Sports Bio

B.A. Physical Education, Emory and Henry College, Emory, VA

Martial Arts ranks and related training: 

• 3^rd degree Black Belt World Taekwondo Federation
• 3^rd degree Black Belt World Haedong Kumdo Federation (sword)
• 2^nd degree Black Belt Master Martial Arts Training (Korean based)
• 1^st degree Black Belt Israeli Krav Maga – I.K.I. (Moshe Katz)
• Blue Belt Brazilian JiuJitsu RGDA (Royler Gracie/David Adiv)
• One year Muay Thai/kickboxing training with pro coach Otis Berry
• Amateur boxing, New York Military Academy, 8 weeks/pro coach

Background Sports History:

• Emory and Henry College varsity basketball (point guard)
• Broad Run High School: varsity basketball and football
• American Legion baseball

Teaching Experience:

• Current Krav Maga senior instructor with the Silverback Academy
• Current Haedong Kumdo instructor with Highkicks Taekwondo
• Current Taekwondo instructor with Highkicks Taekwondo
• Senior Krav Maga instructor 3 years with Capital Krav Maga
• Head Coach Women’s JV basketball, Emory and Henry College

Professional Clients include:

Washington, DC Police Force; United States Secret Service; Washington Metro Police; Alexandria VA Police; Arlington, VA Police; Loudoun County, VA Sheriff’s Department;

US State Department Special Ops unit; VA State Police

Current Training: 

• Pursuing 4^th degree (Master) Black Belt in Haedong Kumdo
• Pursuing 4^th degree (Master) Black Belt in Taekwondo
• Pursuing 2^nd degree Black Belt in Krav Maga (Moshe Katz)
• Pursuing Purple Belt in Brazilian JiuJitsu (under Sean Stoopman)
• Sayoc Kali (Filipino knife system) training with Miguel Acevedo
• Advanced combat with Colonel JB Neal, Marine special forces
• Pursuing higher level shooting certifications with the NRA

Real Life Experience:

• Have survived numerous street/bar fights
• Have aided friends in altercations
• Have de-escalated several potentially violent encounters

 Testimonials:

"Michael Fath is a talented and intuitive self defense instructor. During the time that I trained with Michael he assisted in identifying my strengths as well as the areas that needed improvement. His training focused on reality situations and instinctive responses to threats as they materialize.  I enjoyed training with Michael and found it to be relevant and beneficial to my employment as a law enforcement officer of more than twenty-five years."

Det. Irv Ellman (Alexandria, VA Police Department)

"Instructor Michael Fath has been a dedicated coach of mine in Krav Maga for many years. His passion for the art is responsible for the integration of Krav Maga into my Defensive Tactics lesson plan for my police department. His strong ethos, coupled with his vast experience and black belts in other martial arts, continue to inspire me and other students to go above and beyond our potential." 

Detective Leo Bello (Arlington County Police, VA)