Black Belts in AKBAN
The mission of the Black Belts in AKBAN is to promote martial arts practice, improve physical and mental health while engaging in education, research, methodology, Ethics, Online teaching and technology development that empower teachers and practitioners to create connected, decentralized, autonomous and humane, communities.
Japan
Toshitsugu Takamatsu (1889-1972)
Quote: “Strong as a bamboo, beautiful like a flower”
Masaaki Hatsumi, Founder of Bujinkan
Quote: “The first priority is winning without fighting”
Doron Navon, Meditation Master, Feldenkrais Method teacher, Judo 4th Dan (Kodokan), first Bujinkan western Shihan.
Retired
Quote: “Don’t walk through walls”
Book: “The Guide for the Perplexed”, Maimonides
AKBAN
Yossi Sheriff, AKBAN Academy headmaster, teaching since 1984
Quotes: Link
Books: “the Bible”, “Elvi Burtanum Fjorden” Olav Hauge, “The Warrior Koans: Early Zen in Japan” Trevor Leggett, “Chovot HaLevavot” Bahye ben Joseph ibn Pakuda
Movies: “Les Bidasses S’En Vont En Guerre”, “Arrival”
Michael Lissak, Corporate Environmental Responsibility, Teacher, practices since 1985, member of AKBAN Think Tank
Books:”Two She-Bears: A Novel, Meir Shalev”, “The Lord of the Rings” J. R. R. Tolkien
Meetings with Remarkable Men, G. I. Gurdjieff
Quote: “To truly know the world, look deep within yourself. To truly know yourself, take a real interest in the world.” Rudolf Steiner.
Amos Yarom, Professor of Physics, trains since 1986, Specialises in Unified Field and String theory.
Quote: “If the Problem doesn’t have a solution, it is not a problem”
Inspiration: The unique scent in the desert air in early morning, when I’m still in my sleeping bag, “Into Thin Air” Jon Krakauer, Qui-Gon Jinn meditating in the battlefield
Shai Dill, Advocate, corporate law, securities and crowd funding, mergers and acquisitions, technology transactions and privacy and data protection issues. Practices since 1986, Think Tank member.
Quote: “Give more then you receive”
Guy Renan, MA in East Asian studies, Japanese native speaker and lecturer, practices since 1986, Think Tank member
Quote: “The sound of the Gion Shoja bells eccoes the impermanence of all things… the prosperous must decline. The proud do not endure they are like a dream on a spring night; the mighty fall at last, they are as dust in the wind.” Heike Monogatari
Inspiration: “The Seven samurai” Akira Korosawa, “Gates of Fire” Steven Pressfield, “Born to Run” Christopher McDougall
Dan Hashimshoni, PhD Physics, Medical Technology, THZ Technology, Think Tank member
The most relaxing Book: “The Critique of Pure Reason”, Immanuel Kant
Shai Dekel, Mathematics, visiting Associate Professor, Approximation Theory, Harmonic analysis, Signal Processing, Artificial Intelligence. Practices in AKBAN since 1993, Think Tank member
Quote: “It all has to do with ‘geometry’ of the data”
Yoav Alterman, Engineering and Communication systems, Practices since 1990
Books: “Across the Nightingale Floor” Gillian Rubinstein, “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” Yuval Noah Harari, “The Lord of the Rings” J. R. R. Tolkien
Movies: “Zatōichi”, “Blade Runner”
Quote: “In a place where there is no man be a man” Pirkei Avot
Lior Katz, AKBAN Kfar Bilu Headmaster, Board Certified Physical Therapist, Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Sports injuries, Think Tank member, practices since 1987
Quote: “To do the same thing and expect a different result is insanity”
Books: “The Bible”, “Born to Run” Christopher McDougall, “One Hundred Years of Solitude” Gabriel García Márquez
Assaf Hochman, Practices since 1987, PHD, reducing climate and weather prediction uncertainties across spatial and temporal scales, especially over vulnerable populated regions.
Books: “The Lord of the Rings” J. R. R. Tolkien, “The Teachings of Don Juan”, “Journey to Ixtlan” Carlos Castaneda
Eli Shirian, Practices since 1991, Think Tank member
My book: The sea, the deepest book there is. And also, the lessons that big waves teach me, lessons about fear and happiness, flowing with the challenges.
