Our Krav Maga affiliation: Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu
Champions Krav Maga Academy is an affiliated academy within Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu, a modern self-defence and martial arts system led by 9th Degree Black Belt, Dr Gavriel Schneider.
When you are choosing where to train, affiliation is one of the few things you can actually verify. It tells you the training follows a recognised system with established standards, rather than a collection of techniques assembled by one gym.
CKMA is led by Max McGregor, a 3rd Degree Black Belt and Senior Instructor graded within this system, and Brisbane representative for the Federation of Israeli Martial Arts.
What is Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu?
Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu is a modern, integrated self-defence and martial arts system. It combines practical Krav Maga with striking, clinch work, takedowns, and ground defence drawn from boxing, Muay Thai, Judo, wrestling, and Jiu-Jitsu.
The aim is not to collect techniques. It is to build capability that holds up across a range of real situations, with awareness and decision-making treated as seriously as physical skill.
That system is what you train at CKMA. It shapes the curriculum, the order skills are introduced in, and how students progress. See how it works in practice across the adult Krav Maga program.
Who leads the Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu system?
The Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu system is led by Dr Gavriel Schneider, a 9th Degree Black Belt in Hisardut/Dennis Survival Jujitsu and Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu, and one of the most respected figures in applied self-defence and defensive tactics training.
Dr Gav brings more than 40 years of experience across martial arts, military and law enforcement training, and academic research. His PhD from UNISA examined best practice in use of force and defensive tactics training methodology.
That academic grounding, combined with his practical background, means the Gendai Ryu system is built on more than physical technique. It is informed by a serious understanding of how people learn, how violence operates, and how training can prepare people effectively for real-world situations.
His current roles include Head of System for Gendai Ryu and the Modern Warrior Alliance, and Director for Australia and New Zealand for the Federation of Israeli Martial Arts (FIMA). He has been inducted into the South African Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the Israeli Museum of Martial Arts History, recognising decades of contribution to martial arts and self-defence education.
For CKMA students, this creates genuine confidence. Your training is connected to a system led by someone with both the practical depth and academic rigour to ensure it continues to evolve with purpose.
Dr Gavriel Schneider at a glance
Current roles
Head of System for Gendai Ryu and the Modern Warrior Alliance. Director for Australia and New Zealand, Federation of Israeli Martial Arts (FIMA).
Key grades
9th Dan Black Belt in Hisardut/Dennis Survival Jujitsu and Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu. 6th Dan Black Belt in Koga/Gendai Ryu Ninjitsu. 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo.
Academic background
PhD from UNISA focused on best practice in use of force and defensive tactics training methodology.
Experience
More than 40 years across martial arts, military and law enforcement training, Special Forces, and protective services.
Honours
Inducted into the South African Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the Israeli Museum of Martial Arts History. 2025 Australian Martial Arts Masters Defensive Tactics Instructor of the Year Award
What this affiliation gives you that a standalone gym cannot
Affiliation is only worth something if it changes what happens in your training. Two things here are only possible because of it.
Coaching that keeps developing
Max and the coaching team stay connected to the wider Gendai Ryu system, continuing their own instructor development and grading within it. Your training is only ever as good as the coaching behind it. Being part of a larger system means that coaching keeps being tested and refined against an external standard, not just an internal one.
Internationally recognised grading
Your rank is graded within the Gendai Ryu system, not invented by this academy. That means it is recognised across the wider network, it holds its value if you ever move or travel, and it is assessed against a standard set beyond Holland Park. When you earn a grade here, you have met a benchmark that exists independently of us.
Access to the wider network
Affiliation opens access to seminars, camps, and international training opportunities, and CKMA hosts visiting instructors from the wider system. For members who want to go deeper, there is somewhere to go. For everyone else, it is simply proof the system has genuine depth and reach.
FAQ about our Gendai Ryu affiliation
What is Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu?
A modern self-defence and martial arts system that integrates practical Krav Maga with striking, clinch, and ground defence drawn from proven disciplines. It is led by Dr Gavriel Schneider, a 9th Degree Black Belt with more than 40 years of experience in self-defence, martial arts, and defensive tactics training.
Is CKMA an officially recognised affiliate?
Yes. CKMA is an affiliated academy within the Gendai Ryu system. Max McGregor holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt and Senior Instructor grade within it, and is the Brisbane representative for the Federation of Israeli Martial Arts.
Do I need to know anything about the system before I start?
No. Most students begin with no knowledge of it at all. The coaching team explains the pathway as you settle in. If you have never trained, start with our guide for those new to Krav Maga or martial arts.
Can I grade within the Gendai Ryu system at CKMA?
Yes. Students progress through the Gendai Ryu grading system, so your rank is recognised within the wider system rather than only inside this academy. If you have trained before, the coaching team will help you find the right entry point.
Train inside a system with real depth
You do not need to know anything about Gendai Ryu to start. You just need to know the training you are doing has a system, a standard, and credible leadership behind it.