Veteran Krav Maga instructor hopes to spread knowledge of Isreali self-defense craft

DR. PHILLIPS — You’ll get a workout if you take one of Channel Esposito’s Krav Maga classes, but that’s not the main idea.

The veteran teacher of the Israeli self-defense craft’s main concern is that his clients are ready for whatever the world throws at them. 

As someone who is especially passionate about aiding victims of domestic abuse and giving everyday people tools to handle situations ranging from carjackings to being held up, Esposito said what matters most is spreading what he calls “practical self-defense for practical people.”

“I really want to reach out to the community, teaching this type of stuff, because of how practical that it is,” Esposito said. “I got into this about seven years ago. I had some family history with violence and some things like that, and I just, over time, got to a place where I was just like, ‘You know, you can either be an advocate or you can be a victim.’ I wanted to be, obviously, an advocate.”

Esposito, who also works as a bodyguard, has a range of people he works with in spreading knowledge of Krav Maga — from the tight-knit core group of clients who attend most of his classes at the Rosen Jewish Community Center on South Apopka-Vineland Road to domestic-violence victims, to prison guards and law-enforcement personnel, and even senior citizens.

He said that, in a day and age where things can be unpredictable, he is seeing an influx of potential clients looking for a way to protect themselves — and their families.

“People just want to be more aware, and I think that’s what they’re really seeking,” Esposito said.

The martial-arts discipline as taught by Esposito is heavily influenced by Israeli counter-terrorism practices and incorporates other martial arts disciplines, also. 

The main thing Esposito strives for with each individual is to create solutions that are easy enough to be second nature in a tense situation when instinct takes over, he said.

“When (new clients) first get involved, one of the first things they say is, ‘I didn’t realize that some of those techniques are as simple as they are,’” Esposito said.

The emphasis of his classes is on self-defense, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a good workout to be had, too.

Over the years, Esposito has developed a network of other professionals to help with fitness and nutrition consulting and his classes are heavy on hip and core training.

“My students are probably tired of me saying it day in and day out, but hips and core — that’s your engine; that’s your powerhouse,” Esposito said. “Whatever it is, that’s all going to come from the hips and core. … You’re going to get a high-intensity cardio workout.”

More about Esposito, his qualifications and curriculum can be found online at centralfloridakravmaga.com, including his contact information. 

The veteran instructor insists the classes are for anyone — a class on Monday evening featured males and females, ages 14 and older — and that everyone can take something away. 

“We have some really good success stories with some of the people that I train,” Esposito said. “For me, that’s the icing on the cake. That’s what really what matters. If I can get someone to get out of that situation or I can get them to prevent a future attack, I’ve done my job.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].