Grandmaster Dr Matan Bochner: Founder of Elite Krav Maga

Grandmaster Dr Matan Bochner

Founder of Elite Krav Maga

Grandmaster Dr. Matan Bochner began his martial arts journey in 1986, starting with Karate. Over the decades, he has trained in a wide range of martial arts including Krav Maga, Aikido, Muay Thai, Savate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and others, earning six black belts across multiple systems.

He currently holds the following recognized ranks:

7 th Dan in Elite Krav Maga

1st Dan in the Israeli Martial Art – Avikzar System

2nd Dan in K.M.I.

2nd Dan in Shotokan Karate

2nd Dan in American Goju-Ryu Karate

5th Dan in Machete Combat

Certified coach and official judge in Sport Chanbara

Certified Senior Coach (Grand Master Diploma) by the international Karate DO academy by G.M Dr. Roni Kluger in 2017

Cqc / cqb Course graduate

Homeland security Course of the Israel Police and Border Police graduate

Commander of the detective department and specialty arrests – military police

Educational institutions Course graduate

Dr. Bochner was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Martial Arts from Washington University. He is internationally recognized as a Grandmaster, and was named “Coach of the Year 2025” by the Global Hall of Fame of Masters (GAOT).

In his security career, Bochner served as a counter-terror operative in a classified special unit. He holds the rank of Major (Res.) in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and is the former commander of a special military unit. In the Israeli Border Police, he reached the rank of Chief Superintendent and served as commander of a rapid-response counter-terrorism unit.

Bochner has trained Special Forces and law enforcement units in Israel and around the world, bringing his expertise in practical combat and tactical instruction to the global arena.

He is the founder of Elite Krav Maga, a system developed with the goal of enhancing and evolving Krav Maga based on real-world combat experience. Bochner is the direct student of the late Grandmaster Eli Avikzar (10th Dan), the first officially recognized black belt in Krav Maga.

His mission for the future includes:

Continual development of martial arts,

Widespread accessibility to self-defense, and the integration of academic excellence into the world of martial arts.

Grandmaster Bochner resides in Israel and continues to teach, lead, and shape the next generation of martial arts professionals worldwide.

Grandmaster Dr. Matan Bochner serves as the Chancellor of the International Institute of Martial Arts, Law Enforcement & Counter-Terrorism (IIMALECT).

The institute is dedicated to the training and certification of instructors and coaches, the awarding and recognition of martial arts ranks, and the granting of academic degrees in the field of martial arts. Through this role, Dr. Bochner continues to shape the professional and academic future of martial arts on a global scale.

Grand Master Dr. Matan Bochner teaches his method, Elite Krav Maga in seminars in Israel and around the world and Today, studying the Elite Krav Maga method that developed by Matan Bochner more than 9000 people in Israel and around the world Including government ministries, security forces and civilians