R.E.A.C.T. Defense Systems, Krav Maga fight training centers of Phoenix Arizona

Jay Ackerman

Jay has been a business, Martial Arts and fitness entrepreneur for the past 25 years. He holds black belts in several martial arts, in which he started training in 1977. He is the founder and Chief Instructor of Krav Maga and Fitness of Phoenix, Chandler, Glendale and Gilbert. As a fully certified Krav Maga civilian and advanced FORCE Training (law enforcement) instructor, Jay keeps quite busy with more than over 110 classes a week between locations. His schedule of classes includes Krav Maga, A.L.E.E.T. fitness conditioning & strength training and R.E.A.C.T. full contact fight instruction.

As an ACE certified personal and ACE group fitness instructor, Jay, with partners Josh Ackerman and Manuel Robinson, developed A.L.E.E.T. (Advanced Level Explosive Endurance Training). This trademarked system of sports specific- training is used to train professional athletes, college athletes and the average person who wants to lose weight and get into incredible shape.

Chief instructor Jay Ackerman has also developed his own system of street fighting and adrenal stress training trademarked R.E.A.C.T defense. (Reality Environmental Adrenal Conditioning Training). This system is the most intense and up-to-date training developed for law enforcement, but can be adapted to train anyone who wants to be fully capable of defending themselves in a violent street encounter.

Jay has spent many years training and teaching full-contact fighting and runs one of the best programs in Arizona. The most distinguished honor of his career was being named to the Krav Maga Advisory Board and his locations becoming accredited, official "Krav Maga Regional Training Centers," an honor of which he is very proud.
Jay is honored to be named Krav Maga Worldwide school of the year 2005 & 2007.

Joy Ackerman

Joy is the wife of Jay Ackerman and a mother of three, and is co-owner of Krav Maga Phoenix, Chandler, Glendale and Gilbert. She is a fully certified Krav Maga instructor, Ace personal trainer, KM-X youth instructor and membership director.Joy serves on the board of the Krav Maga Merchandise Committee and has 25 years of experience in business, sales and marketing, merchandising, martial arts and fitness.

Josh Ackerman

Josh has been training in martial arts since he was 6 years old. Josh is recognized as one of the most skilled martial artist's and MMA fighter/instructor in the U.S. today. He is an accomplished boxer, kickboxer and state wrestler. In 2004, he was certifed in Bas Rutten MMA System. Josh has also spent time training privately with Bas Rutten.

Josh is Head Instructor and co-owner of all locations. He is a fully certified Krav Maga, Advanced Force training, REACT and ALEET fitness instructor as well as co-director of the youth Underdawg MMA & km-x self defense program.

Josh is an exceptional young man with great character and the great gift of humor. Josh was recently married to his wife, Tiffany.

Manuel Robinson

Manuel starting his training in martial arts at the age of 14. Always seeking higher knowledge, he met and starting training with Chief Instructor Jay Ackerman in 2001. Immediately recognizing Manny's abilites as a martial artist and his extraordinary personality, Manny was asked to join the instructor program.

Manuel is Head Instructor and co-owner of Krav Maga of Chandler, Glendale and Gilbert. He is a fully certified Krav Maga, Advanced Force training (Law Enforcement) and youth Underdawg MMA & km-x instructor. He is also fully certifed R.E.A.C.T. fighting and A.L.E.E.T. fitness instuctor.

Manny is a very skilled fighter, and in 2004 was asked by Chief Instructor Jay Ackerman to join him and his son, Joshua, to train with Bas Rutten and become certifed in Bas MMA fight program.

Manny brings with an exceptionally unique personality to all his teaching, making him one of the best instructor you'll ever meet.
Congratulations to Manuel Robinson for being nominated Krav Maga Instructor of the year 2007.

Stephen Valletta

Steve has been in the medical profession for the past 25 years as a Cardiovascular Perfusionist (operating the heart and lung machine), Specializing in pediatrics and neonatal congenital heart surgeries as well as particpating in adult cardiac surgical procudures. As a former oral examiner for the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion, he has been a medical staff member at more than a dozen hospitals valleywide.

Steve is Head Instructor and co-owner of Glendale, Chandler and Gilbert locations. He has been training with Chief Instructor Jay Ackerman since 2001 and is a fully certified Krav Maga, REACT, ALEET fitness, KM-X Youth and Underdawg youth MMA Instructor, as well as an ACE certified personal trainer.

