Darren S. Levine (born April 3, 1960 in Los Angeles, California) is a martial artist, an entrepreneur, and a prosecutor for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. He is best known for helping to popularize Krav Maga, the official hand-to-hand combat system of the Israel Defense Forces.[1]
In 1981, Levine was selected as part of the first group outside of Israel to train in Krav Maga. While training in Israel, Levine was befriended by Krav Maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld. In 1982, Lichtenfeld traveled to Los Angeles to stay with Levine and continue his training. Levine is one of only two recipients of a Krav Maga Founder’s Diploma awarded by Lichtenfeld before his death in 1998. At the time, Levine was the highest ranking instructor in the United States,[6] and had training centers in West Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, and Philadelphia.[7] Levine holds a 6th degree black belt in the art.[8]
I just finished reading Complete Krav Maga by Darren Levine and John Whitman for the second time in as many weeks and I have to say that it is a very well done book covering the basic techniques needed to advance through the ranks of Krav Maga from yellow belt all the way up to and including brown belt. However, having said that, it should be noted that as the author so firmly states, Krav Maga is not a martial art, it is a form of self-defense.
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the Krav Maga system, Darren Levine received one of only two Founder Diplomas ever issued by Imi Lichtenfeld. An internationally recognized self-defense and counterterrorism expert, Darren Levine has taught thousands of civilians and police officers, as well as military special operation and anti-terrorist units in the United States and abroad.
