The Ron Engelman Podcast

Marc MacYoung is a self-defense expert. In fact, he is one of the OGs. He is written multiple books on the topic and is often called to serve as an expert witness in court proceedings that involve self-defense. In my first conversation with Mark, we discussed what you can expect if you have to plead self-defense for use of violence in court. We discussed the important difference between being assertive and being aggressive when it comes to avoiding violence, and we discussed some of the social scripts that potential attackers will use to try and trick you or trap you. But the truth is, we barely scratched the surface. I find Mark one of the more interesting people to talk to, and there are still quite a few questions that were left unanswered. In this episode, we do a deep dive into process predators. Those are the people who will hurt you, trying to gain resources, or worse, those are people who will hurt or kill you for their own amusement. Now, there are no pretty sides to violence, but this is certainly one of the ugliest ones. And if you're looking for nice, neat answers that all tie together and make you feel good, in the end, you're not going to get any of that here. Mark tells it like it is, and he doesn't hold back. He certainly isn't always politically correct, but he's got a great sense of humor, which makes him fun to talk to.

Tony Blauer is a self defense pioneer whose name and expertise are well known in martial arts and MMA circles. He has regularly appeared on the covers of martial arts magazines and is a go-to expert for understanding the neurological responses the body goes through when threatened.

Coach Blauer has been in the martial art & defensive tactics industry for over four decades. He has helped thousands of people of the years with his insights on mindset, resilience, mental toughness, fear management and tactics for confrontation management.

On this podcast we discuss overcoming adversity both in life and in business. How to be a good coach not just for others but also to yourself by having compassion for yourself. We also speak about how to prime yourself with the mindset required to survive sudden violence.

Paulo "GN" Rubio is a martial artist and tactical trainer celebrated for his unique approach to self-defense and mixed martial arts. Growing up between the urban and natural jungles of the Philippines and later moving to Canada, he faced many transformative experiences that shaped his training philosophy. Paulo combines insights from law enforcement, military, and civilian perspectives to teach creative problem-solving and self-expression in martial arts. His methods emphasize understanding core principles like timing, footwork, and distance management, rather than sticking to one traditional style. Known for his authenticity and vulnerability on social media, Paulo has built a strong community by being open to both criticism and praise, continually inspiring him to improve and innovate in the martial arts world.

Danny Netzer is the head Krav Maga instructor for the Israeli Defense Force. His responsibilities include putting together the training programs and overseeing the syllabus that's delivered to every single soldier in the IDF. He heads the Krav Maga instructors school that trains the instructors themselves that teach Krav Maga throughout the Israeli army. And he debriefs and studies all instances in which Krav Maga is used by soldiers in real life to protect themselves and to survive real violence.
Danny also happens to be a good friend of mine and a long-time training partner. I originally met Danny back in 2001 when we were both young soldiers. This one has been one of the best podcasts in my opinion so far, and also maybe one of the most challenging ones. Danny and I certainly don't see eye to eye on everything. But I believe that's part of what makes it so interesting. So enjoy!

Tsahi Shemesh is a lifelong Krav Maga pratitioner. He grew up in Israel where he learned Krav Maga from an early age and joined the Israeli paratroopers where he served in combat. In 2010 Tsahi moved to New York and founded Krav Maga Experts which is a Krav Maga school with branches across the city. Tsahi trains Krav Maga instructors, works with numerous Krav Maga school around the world as well as local law enforcement in New York.
Tsahi is also a good friend of mine. In this episode we discuss what it takes to teach Krav Maga, the values behind Krav Maga and what it takes to be a good leader and change peoples lives.