Last Sunday I successfully completed Expert Series II, the Level 5 Brown Belt instructors test at Krav Maga Worldwide National Training Center in West LA. Big thanks to the outstanding-as-usual instructor-instructors Kelly Campbell and AJ Draven, from whom I learned so much more than I could possibly scribble down with a cavalier-twisted hand in my sweat-sodden notebook. Thanks to my excellent and inspiring classmates Dustin Hoffman, Keenan Weig, Britt Soden, Myles Gomez, and Jean-Francois Frenette.

Special thanks to my training partner, Josh Schultz, who had also partnered with me and Danelle way back in Phase B. To walk away with only minor scrapes and bruises—considering the high-impact stuff we were training (and the unfortunate events of Expert I)—must say something about our skill level, right?

Thanks to Brian and everyone at the Academy for the encouragement and training help. Thanks to Marc for letting me smack him around in overzealous teaching demos.

Most specialest thanks of all to Danelle for waving guns and knives in my face even when it was the last thing she felt like doing, and for being the reigning champ of focus mitt holding.

As usual, I’m very excited to share all the new stuff and twists on old stuff. There are some significant changes in all levels of the system, and I’ll be updating the online curriculum and bringing them to my classes soon.

How to get KRAV MAGA Instructor level Brown Belt: 1. Train for years & years 2. Take my test today 3. Whoop some serious ass #GoodLuck

— AJ Draven (@JohnnyBadass) July 28, 2013