and looking for self-defense training rooted in tradition and designed for the real world—join us for a class. No commitment.
Forge Krav Maga is located in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood—easily accessible from SoMa, the Mission, and Civic Center.