Stephane Constant

Passionate about combat sports since childhood, I began martial arts training in 1987. My initial goal has always been the pursuit of effectiveness in order to potentially survive violent physical aggression.

This quest led me to begin training in Shotokan Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Luta Livre, and MMA.

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Krav Maga

In 1999, I discovered Krav Maga with Master Eyal Yanilov and Philippe Kaddouch. I had finally reached my original goal. From that point on, I wanted to learn everything about this discipline. I attended every possible seminar in France and abroad, primarily with Master Eyal Yanilov. I also continued my education through regular private lessons with Philippe Kaddouch, who offered me the opportunity to pursue instructor training in 2003.

 

Krav Maga Instructor

I successfully completed instructor training in January 2004 after more than twenty days of intense preparation. We had no protective gear (no mouthguards, groin protection, or shin guards), and the fights were full power with absolutely no rules. Everything was possible, which often made the fights extremely short. The final exam lasted over eight consecutive hours, including fights, defenses against surprise attacks from one or multiple armed or unarmed attackers, and intense physical trials where mental strength was the only resource.

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Krav Maga and Law Enforcement

I expanded my expertise by repeatedly completing Krav Maga instructor training for law enforcement in Israel (equivalent to the Professional Intervention Instructor for the French Gendarmerie), in order to provide the highest level of instruction to the Rhône Gendarmerie Group and the operators of the MPPE intervention team—the precursor laboratory for future GIGN branches—of which I was a member. I was able to repeatedly measure the effectiveness of Krav Maga in real violent situations, using it to contain aggression and bring offenders to justice.

 

Krav Maga Expert

Once I became an instructor, my goal was to achieve the rank of “Expert.” I was evaluated by Master Eyal Yanilov for over twelve consecutive hours in the Czech Republic. The test included:

Numerous defense techniques against various armed and unarmed attacks

Numerous defense techniques against multiple armed or unarmed attackers

Hard, no-rules one-on-one fights

Hard, no-rules one-against-four fights

Over one hour of physical trials (100 push-ups, 100 burpees, 100 squats, 100 abdominal flexions, pull-ups, jumping jacks, strikes on Pao pads)

 

International Krav Maga Expert

As a result, I became the first “Expert” rank holder in the KMG organization in France. My next goal was to join the Global Team, the international expert team of the International Krav Maga Federation. In 2023, I reached this position and trained and tested numerous instructors. However, I gradually became aware of how Krav Maga was evolving away from Imi Lichtenfeld’s original objective. I was disappointed to see that candidates could “negotiate” their rank, perform techniques mechanically without real understanding, yet still pass and continue progressing grade after grade.

Unwilling to endorse this, I decided to leave that role and organization in order to continue training and testing students while respecting the true origins of Krav Maga: instinctive action through the cultivation and sharpening of survival instincts.

This is how Instinctive Krav Maga was born.

I therefore created a new technical curriculum aligned with Imi Lichtenfeld’s original philosophy while adapting to the evolution of modern aggression.

 

MMA

In this dynamic, I wanted to better understand and learn MMA techniques. I participated in the French MMA Cup with the FFK (KMIX), primarily as a mental challenge. I lost in the +92kg final. This experience reinforced my realization that the entire technical spectrum of Krav Maga—which has virtually no limits (eye gouges, groin strikes, strikes to the back of the head, elbows to the face, etc.)—is completely restricted inside the cage.

I greatly appreciated this experience, especially regarding the enveloping effect of the cage. I worked extensively on this aspect with Thomas Loubersanes and my friend Yohan Lidon at his home in Saint-Priest. Thomas explained to me that “the cage can be with you or against you depending on your reactions.”

I therefore chose to further develop my skills by preparing for the first mandatory grade required to compete officially in MMA and/or become an MMA instructor: the green belt of the French Mixed Martial Arts Federation (FMMAF).

After obtaining this grade, I continued my MMA education by successfully earning the Federal Certificate 1 and Federal Certificate 2 of MMA from the FMMAF, officially becoming an MMA instructor in France.

 

Luta Livre

During my Krav Maga training, technical limitations in ground fighting became apparent, both in combat and self-defense. Dirty fighting alone does not solve everything.

