May 22, 2025
I haven’t written about Krav Maga for a long time. To be honest, I have a love-hate relationship with it. On one hand, I love its focus, simplicity, and techniques. On the other hand, I’ve seen some Krav Maga classes devolve into little more than fitness sessions. Standards vary so much that it’s hard to distinguish between effective and ineffective Krav Maga.
When I first heard about Keith Collyer teaching a new version of Krav Maga, I sighed—thinking it was just another variation. However, after numerous conversations with him and seeing a video of his teaching, I was blown away. Unlike flashy, unrealistic demonstrations, his instruction stood out for its practicality and depth. As someone with 17 years of police experience and a solid martial arts background, I can confidently say Keith’s system has serious substance, and I’m looking forward to training with him myself.
But don’t take my word for it. Read this interview, where Keith answers some tough questions about his self-defence system.
Interview with Keith Collyer, Founder of Combat Survival Tactics
Q: Hi Keith, could you start by telling us about yourself and your martial arts background?
Hi Andrew. My name is Keith Collyer, and I started training in martial arts 18 years ago. I’ve always been active—I was in the Royal Marine Cadets, ran cross-country for Sussex, and played American football with the Crawley Raiders for three years.
I got into martial arts when I saw an advert for Kamon Wing Chun in the local paper. I attended a demonstration and was amazed by Kevin Chan’s speed and skill. I signed up immediately and trained under Kamon for some time, eventually becoming an instructor under my Sifu, Bill Bostock.
After some changes to the Kamon system, I moved to another Kung Fu school, where I had to relearn my forms from scratch. I enjoyed it but became disillusioned with martial arts due to unmet expectations during instructor training.
I started exploring other martial arts and self-defence systems, attending seminars and boot camps. That’s when I discovered Krav Maga. Its emphasis on psychology and mindset, combined with weapon defence, felt incredibly relevant to today’s world.
I attended a two-day Krav Maga Bootcamp and loved it. I then completed an 18-day Krav Maga Instructor Programme with a large organization. It was one of the most physically and mentally challenging experiences of my life, but I passed and opened my first class in Crawley.
At the time, I was working shift work on the railways. To expand my teaching, I switched to a day job—cutting my pay nearly in half—so I could hold evening classes. Over time, I opened more classes, saved money, and eventually left my day job to teach full-time.
Q: How did Combat Survival Tactics evolve?
Initially, I partnered with another instructor to start a Krav Maga program, but we eventually parted ways due to differences of opinion. I continued learning from various self-defence instructors and systems, which opened my eyes to non-compliance techniques, breaking patterns, and new perspectives.
These experiences inspired me to evolve the system, integrating techniques and concepts from different disciplines. Combat Survival Tactics now goes beyond traditional Krav Maga, emphasizing adaptability, realistic scenarios, and a comprehensive approach to personal protection.
Q: What sets Combat Survival Tactics apart?
Combat Survival Tactics focuses on:
- Psychological Readiness: Developing a survival mindset to handle high-pressure situations.
- Realism: Techniques that work in real-world scenarios, not just controlled environments.
- Adaptability: Preparing students for non-compliant opponents and unpredictable threats.
- Holistic Training: Incorporating elements like situational awareness, de-escalation, and weapon defence.
Our system is designed to empower individuals with the skills and mindset they need to protect themselves effectively.