We are the latest in a continued line of central Ohio Krav Maga gyms, starting with Ohio Krav Maga and Fitness, founded by Mark Slane about 20 years ago. We are proudly continuing the affiliation with the US Krav Maga Association that Mark began with his first gym right here in Gahanna. From that modest beginning, there are now 56 affiliates across the country. We teach the USKMA curriculum in our Adult and Kid’s classes, and have regular testing opportunities, so our members can advance when they’re ready.

Our program has five levels, then Black Belt, with many practical techniques in each level increasing in intensity and physicality. Depending on how often you come to class, what your aptitude for learning new material is, and the intensity at which you train, it may take you as little as 4 years to achieve your Black Belt. We do the testing for Levels 1 through 4 at our Gahanna gym, and for Level 5, the big guys in Chicago come down to administer the test. Black Belt testing happens at our annual KravCon event in various midwest or east coast cities in October.

Some of our members simply want to stay fit with the added benefit of having valuable self-defense skills. No matter what your goals are, we’re here to help you become stronger, healthier, and safer.

The techniques in Krav Maga are designed to rely on gross motor movements, which means they’ll work under pressure in a real fight. Most importantly, the entire program was created as a lawful self-defense system, one that teaches legally defensible responses to attacks.

From private family and corporate workshops, Scouting and church groups, to working with local parks programs, Buckeye Self Defense strives to be a positive influence in our members’ lives and in our community. We take this mission very seriously and we aim to fulfill it daily.