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Krav Fit
1205B S. University
Little Rock, AR 72204
501.664.KRAV (5728)
info@kravfit.us
History
Krav Fit opened as Krav Maga and Fitness of Arkansas in August 2004 when Devin Shirley, founder and lead instructor, opened the training center. Devin had been training in Krav Maga for three years in the Dallas area and wanted to bring his positive experiences of Krav Maga back to his home state of Arkansas.
Krav Fit is the first and only officially licensed Krav Maga training center in the state. The school started with only two students on W. Markham in Little Rock, inside the Gym and Cafe. At the time, only two classes were in the schedule.
Over time, the training center grew and the schedule expanded, including the addition of fitness classes. Growing beyond the space available in the gym, Krav Fit relocated to Rodney Parham in the Breckenridge Village Shopping Center, where the membership continued to grow for 3 years. At its current location at 1205B S. University, Krav Fit has plenty of room for all of its programs and members, boasting 5200 sqft of space, consisting of 3 training rooms, locker rooms, showers, and a large waiting area. In July 2010, Krav Maga and Fitness of Arkansas took on the new name and logo of Krav Fit.
The training center has multiple programs to meet the training needs of its members. Self-defense classes are taught using the Krav Maga system, which provides the most practical and effective system of self defense available. The Krav Fit fitness program involves intense cardio and strength/conditioning classes, that will not only get you in better shape, but will help you improve your performance in the Krav Maga classes. The Krav Kids program is for ages 5 - 12. Participants in the Krav Kids program will learn discipline and respect all while learning and applying the basic principles of the Krav Maga system.
Krav Fit is continuing to grow and train both adults and children, giving them the tools they need to protect themselves and their families all while improving their overall health and fitness levels.
We hope you will come in and try out a class because we know that once you try it out, you will leave a better person. Please contact us for more information.
Instructor Bios
Devin Shirley
Chief Instructor and Founder
Devin has been training in Krav Maga since August 2001 and is currently one of less than 100 active Krav Maga black belts in the U.S. and Canada.
Devin graduated West Point in 1996 and served five years in the U.S. Army. During his time in the Army and at West Point, he trained in boxing, wrestling, close quarters combat, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu. Devin then began work on his master’s degree and graduated in 2000 from Oklahoma State University. After achieving the rank of Captain, he decided to leave the Army and pursue a career in Telecommunications and Information Systems in Dallas, TX. It was in Dallas where Devin began his Krav Maga training. In March 2003, Devin received his first Krav Maga instructor certification and began teaching. In 2004, he decided to return to his home state of Arkansas and open the first officially licensed Krav Maga training center in the state.
Devin also holds the Master Fitness Trainer certification from the U.S. Army. He has created and taught numerous fitness programs during his time in the army and at the training centers in Dallas and Arkansas, and is a certified Krav Fit Fitness Instructor. Devin has also completed the train the trainer course with Krav Maga Alliance and was appointed to the Krav Maga Alliance Training Team, entrusted with training, testing, and certifying instructors for Krav Maga Alliance.
Joe Huskey
Fitness Director/Krav Maga Instructor
Joe Huskey has been a resident in Hot Springs for 30 years, where he lives with his wife and 2 daughters.
Joe has been in the fitness industry for over 30 years as a gym owner and operator and his background includes experience and credentials such as a BS in Health Sciences, Medical Exercise Specialists (MES) board certified, NFPT, ACSM, IART certifications as a personal trainer, and is the Arkansas State Representative for the National Federation of Professional Trainers. Joe has owned and operated Personalized Fitness in Hot Springs, Arkansas for 12 years, specializing in personal training and post rehab exercises.
Joe began his Krav Maga training in 2005 and received his instructor certification in 2007. As Fitness Director, Joe brings his extensive fitness background to Krav Maga and Fitness of Arkansas, providing experience and input on the fitness programs, ensuring that students maximize their ability to defend themselves while simultaneously improving their fitness level.
John Crowley
Krav Kids Director/Instructor - Krav Maga/Fitness
Brian Pope
Instructor - Krav Maga/Fitness
Brian is originally from Ohio, but has been living in Little Rock and serving as a Little Rock police officer since 1996.
While working on the streets of Little Rock and dealing with violent confrontations on a daily basis, he found a need for self-defense training and began learning boxing. However, when Krav Maga and Fitness of Arkansas opened, both he and his daughter began training as the first students of the school.
After a year and a few months of training, Devin saw how quickly Brian learned the system and sent him to receive his instructor’s certification.
Ronnie Davidson
Instructor - Krav Maga
Ronnie is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. He currently lives in central Arkansas with his wife son. He has been serving his community as a law enforcement officer since 2004.
Ronnie was first introduced to defensive tactics at Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy. When he returned home from the Academy he was searching for a way to continue his training and found Krav Maga. Devin had recently opened the only Krav Maga school in the state and luckily enough, it was here in Little Rock. He joined KMFA as a student in early 2005 and began his official training as an instructor in 2006.
Wil Phillips
Instructor - Krav Maga
Wil grew up in the central Arkansas area. He has a background in Aikido and works security at a local business in Little Rock. In this role he has witnessed and experienced numerous confrontations in a variety of situations.
Arny Ferrando
Instructor - Krav Maga/Fitness
Arny became a part of Krav Fit in 2006. He began teaching about 2 years after that. Arny is a West Point graduate and is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the US Army. During his time in the Army, he was a helicopter pilot and completed the US Army Ranger course. Arny has his PhD and works in research at a local university hospital.
Carol Ann Massanelli
Instructor - Krav Maga/Fitness
Chris Edmondson
Instructor - Krav Maga/Fitness
Carol Ann first joined Krav Fit as a participant in a Rape Defense seminar and she has been with us ever since. She has been doing fitness and Krav Maga training at Krav Fit for over 4 years.
Chris Edmondson was one of the first 10 members of Krav Maga and Fitness of Arkansas and has been training in Krav Maga for over 6 years. He is currently in the Air Force Reserves. Chris is one of our Krav Kids instructors.