To fill this gap, I initially sought solutions through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), the most well-known ground fighting discipline. I trained with several instructors, including Brazilian master Megaton, François Deniau (a BJJ pioneer in Lyon) through private lessons, Vincent Nguyen when he taught in Lyon, and others.

However, solving problems primarily through gi grips, closed guard, and restrictive rules (such as not being allowed to choke with the hands) did not meet my expectations.

At the same time, I discovered Luta Livre through Nicolas Renier. This discipline, far less known than BJJ, developed parallel to BJJ but with a very different history, application, and ruleset.

In summer 2024, I decided to train under Nicolas Renier in Luta Livre to become an instructor. After more than a year of intense training, despite numerous health challenges, I achieved this goal in order to continue offering the best possible expertise to my instructor team and students.

 

Evolution & Ambition

My original objective has always been to provide the best to my team of instructors and students.

Drawing on these progressively acquired experiences and skills, and supported by a motivated and high-performing team, my goal is to continue Imi Lichtenfeld’s original work, primarily through my six years of training with Philippe Kaddouch and especially my education with Master Eyal Yanilov since 1999:

Using systemic principles to evolve solutions according to the evolution of threats.

In other words: continually improving our skills and survival instincts.

 

Qualifications

Since 2004, I have progressively taught civilians as well as children who were victims of violence and unable to find solutions through traditional martial arts.

I expanded my pedagogical expertise by earning:

• DEJEPS (French State Diploma in Youth, Popular Education and Sport) in Sports Performance, Karate and Associated Disciplines/Krav Maga

• Common core of the BBES1, State Diploma for Sports Educators (CREPS Voiron)

• Professional Qualification Certificate as Martial Arts Instructor (FFK & French Ministry of Labor)

• 3x Krav Maga Instructor for Law Enforcement (EIKM, IKM, IKMF)

• 2x Krav Maga Instructor for Children (KMG, IKMF)

• 2x Krav Maga Instructor for Professional Close Protection (KMG, IKMF)

• Military Krav Maga techniques training (Philippe Kaddouch, EIKM, IKMF)

• FMMAF Federal Certificate 1 in MMA

• FMMAF Federal Certificate 2 in MMA

• Luta Livre Instructor – Nicolas Renier

• Kettlebell Instructor (International Kettlebell Marathon Federation)

• Expert Instructor Team IKMF (Global Federal Expert)

• FMMAF MMA Green Belt (required for official competition and instruction)

• Blue Belt in Luta Livre – Nicolas Renier

 

Mental Conditioning

Recognizing the critical importance of mental preparation for facing physical violence, I began taking notes, researching, and pursuing knowledge after my second Muay Thai fight as a teenager.

I trained as:

• NLP Technician

• NLP Practitioner

• Master NLP Practitioner

• 6C Protocol Practitioner

• Sophrologist

• Combat Mental Conditioning Instructor under Ole Boe (former senior special forces officer)

 

Author

During the lockdown period, one of my students, who became a close friend, Dr. Olivier Chambon, encouraged me to write a book to share my expertise in training children to protect themselves from physical aggression and bullying.

This book was translated into English and Spanish:

“Krav Maga for Children: How to Teach a Child to Protect Themselves?”

I later released a second book, responding to demand from students and parents seeking an accessible manual:

“Reflexive Self-Defense Techniques”

This work has also been translated into English.

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Responsibilities

In 2004, I was co-head of one of the two Krav Maga sections of the CSL Gendarmerie, the first being located in the Beynes camp and supervised by GIGN members.

At the same time, I founded Instinctive Krav Maga and progressively began teaching civilians, including children.

From 2014 to 2025, I served as the Krav Maga grading director for the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes League of Karate and Associated Disciplines.

I also joined the global team of expert trainers for the International Krav Maga Federation, where I was responsible for training both students and instructors.

I established the first self-defense instructor training program for a multisport federation.

In 2023, I expanded Instinctive Krav Maga into a federation of clubs.

 

Train with Stéphane:

+33 6 24 73 49 32

superprof.fr

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