Steve dedicated the first 25 years of his career to saving lives... especially children. He has now chosen as his second career to be a full time owner and instructor and continue his commitment to saving lives through teaching Krav Maga.Steve and his wife Dana have a beautiful 1- year- old daughter.
Congratulations to Steve for being nominated for the Marni Levine Spirit Award 2007.

Michael Fobes

Mike Fobes began his training with Chief instructor Jay Ackerman in 2001.Michael was recognized for his talented martial arts abilites and special personality and was asked to join the instructor program.

Mike is the Head Instructor in Glendale and co-owner in Glendale and Gilbert. He is a fully certified Krav Maga, ALEET, and REACT instructor. If that's not enough to keep him busy, he is also co-director of the km-x and Underdawg youth programs.

Michael is passionate about teaching people to save their lives and helping them get into great shape while having a blast doing it! He is a positive thinker and enthusastic instructor who is dedicated to building your confidence and making you better.

Hella Fobes

Hella Fobes began her training with Chief Instructor Jay Ackerman in 2001. After extensive training in Krav Maga, ALEET fitness and REACT fight, Hella was asked to join the instructor program.

Hella holds a masters degree in forensic psychology,having studied the criminal mind for years in the nations leading graduate program. In addition she has worked with law enforcement on sexual assault cases.
Hella is currently a full time,certified Krav Maga and KM-X youth instructor, as well as an ALEET heavy bag instructor. In addition to teaching, she is also the manager of the sales office/proshop at the Glendale training center.

Hella is very passionate about her teaching and training. She feels the most rewarding aspect of teaching is seeing the confidence build in her students. Hella is married to
head Instructor Michael Fobes, and has a 3 1/2-year-old son.

Nick Kramer

Nick Kramer is a certified Krav Maga and KM-X Youth instructor, and is currently working toward his ALEET fitness personal trainer and REACT fight certifications.
Nick says he is "honored to be involved as an instructor at REACT Defense/Krav Maga" and that "there's nothing better than watching students get the results they're looking for."

Kelly Kramer

Kelly Kramer is a certified Krav Maga, KM-X Youth and ALEET heavy Bag instructor. Also an editor and writer, Kelly says that "working with the students and watching them gain self-confidence" is the best part of being an instructor. Kelly is currently working towards her ALEET personal trainer and REACT fight certifications.
Make no mistake...you know who's in charge when you're in Kelly's class!

Sarah Jordan

Sarah has been training under Chief Instructor Jay Ackerman since 2001 as a dedicated student. Now as an instructor, she is devoted to teaching and motivating others to go above and beyond their goals and to have the mentality to never quit. Sarah is a certified Krav Maga, KM-X Youth, ALEET core board and heavy bag Instructor. She is currently working toward her ALEET personal trainer and REACT Fight certifications.

Sarah is extremely dedicated to teaching, and has been a great asset to all of our schools.

Steave Kantarowski

Steave is a certifed Krav Maga and KM-X Youth instructor. He has been training under Chief Instructor Jay Ackerman at REACT Defense Systems since 2004 and is currently working toward his, ACE and ALEET personal trainer certifications. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Steave earned his bachelor of science degree in speech from Emerson College in Boston, MA. He worked as a marketing, advertising, and public relations manager until relocating to Phoenix. Steave has been in the health care industry for the past 11 years. He has been an Emergency Medical Technician and has done extensive study and work in the fields of surgical technology, emergency medicine, dialysis, radiology, MRI,CT, and nuclear Medicine. He is currently the Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist and Technical Director for the Phoenix Heart Cardiology Group.

Steave is impressed by the simplicity and effectiveness of Krav Maga. He is inspired by how quickly someone with no prior fighting experience transforms into a self-confident individual with the skills necessary to defend themselves. He often tells new students, "Your first day in Krav Maga is your last day of possibly being a victim."

Lisa Kantarowski

Lisa is a certified Krav Maga, KM-X Youth and ALEET heavy bag instructor. She has been training under Jay Ackerman at REACT Defense Systems since 2004 and is currently working toward her ALEET personal trainer certifications. Lisa has spent the past 12 years in human resources and is currently Vice President of Human Resources and Operations for a security company.

She loves the practicality and simplicity of Krav Maga and enjoys instilling an aggressive fighting mentality in the students. "I know it may save their lives one day," she says.

Lisa brings an extremly unique method to her teaching. Come check our her onomatopoeias...."Crash, Bang, Boom!"

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