28 | MAY 2 • 2024 
J
N

A 

strong and resilient Jewish com-
munity is the goal,
” said Matthew 
Sikora, owner of TRUE Martial 
Arts. With a mission to spread safety and 
security throughout the community, TRUE 
Martial Arts, a Jewish-owned martial arts 
school with locations in West Bloomfield 
and Birmingham, is providing self-defense 
classes to Jewish youth across the state.
“My children studied with TRUE Martial 
Arts when they were younger, and I was so 
impressed with Matt Sikora and his team, 
their philosophy, their warmth, their teach-
ing ability. There was no question that he 
is who I wanted for Shaarey Zedek teens,
” 
said Rabbi Aaron Starr, when asked about 
choosing who would conduct a self-defense 
class for Shaarey Zedek’s youth. 
Rabbi Starr explained “given the rise in 
antisemitism in our country, Congregation 
Shaarey Zedek youth adviser Annie Klinger 
and I created a series of learning opportu-
nities to help teenagers feel safe physically, 
emotionally and spiritually, including 
training on self-defense and situational 
awareness.
” 
Last month’s seminar at Shaarey Zedek 
“included a brief lecture on situational 
awareness before giving the teens basic 
self-defense techniques. Then the teens 
were given pads to practice,
” Starr said.

According to Sikora, “We aimed for par-
ticipants to walk away feeling empowered, 
knowing they possess some very basic and 
practical skills, and the confidence to han-
dle potential threats. Beyond physical tech-
niques, we hoped they gained a mindset of 
assertiveness and resilience, feeling confi-
dent in their ability to protect themselves 
and others in various situations.
” 
Mission accomplished! Rabbi Star agreed 
“everyone enjoyed the opportunity to gain 
and to practice their self-defense skills on 
the pads, but I think everyone also took 
away meaningful reminders about situa-
tional awareness.
”
A few weeks ago, TRUE Martial Arts 
participated in BBYO Michigan’s Spring 
Convention, by offering a Krav Maga 
seminar to BBYO teens. Although staff- 
supported, BBYO teens take the lead on 
planning this annual, two-day convention, 
taking place at Tamarack Camps. A variety 
of programming is offered every year at the 
convention. 
“In an effort to provide an activity that 
was active, engaging and included some 
sort of take-away, some teens suggested 
Krav Maga,
” said Audrey Bloomberg, 
BBYO Michigan’s Regional Director. Krav 
Maga is an Israeli martial art developed for 
the Israeli Defense Forces. It is known to 

teach real-life, practical, self-defense skills.
The one-hour Krav Maga seminar was 
well attended at the convention, with more 
than 40 teens participating. The seminar 
included information and handouts about 
the origin of Krav Maga as well as a hands-
on component, where teens were able to 
practice and role play. “The teens learned 
something new and were able to take away 
real-life applicable skills,
” Bloomberg said. 
The convention allowed Jewish youth to 
come together as a community and learn 
something new. “It is so nice knowing we 
have these resources in our community. 
Here we have these professionals in our 
community who not only have these skills 
but are willing to teach them to others in 
the community,
” Bloomberg said.
TRUE Martial Arts hopes to continue to 
teach Jewish teens about self-defense. “Our 
classes teach Jewish teens to take ownership 
of their safety and well-being. Learning 
practical techniques to defend themselves, 
participants gain confidence and self-as-
surance. It empowers them to be proactive 
rather than reactive in potentially danger-
ous situations. This empowerment extends 
beyond the event itself, as attendees carry 
these skills and mindset into their daily 
lives, contributing to a safer and more resil-
ient Jewish community,
” Sikora said. 

TRUE Martial Arts offers Krav Maga classes to the 

community weekly, every Tuesday and Thursday eve-

ning. To learn more about TRUE Martial Arts’ Krav Maga 

program, visit https://bloomfieldmartialarts.com/adult-

krav-maga-classes-west-bloomfield.

Self-Defense 
 Awareness

LINDSAY SIKORA SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Local martial arts studio 
empowers Jewish teens.

ALEC COHEN PHOTOGRAPHY

RIGHT: Matt Sikora teaches Krav 
Maga to BBYO Teens at Camp 
Tamarack. BELOW: Teens at 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek 
were taught self-defense.

OUR COMMUNITY

