Gershon Ben Keren
Krav Maga Books By Gershon Ben Keren
Krav Maga Yashir Boston Head Instructor
Krav Maga Yashir Boston Head Instructor - Gershon Ben Keren
Krav Maga Yahir’s Head Instructor is 5th Degree Black Belt, Gershon Ben Keren, a Krav Maga instructor and criminologist known for his practical, research-informed approach to self-defense and personal safety. Based in the Boston area, he has worked in the private security sector since 1990, focusing on risk mitigation and management concerning violence and violent offending. His dual background, combining academic criminology with decades of real-world security experience, positions him as a leading voice in reality-based self-defense training.
Ben Keren began training in Krav Maga in 1993 and has since developed a reputation for teaching methods that emphasize simplicity, effectiveness, and adaptability under pressure. He is a 5th Degree Black Belt and completed the intensive instructor program run by the Israeli Krav Maga Federation (IKMF), under senior instructors such as Eyal Yanilov and Amnon Darsa. He has also trained in Israel with early black belts of Krav Maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld, including Avi Moyal, Miki Assulin, and Haim Gidon. His instruction is further influenced by his work under Grandmaster Dennis Hanover. If you are interested in training with him at his Greater Boston school/club, you can register for one of the school's beginner classes using the button below.
Our next Beginner Krav Maga Class is on
Beginner Class
In 2010, Ben Keren was inducted into the Museum of Israeli Martial Arts, recognizing his contribution to the teaching and development of Krav Maga. He is also the author of several books published by Tuttle Publishing, including Krav Maga – Real World Solutions to Real World Violence, Krav Maga – Tactical Survival, and Krav Maga – Extreme Survival. These works focus on realistic scenarios, decision-making under stress, and the importance of avoidance and de-escalation alongside physical techniques.
What distinguishes Gershon Ben Keren’s approach is his integration of criminology into Krav Maga training. Rather than treating self-defense as purely physical, he examines how violence actually occurs, drawing on concepts from environmental criminology, offender behavior, and situational awareness. This allows students to understand not just how to respond to violence, but how to recognize, avoid, and manage it before it becomes physical. His teaching reflects the reality that most confrontations evolve over time, and that early recognition and decision-making are critical components of personal safety.
Through his Krav Maga Yashir system, Ben Keren emphasizes direct, instinctive movements that align with natural human reactions. The system is designed to make individuals functional quickly, without requiring years of training to become effective. This makes it particularly relevant for civilians who want practical skills they can apply in everyday situations. In addition to running classes and seminars in the Boston area, Gershon Ben Keren is widely recognized for his writing and thought leadership in self-defense and violence prevention. His work consistently highlights that effective self-protection is not about aggression or competition, but about awareness, preparedness, and the ability to make clear decisions under pressure. If you would like to take one of the school's Krav Maga beginner classes (held at the location below), you can register using the form below.
