Our Method

The StandStrong self-defense system was created by Lior Ofir, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt and multiple time world champion. Lior, a KravMaga expert and former Israeli Navy SEAL, spent years competing and teaching thousands of people all around the world. After consulting with some of the best experts in the martial arts industry, he created our curriculum based on the disciplines of KravMaga and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gathering the most practical and highly effective techniques to provide our students with a toolbox of skills to help keep themselves safe. 

In a unique way, our main objective is to teach practical tools to help people defend themselves and get home safe regardless of their age, size, or physical abilities. In all our programs, we focus on the most common and problematic situations you might face and provide the right skills for YOU. We're not teaching our students how to fight nor become black belts, but on how to stay calm, in control and disengage from potentially dangerous scenarios. 

Our Curriculum

StandStrong provides three different levels of self-defense training. We recommend groups start with Level Aleph and work up from there, as this provides a fundamental base from which to complete all of our programs.

All our programs are created to build the self-confidence and self-esteem of our participants. We believe that every individual should feel empowered to speak their truth and feel proud of who they are and what they believe.


 

א׳

Level Aleph

After passing level Aleph, participants should be able to protect themselves in a one-on-one situation against somebody of a similar size with limited or no martial arts experience. Participants should have the skills to disengage and evade the situation.

ב׳

Level Bet

After passing level Bet, participants should have the skills and confidence to protect themselves in a more escalated situation, such as being picked on or bullied by somebody. Participants should feel confident to evade somebody who is bigger than themselves and still get out safe.

ג׳

Level Elite

After passing level Elite, participants should be able to protect themselves in heightened and more threatening situations, even involving experienced martial artists. The goal of this course is for participants to have the skills and confidence to feel ‘bullyproof’ in their everyday lives.

Lior Ofir, StandStrong Co-Founder

StandStrong Co-Founder, Lior Ofir is a former Israeli Navy SEAL, a Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and World Champion. He also worked in the Israeli Ministry of Defense as a Defensive Tactics Specialist in the security field. He has dedicated his life to teaching different communities how to protect themselves in dangerous situations.

Lior was born in Ramat Gan, Israel and was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in 2003 where he joined the elite Naval Commando Unit "Shyetet 13” (the Israeli Navy Seals). Lior served for five years and his roles included special operations, a medic and hand-to-hand Krav Maga combat instructor. As a reserve duty serviceman – he is one of the team members responsible for selecting future students to enroll in the program.

Since finishing his active service, Lior has dedicated his time to perfecting martial arts. He started by studying Krav Maga, then found his love and passion when introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 2016-2017 alone, he won 6 different world championship titles in the sport. Lior also understands his responsibility as an unofficial ambassador for Israel within the world of martial arts.

Lior co-founded StandStrong in 2019 and sees the organization as his ‘life’s mission’. To help empower and protect people through the skills and values of self-defense.

Our Core Values:

Empowered to StandStrong

Through: Safety, Self-Confidence, Self-Esteem, Teamwork, and Discipline

Safety

Safety is the most important thing. For us safety means two things:

1. Our next generations should, and will be feel safe AT ALL TIMES. We’re trying to prepare them to be aware of their surroundings and approach situations with a calm confidence.

2. Our program is safe. Every class starts with a safety briefing. We are very proud of our safety record and work hard to ensure everyone who represents StandStrong understands how important this is.

Self-Confidence

We believe that a self-confident child will become a more successful adult. By learning potentially life-saving skills we ensure our young people are way less likely to be victims of bullying. It helps them deescalate situations by projecting a calm toughness.

Self-Esteem

Stand Strong believes in inspiring our next generations, both physically and mentally to become our leaders of tomorrow.

Teamwork

Teamwork—sportsmanship, brotherhood, and learning together as a team with our closest friends—is one of the main values of the IDF and martial arts training.

Discipline

Self-control, respect for oneself and also respect for others. These are not just encouraged in all StandStrong programs; they form the basis of the class.

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