It's one thing to know how to defend yourself. It's quite another to be able to react in the moment—to analyze and swiftly repel an attacker's every move without batting an eyelash. At New York Self Defense Academy, teaching the basics of self defense is just the first step. Founder and chief instructor Avi Avramcheyiv prepares his students for real-life scenarios by drawing on skills he honed as a hand-to-hand combat instructor in the Israeli Defense Force.

Krav maga, the official self-defense system of the IDF, predictably dominates the schedule at Avi's own martial-arts academy. He and his team of instructors enact realistic scenarios that teach students to deal with weapons and hand-to-hand attacks. These exercises are stressful by design, though many students find that they are also exhilarating and highly educational. Along with learning proper ways to defend against chokes, hand grabs, and bear hugs, students of all abilities experience an intense workout in each class.