Who We Are
We are a professional self-defense instruction company dedicated to providing personal safety for all. We offer individual private training, as well as seminars & workshops for interested executives, corporations, schools, medical facilities, and professional sport franchises, across the continental United States.
Our mission is to help people from all walks of life live confidently in their world. Thereby enriching their lives with a greater sense of freedom.
How? By teaching practical knowledge, skills and proven self-protection strategies that help anyone feel more secure.
Our system is custom-tailored to fit the needs and abilities of every individual. And our self-defense tools are easily learned to give the powerful advantage of preparation when confronted with unexpected danger.
The one commonality in every violent encounter is chaos. Our training provides solutions to help navigate through that chaos so that people can get home safely to their loved ones.
Chief Instructor: Gus Bottazzi
Gus Bottazzi is a 35+ year veteran of the martial arts, holding multiple black belts in Japanese karate and Israeli Krav Maga, the hand-to-hand combat system of the Israeli Army.
Gus is a black belt who has the distinction of training and being certified as a global instructor by three direct students of Krav Maga’s founder, Imi Lichtenfeld. He is also certified through 5 of the most respected Krav Maga federations in the world (Krav Maga Worldwide, IKMA, IKM-AC, Krav Maga Academy, CT-707).
A sought-after self-defense instructor and self-defense strategy speaker, Gus has given numerous workshops and seminars internationally to audiences ranging from law enforcement to women’s empowerment organizations. Over the last 15 years, Gus has also designed and implemented his proprietary “Essentials” self-defense training program and methodology that has been taught to thousands of college bound students.
Gus is more than just a highly experienced teacher–he is a problem solver with a mission to help reduce the number of victims of violent crimes every day. His goal is to instill the knowledge of self-defense and self-protection to all students he teaches and build the confidence necessary for people to stay vigilant: To Feel Safe and Live Free.
Meet Our Instructors
Krav Maga Essentials has assembled a diverse team of instructors each of whom have decades of experience in the martial arts and self-defense. Drawing from such disciplines as Karate, Kung Fu, American Boxing, Judo, and, of course, Krav Maga, we bring best of situational strategies and tactical drill work to every training session.
We are privileged to have studied with direct students of Imi Lichtenfeld, Krav Maga’s founder. Our instructors also have multiple certifications across the major international Krav Maga federations. Having this breadth of perspective on the various techniques taught across the world, our instructors can customize solutions to fit the physicality and experience of each student.
Beth Lopez
Beth Lopez is a dedicated martial artist with more than 30 years of experience across multiple disciplines, including Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu and Krav Maga. Her extensive training and commitment to self-defense have earned her certifications in both adult and children’s Krav Maga, making her a versatile and highly skilled instructor.
Passionate about empowering others, Beth helps students of all ages develop confidence, strength, and resilience through practical self-defense training. She creates a supportive and engaging learning environment, ensuring that both beginners and advanced practitioners gain the skills they need to stay safe and prepared.
Fisher
With nearly 30 years of martial arts experience, Fisher is a seasoned instructor known for practical, no-nonsense training that delivers results. He earned his black belt in Tang Soo Do in 2000 and has been teaching since 1998, sharpening his skills through continuous study, including a year of intensive Muay Thai training in Southeast Asia.
Since 2015, Fisher has dedicated himself to Krav Maga, teaching the discipline the following year and championing a basics-always approach. He believes that strong fundamentals and clear principles create the greatest advantage because techniques serve the principles and those principles remain present in everything a student learns. This approach gives students durable skills they can rely on in unpredictable moments.
Dan Kang
Dan Kang’s martial arts journey began in 2008 when he took his first Krav Maga class with Gus Bottazzi—and he was immediately hooked. A decade later, he earned his Krav Maga black belt from Krav Maga Worldwide HQ.
Committed to continuous growth, Dan expanded his training to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2020 and currently trains under Jin Yung at Workshop NYC. He enjoys teaching Krav Maga because it allows him to share his passion with like-minded people while helping them build confidence and develop valuable self-defense skills.
Ed Petrillo
A U.S. Army veteran and former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, Edward Petrillo brings extensive real-world experience to his Krav Maga instruction. During his 2016 deployment to the Middle East, he served as an Expert Infantryman, conducting over 75 combat patrols and providing personal security for high-level meetings with Afghan National Army generals and staff.
Outside of teaching self-defense, Ed is a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with specialized training in Tactical Emergency Casualty Care for Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) and Emergency Medical Responders (EMR). His background in military operations and emergency medical response gives him a unique perspective on personal safety, making his instruction both practical and highly effective. Ed is also completing his studies to become a registered nurse.