#16 Ofer Lidar - Real Combat, Real Consequences with Shin Bet’s Head Trainer

Ofer Lidar spent over two decades inside Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, heading its hand-to-hand combat program. In this episode, we talk openly about what real-world violence looks like—and how Krav Maga needs to adapt to meet it. We unpack where traditional training falls short, how to build fighters—not just technicians, and why mindset—not just technique—decides who walks away.

We explore:

• Why Krav Maga became “martial-artsy” and how it’s shifting back to its roots
• The gap between sports and survival
• How modern Krav Maga can (and should) evolve
• Training agents to make split-second decisions under pressure
• Mindset over method: teaching people to think under fire

A raw, honest conversation between two Israelis with combat backgrounds, decades of experience, and a shared commitment to keeping the training real.

www.kravmagaisrael.com