About
Krav Maga Illinois offers Krav Maga Self-Defense, Krav Maga For Kids, KMI Boxing, Boxing, and Krav Maga Reality Self Defense and Awareness training. The program also includes Women’s Self Defense, Domestic Violence awareness, the Close Quarter Defensive Tactics System, Israeli Tactical Knife, Kardio Karate, self defense seminars, and group, private, and on-site training. All classes are one hour long.
• Ages: 10–18 years old
• Schedule: All classes are one hour long.
Krav Maga Illinois was established in 2009 and is an Official Krav Maga Worldwide Training Center and a Registered USA Boxing Gym. It is on a curriculum shared with over 150 Krav Maga Worldwide Training Facilities internationally, which allows students to step into any Krav Maga Worldwide training center and be on track with the curriculum. The program offers group, private, and on-site training, as well as monthly self defense seminars, and provides a Special Introductory Offer of one free self-defense class, along with a Special Offer for Krav Maga for kids’ classes and a Special Website Offer. Krav Maga Illinois offers classes for children, teenagers, adults, and individuals with special needs, and also offers family, military, law enforcement, and student discounts.
Instructor/Owner Susan (Sue) Garstki is a certified Expert Level Krav Maga Worldwide Instructor, an Official USA Boxing Coach, and a 2nd degree black belt in Shorei Goju Karate, with over 40 years of teaching experience. She has been certified as an instructor at Krav Maga Worldwide National Headquarters in Los Angeles, is the highest level female Krav Maga Instructor in the Midwest, and is certified as a Haganah/F.I.G.H.T. instructor, a Commando Krav Maga instructor, and a Level 4 instructor in the Raven Method Close Quarter Defensive Tactics System. Sue was nominated Female Reality Self Defense Instructor of the Year and Civilian Close Quarter Combat Instructor of the Year, and was inducted into the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2013, 2015, and 2017, where she was named Krav Maga Expert of the Year. She is an Official USA Boxing Coach, a personal trainer specializing in self defense, stamina, strength training, endurance, and fight preparation, and has been certified under NDEITA as a personal trainer and by NAPMA to teach Kardio Karate.
Krav Maga Illinois is a female and locally owned business that offers authentic Krav Maga Reality Self Defense and Awareness training for adults and children ages 10 and up. Classes include combatives such as punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, and self defense techniques against common chokes and grabs, along with reaction, response, and awareness components. KMI Boxing teaches the fundamentals of boxing including combinations, footwork, head movement, sparring techniques, and ring strategies, and Krav Maga Illinois offers an outstanding Boxing program taught by Official USA Boxing Coaches. The program also offers a Best Buddy Program, Women’s Self Defense vs. Self Defense, Holiday Gift Certificates, a new weekend program, and Parent Panic – Pre-College Self Defense, as listed in its recent posts.
Krav Maga Illinois has been voted BEST Self Defense Training 2015 by Chicago Magazine and has received the Go2 Karate Distinction Award for Chicago, IL for its dedication to community enrichment through martial arts training. Krav Maga Illinois works with the Chicago Police Department, schools, and other organizations spreading awareness in Self Defense, Women’s Self Defense, and Domestic Violence issues. The mission statement of Krav Maga Illinois states that its programs, guided by Susan Garstki’s expertise, focus on instilling discipline, enhancing confidence, and nurturing resilience, and that participants learn self-defense techniques and life skills.
Parent and student testimonials describe friendly and professional staff and instructors, a very clean facility, and classes that adjust to different ability levels, with comments noting one-on-one attention to technique, students from many age ranges, and kids’ classes offered twice a week. Multiple reviewers mention signing up for memberships after trying a free trial class, describe the workouts as challenging, and state that they highly recommend Krav Maga Illinois for self defense training.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
• Ages: 10–18 years old
• Schedule: All classes are one hour long.
Krav Maga Illinois was established in 2009 and is an Official Krav Maga Worldwide Training Center and a Registered USA Boxing Gym. It is on a curriculum shared with over 150 Krav Maga Worldwide Training Facilities internationally, which allows students to step into any Krav Maga Worldwide training center and be on track with the curriculum. The program offers group, private, and on-site training, as well as monthly self defense seminars, and provides a Special Introductory Offer of one free self-defense class, along with a Special Offer for Krav Maga for kids’ classes and a Special Website Offer. Krav Maga Illinois offers classes for children, teenagers, adults, and individuals with special needs, and also offers family, military, law enforcement, and student discounts.
Instructor/Owner Susan (Sue) Garstki is a certified Expert Level Krav Maga Worldwide Instructor, an Official USA Boxing Coach, and a 2nd degree black belt in Shorei Goju Karate, with over 40 years of teaching experience. She has been certified as an instructor at Krav Maga Worldwide National Headquarters in Los Angeles, is the highest level female Krav Maga Instructor in the Midwest, and is certified as a Haganah/F.I.G.H.T. instructor, a Commando Krav Maga instructor, and a Level 4 instructor in the Raven Method Close Quarter Defensive Tactics System. Sue was nominated Female Reality Self Defense Instructor of the Year and Civilian Close Quarter Combat Instructor of the Year, and was inducted into the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2013, 2015, and 2017, where she was named Krav Maga Expert of the Year. She is an Official USA Boxing Coach, a personal trainer specializing in self defense, stamina, strength training, endurance, and fight preparation, and has been certified under NDEITA as a personal trainer and by NAPMA to teach Kardio Karate.
Krav Maga Illinois is a female and locally owned business that offers authentic Krav Maga Reality Self Defense and Awareness training for adults and children ages 10 and up. Classes include combatives such as punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, and self defense techniques against common chokes and grabs, along with reaction, response, and awareness components. KMI Boxing teaches the fundamentals of boxing including combinations, footwork, head movement, sparring techniques, and ring strategies, and Krav Maga Illinois offers an outstanding Boxing program taught by Official USA Boxing Coaches. The program also offers a Best Buddy Program, Women’s Self Defense vs. Self Defense, Holiday Gift Certificates, a new weekend program, and Parent Panic – Pre-College Self Defense, as listed in its recent posts.
Krav Maga Illinois has been voted BEST Self Defense Training 2015 by Chicago Magazine and has received the Go2 Karate Distinction Award for Chicago, IL for its dedication to community enrichment through martial arts training. Krav Maga Illinois works with the Chicago Police Department, schools, and other organizations spreading awareness in Self Defense, Women’s Self Defense, and Domestic Violence issues. The mission statement of Krav Maga Illinois states that its programs, guided by Susan Garstki’s expertise, focus on instilling discipline, enhancing confidence, and nurturing resilience, and that participants learn self-defense techniques and life skills.
Parent and student testimonials describe friendly and professional staff and instructors, a very clean facility, and classes that adjust to different ability levels, with comments noting one-on-one attention to technique, students from many age ranges, and kids’ classes offered twice a week. Multiple reviewers mention signing up for memberships after trying a free trial class, describe the workouts as challenging, and state that they highly recommend Krav Maga Illinois for self defense training.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
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