02/03/2026
Roots.
To our Krav Maga Worldwide Community,
Over the past weeks, we have all carried the weight of Darren’s passing.
He was more than a leader.
He was a protector of structure, a bridge to our origins, and a guardian of the system’s integrity.
Moments like this demand steadiness.
After thoughtful discussion among senior leadership, we want to provide clear direction on how we move forward.
We are proud to announce that Jon Pascal will serve as Chief Instructor for Krav Maga Worldwide.
Jon represents continuity at its deepest level. As one of the original Heschel Day School students, he carries a direct connection to the early formation of Krav Maga in the United States. Through decades of leadership, including his work building the KMW Force Training Division, he has earned trust, credibility, and respect across instructors and law enforcement communities alike.
His appointment ensures instructional leadership remains clear, principled, and grounded in the roots of the system.
Effective immediately, CJ Kirk will serve as Steward of the Krav Maga System.
In resilient organizations, leadership centers around structure. A Steward protects the architecture of the system— safeguarding standards, preserving curriculum integrity, strengthening instructor development, and ensuring that evolution never comes at the cost of authenticity.
Together, these roles function as two hands working in concert:
• Chief Instructor: focused on instructional leadership
• Steward: focused on structural integrity and long-term system protection
Neither replaces the other; both strengthen the whole.
Our mission remains unchanged.
We will continue to teach Krav Maga as it was intended:
simple, aggressive, principle-driven…built for real-world survival.
We honor Darren’s legacy not by standing still, but by protecting what he built and advancing it responsibly.
If you are committed to building the next era of KMW with integrity and strength, you will find alignment here. 🌎
