Instructors
Bertrand Van Den Plas
Bertrand (left) with Eyal Yanilov, founder and head instructor of KMG in 2018.
I started Shotokan Karate at 11 inspired by Jean-Claude Van Damme, the Belgian action movie star (I'm also Belgian). At 18yo, I stopped all training and moved away from home to go to University.
A few years later, one night in Brussels I got attacked by 3 people. I got out of this situation unhurt (which is awesome) but with a clear realization that my Karate training did not have me prepared for such a situation and I had no clue what to do. It was dark and late and I was alone against 3 people who had a clear plan. The outcome could have been way worse for me if my attackers had not been satisfied with my phone and wallet.
This is when I decided to go back to training and look for something more useful. I had Krav Maga on my radar for a while and I decided to give it a go. First with IKM back in Belgium. I instantly got hooked. What I was taught was pragmatic and was preparing me to deal with so many situations I had never even thought of.
I now understand how my behavior contributed to putting me in that unfortunate situation back then. And most importantly I know how I should have reacted to prevent that situation.
After moving to New Zealand I joined KMG (Krav Maga Global) and received my instructor diploma in Australia in 2017. I taught under Aaron Moore (New Zealand KMG Director) for 5 years before opening my school in West Auckland.
I now live in West Auckland and I want to bring something to the community I now belong to. I hope that you will join our classes to have fun and learn, what I believe, are important skills.
Email: bertrand@kravmagawa.co.nz
Stuart McGuire
As a kid I used to have the classic poster of Bruce lee from the film "Enter the dragon" hanging on my bedroom wall, the one where he has the claw slashes on his chest from his boss fight with Han.
I had always liked anything to do with fighting. Unfortunately, or fortunately, my mom wouldn't allow me to take classes, citing that I had a bit of a temper, and deep down I knew I wouldn't like the strict traditional teaching styles anyway. So, I ended up doing other sports.
Fast forward 30 odd years, and I'd just left a high-pressure, desk-bound job, unfit and overweight. I was looking for a reboot when I came across an advertisement for Krav Maga Global. I fought the fear and started taking regular classes.
The common sense and practicality of the system appealed to me, along with its simplicity. I liked that what we learned wasn't for the ring or cage but for real-life situations or scenarios. And it definitely wasn't traditional.
In 2019, at the age of 50, I was one of three people out of a class of 20 to pass the Krav Maga Global Instructor course and receive my instructor diploma.
I am now happily teaching alongside my friend, fellow instructor, and KMG West Auckland club owner, Bertrand Van Den Plas.
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