Jewish Frontline

THIS ISN’T A SELF-DEFENSE SEMINAR. IT’S AN ACADEMY.

The Jewish Frontline Defense Academy (JFDA) is Jewish Frontline’s ongoing community self-defense training program, providing professional Krav Maga instruction in partnership with Rhamma Krav Maga.

Students don’t attend a handful of workshops and walk away. They begin with the fundamentals and continue developing progressively more advanced self-defense and fighting skills.

JFDA operates in annual training seasons.

Inaugural Season: November–May
Future Seasons: September–April
Schedule: Every Other Sunday
Session Length: 2 Hours
Ages: 14+
Location: Rochester, Michigan
Experience: Beginners Welcome
Training Tuition: FREE
Registration: $25

Following each season, students take a summer break and have the opportunity to return in September and continue developing from where they left off.

Our goal is simple: if you’re willing to keep training, we want to help you keep advancing.

START FROM ZERO. SEE HOW FAR YOU CAN GO.

Every beginner starts at the introductory level and works toward their first advancement.

The Rhamma Krav Maga progression follows:

WHITE → YELLOW → ORANGE → GREEN → BLUE → BROWN → BLACK

Early training builds the fundamentals through punching and kicking on pads, choke defenses, movement, and practical self-defense.

As students advance, the curriculum expands into stand-up fighting, ground defenses, more advanced attacks and defenses, and eventually weapons-defense concepts and increasingly advanced fighting techniques.

Protective equipment requirements also increase as the training becomes more advanced.

YOU ADVANCE WHEN YOU’RE READY.

There is no JFDA promise that a student will reach a particular rank within one season—or within any predetermined amount of time.

Advancement is based on demonstrated proficiency and instructor evaluation, not simply attendance or months enrolled.

Some students will advance more quickly than others.

The goal isn’t to race through the levels. The goal is to actually learn how to defend yourself.

THE FURTHER YOU GO, THE MORE WE INVEST IN YOU.

Beginning Krav Maga requires relatively little equipment. As students advance into fighting and more complex training, additional protective equipment becomes necessary.

JFDA is designed so that equipment costs don’t become a barrier for students who demonstrate a real commitment to training.

AFTER SIX MONTHS

Students who complete six months of active participation and remain in good standing become eligible for reimbursement of approved:

BOXING GLOVES • SHIN GUARDS

AS YOU ADVANCE

As eligible students progress and additional required equipment becomes necessary, Jewish Frontline will purchase that equipment directly through Rhamma for the student.

Equipment support is based on actual training requirements, continued participation, good standing, and instructor-determined progression.

You put in the work. We help provide the tools.

TRAIN. PROGRESS. RETURN STRONGER.

The inaugural JFDA season runs from November through May, with approximately two-hour training sessions every other Sunday.

At the end of the season, JFDA will hold a Skills Assessment & Recognition Ceremony to recognize the progress students have made during the year.

The ceremony marks progress—not completion of Krav Maga.

Beginning with the following season, JFDA will operate on its regular:

SEPTEMBER → APRIL TRAINING CALENDAR

Students break for the summer and return the following season to continue training from their existing level.

A student may begin with no experience, develop their foundation during the first season, return stronger for the second, and continue progressing through the Rhamma curriculum season after season.

JFDA is designed to see committed students through the journey—not push everyone through an artificial one-year finish line.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Regular JFDA training is free.

Participants pay a $25 non-refundable registration fee to enroll in each training season.

DO I NEED EXPERIENCE?

No. Beginners are welcome.

DO I NEED TO BE IN GREAT SHAPE?

No predetermined fitness level is required to begin. Training is physically demanding, and participants work within their abilities under instructor guidance.

DO I NEED EQUIPMENT BEFORE MY FIRST CLASS?

No significant protective equipment is required for the introductory curriculum. Equipment requirements increase as students advance.

WILL I BECOME A BLACK BELT?

Maybe someday—but we’re not promising when.

JFDA does not guarantee any particular rank within a particular period. Advancement is based on your development and instructor evaluation.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MAY?

JFDA breaks for the summer. Returning students resume training during the regular September–April season and continue progressing from their existing level.

HOW DO I REGISTER?

Step 1: Pay the $25 registration fee to reserve your place.

Step 2: You’ll receive an email from Jewish Frontline with a link to complete your participant registration, emergency contact information, and program acknowledgments.

Step 3: Complete your enrollment paperwork and get ready to train.

Your enrollment is not complete until the participant registration form has been submitted.

Help us build a stronger, more confident Jewish community. JFDA sponsorship opportunities are available for organizations, businesses, and community supporters who want to help expand access to professional self-defense training and support the long-term growth of the program.

Download our JFDA Sponsorship & Program Overview below to learn about available sponsorship levels and recognition opportunities.

For sponsorship inquiries, contact Shlomi Bennett at shlomi@jewishfrontline.org.

Ready to become a sponsor?