Master Self-Defense with French Combatives

Empower Yourself with Confidence

Join French Combatives for practical self-defense training tailored to your needs, enhancing skills and building a supportive community focused on personal safety. Why French Combatives? My teaching combines:

1. Pragmatism: Simple and direct techniques accessible to everyone.

2. Experience: A method born from years of training and teaching in Paris, a metropolis where self-defense has become an essential skill.

3. A Comprehensive Approach: Integrating physical and mental preparation to help students manage fear, stress, and confrontations in various contexts.

About French Combatives

French Combatives is a modern and pragmatic self-defense system, drawing direct inspiration from MMA, military close combat, and the expertise of leading figures in the combatives field, such as Lee Morrison (Urban Combatives) and Richard Dimitri (Senshido). My approach, designed and developed in Paris, combines the effectiveness of these methods with a practical adaptation to urban environments, where violence can be unpredictable and demands immediate, realistic responses.

As a Paris native, having grown up in the working-class, crime-ridden neighborhoods of northern Paris, I gained firsthand experience and field knowledge of urban violence. I was a direct student of Richard Douieb, a legend in Krav Maga, who himself was entrusted with the teachings of Imi Lichtenfeld, the founder of Krav Maga. Over the years, I have trained security professionals and police officers, further refining my understanding of real-world self-defense.

My expertise extends to weapon-based combat, with a particular focus on knives and kubotans, integrating these tools into my teaching for realistic and effective personal defense. With a black belt in Krav Maga (FEKM) and teaching experience in renowned venues such as the Carreau du Temple and Théâtre Trévise, I developed a method that is both accessible and grounded in practical, real-life applications.

An Approach Inspired by the Best

Lee Morrison is a key reference for his focus on preemption and rapid responses to threats. His pragmatism and use of realistic scenarios have inspired me to integrate simulated environments (bus, metro, etc.) into my courses to maximize real-world effectiveness.
(Example: techniques for preventive strikes and spatial awareness before an aggression).

Richard Dimitri, known for his "shredder" concept, offers a unique method for close combat, combining strikes, biting, and psychological dominance. This approach is a cornerstone of my teaching, aimed at neutralizing an aggressor quickly and effectively, even in situations of physical disadvantage.
(Example: combining the shredder with techniques for countering takedowns and defending against weapons).

Carl Cestari, a former police officer and former prisoner, was a major source of inspiration for FRENCH COMBATIVES and an iconic figure in self-defense. His unique experience, both as an enforcer of the law and from within the prison system, deeply influenced his pragmatic and realistic approach. He prioritized simple techniques that could be applied immediately under stress. Cestari embodied the essence of practical, ethical, and survival-oriented self-defense, with a strong emphasis on mental preparation and mastering the fundamentals.

A Program for Everyone

Join French Combatives for effective self-defense skills, improving fitness and building confidence in real situations.

For women

Focused on realistic self-defense, the courses include protective techniques, targeted strikes, short fencing and tools such as pepper spray, push dagger or other weapons. My research on defending women in hostile environments in Paris has allowed me to integrate simple and directly applicable solutions to respond to aggression.

For men

Inspired by military close combat, the program includes simple and effective strikes (boxing, muay thai), wrestling techniques (takedowns, counter-takedowns), short fencing and realistic scenarios. The focus is on quick mastery and using all available tools, including improvised weapons.

A fun and adapted learning process focused on confidence, evasive techniques, and basic strikes to effectively respond to conflict situations.

For children

French Combatives transformed my confidence and skills in self-defense. Highly recommend their tailored training programs!

Erwin Medelice - Paris

★★★★★

Training Gallery

Explore our training sessions and community events at French Combatives.