Darren Levine

Martial Artist. District Attorney. Entrepreneur. Author.

As a 6th degree black belt, Darren Levine holds the honor of being hailed as one of the most elite Krav Maga self defense instructors in the world. Darren is largely credited for the widespread popularity of the Krav Maga self defense and fighting fitness system in the United States.

Based out of Los Angeles, California, Darren serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Instructor of Krav Maga Worldwide, the largest and fastest-growing chain of licensed Krav Maga training centers in the United States.

Check out this cool video about Krav Maga Worldwide featuring Darren Levine with testimonials from Hollywood celebrities Bas Rutten and Jennifer Lopez ...

Every year, in major cities across America, thousands of men and women including hundreds of law enforcement and military personnel train in reality-based self defense and fighting fitness classes led by highly trained and professionally certified instructors at Krav Maga training centers.

Fighting Crime in Los Angeles

As a public citizen, Darren serves his local community as a highly awarded prosecuting attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office where he prosecutes offenders that commit the most violent crimes against law enforcement officers including murder or attempt to murder.

His many honors include 2004 National Co-Prosecutor of the Year and 2003 Association of Deputy District Attorneys Prosecutor of the Year, Los Angeles County.

Darren’s background as a self defense expert and prosecuting attorney gives him a unique ability to train others on reality-based fighting techniques and use-of-force issues. Using a captivating and no-nonsense approach, Darren trains and educates thousands of people from all walks of life across the United States and around the world through his popular lecture and seminar series.

Darren Levine Lecture and Seminar Series

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Israel, Imi Lichtenfeld and Heschel Day School

In 1981, Darren traveled to Israel as part of a sponsored delegation to participate in a six week instructors course that involved intensive training for eight plus hours a day, six days a week.

During the course, students received comprehensive training from Krav Maga creator Imi Lichtenfeld and a team of his best instructors including Krav Legend Eyal Yanilov. Imi befriended Darren and a relationship was born that would end up spreading the Krav Maga self defense and fitness system to the United States and around the world.

After returning to the States, in 1982, Darren taught Krav Maga as an elective class at Heschel Day School. It soon became so popular that it was added as a permanent class of the physical education curriculum. That year, Imi also came to Los Angeles and stayed with Darren to continue even more extensive training in Krav Maga.

Grandmaster Imi Lichtenfeld And Darren Levine

Two years later, Darren Levine was awarded his first degree black belt. During the belt ceremony, Imi sanctimoniously passed his own black belt to Darren. Darren and Imi worked then together to develop Krav Maga for the special circumstances that members of US law enforcement face in various dangerous situations on streets. In 1987, with Imi's guidance, Darren taught Krav Maga to police officers of the Illinois State Police as a part of it's force training curriculum.

In 1996, fifteen years after attending that fateful instructor's course in Israel, growing demand for Krav Maga prompted Darren to open the first Krav Maga training center in Los Angeles. The 6000 square feet facility was the first of it's kind in the world offering a full-time schedule of Krav Maga self defense, fighting and fitness classes. Soon, it became a training ground for hundreds of people from all walks of life ranging from civilians to law enforcement officers to elite soldiers of special operations military units.

A year later, Imi Lichtenfeld honored Darren with the Founder's Diploma for Special Excellence. Only two people in the world were presented this great honor from Imi for contributions to Krav Maga – Darren himself and other Krav Legend Eyal Yanilov. By bestowing this award of recognition on Darren, Imi had designated him as a future leader responsible for continuing the growth of Krav Maga in the United States and around the world.

Darren and Krav Maga Worldwide

Shortly after, in 1998, Imi Lichtenfeld passed away at the age of 88. Since his passing, Krav Maga has continued to spread into major cities and small towns around the world. Imi left behind a growing legacy of saving countless lives by teaching people how to protect and defend themselves in violent situations on the streets and on battlefields.

In 1999, Darren formed a corporate licensing entity to promote the most practical, reality-based self defense, fighting and fitness system ever developed to the masses across the United States.

In a little over a decade, Darren has built the largest, fastest-growing reality-based self defense and fighting fitness corporation in the world. As of 2013, Darren has established over 240 licensed Krav Maga training centers in the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico and Europe.