Samuel Brk, AKBAN Rishon Lezion Headmaster, Practices since 1992, Teacher, Personal coaching. Think Tank member
Quote: “Before we change the world, we must change our selves”
Books: “The AKBAN Desert Notebook”, Dan Hashimshoni & Yossi sheriff, “The Methodical Pyramid” Yossi Sheriff, “Tree Climbing for Land walkers”, Dan Hashimshoni
Daniel Goldfarb, Freelance Illustrator, Practices since 1991
Quote: ״Time is never time at all/ You can never ever leave without leaving a piece of youth״
Gadi Hadad, AKBAN Kazir Headmaster, Physical Therapist, Practices since 1993
Books: “Al Hatshuva” Joseph Ber Soloveitchik, “The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years” Chingiz Aitmatov
Quote: “Love work, loath mastery over others,” Pirkei Avot
Ra’am Manzur, AKBAN Pardes Hana Headmaster, In AKBAN since 1998, practices since 1991, teacher, Think Tank member
Book: “The Lord of the Rings” J. R. R. Tolkien
Quote: “We are constantly preparing for the “moment” for something special to happen. Every workout is a “moment” and a workout without asking questions is strength. This is the power of habit. The power begins with the fact that we fight with our back to the wall. Training is not an option.”
Ya’ad Ben David, AKBAN Holon Headmaster, Practices since 1991, in AKBAN since 2006, Think Tank member
Books: “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” Robert M. Pirsig, “Tao Te Ching” Laozi, “The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation as Taught by S. N. Goenka”
Gaby Frishlander, Practices since 1978, Niradin teacher
Movie: “My Dinner with Andre”
Quote: “The unfearful heart harbours no malice”
Carmel Zitronblat, AKBAN Jerusalem Headmaster, practices since 1989, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Birder, Think Tank member
Books: “1Q84” Haruki Murakami, “Two She-Bears: A Novel”, “His House in the Desert” Meir Shalev
Quote: “If one does not do, one is never wrong”
Ran Levari, AKBAN Berlin Headmaster, practices since 1984, in AKBAN since 2006
Quote: “A job worth doing is worth doing well”
Teachers I like: Yoda, Mr Myagi and Chiun from “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins”
Oded Levi, AKBAN Toronto Headmaster, Creative director practices since 1999
No tree, it is said, can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell.
Vasilis Panagiotou
Aris Pitas
Zvica Lekah, practices since 1988
Danny Hershkovitz, Leadership studies, and Human System Analysis. Practices since 1989, Think Tank member
Rami Lerner, practices since 1989, VP Systems and Architecture
Quote: “Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words/ Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions/ Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits/ Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character/ Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny”
Yaniv Maimon, CEO Personal Trainers, Practices since 1991
Inspiration: Physical activity and movement research
Quote: “Train hard, fight easy”
Hizkiya Yahav, Practices since 1977, in AKBAN since 1989, Senior Electrical Engineer.
Books: “Menorat Hamaor” Rabi Yzhak Abuhav, “Chovot HaLevavot” Bahye ben Joseph ibn Pakuda
Quote: “If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
Tal Gadish, Software Engineer, Practices since 1990
Quote: “If you smile too widely, your missing tooth might show”
Books: Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut, “The White Tiger”, Aravind Adiga, “Kizurey derekh ha-baita” [Shortcuts Home] Alex Epstein
Movies: “Starwars”, “X-Men”, “12 Monkies”
Yuval Maron, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Practices since 1995
Quote: “In the history of the world there is one thing that money can not buy, the dog’s happy tail wagging”
Ofer Mizrahi, Contractor, Carpenter, Beekeeper. Practices since 1998
Quotes: “When you make honey, suddenly everyone has jars”, “Stories are mightier than swords. Swords kill in the immediate vicinity, stories kill for generations to come”
Three things I like to do: Listen to experienced people, wake up before everybody does, do a clean job.
Yoni Ben Dor, Percussionist, Herbal Medicine expert, Instructor in “Shomrei Hagan”, Practices since 2009
Inspiration: Iron Maiden, Carlos Castaneda, Tao Te Ching, Star Wars, My Teachers, Old Civilazations.
Quote: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
Boaz Nia Fayler, Developmental Astrology. Practices since 1992
Quote: “All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.”
Dvir Adwi
Elad Bar, Visionary Teacher, Practices since 1994
Uri Yariv. Practices since 2009
Inspiration: “Book Of Five Rings”, Myamoto Musashi, All the books of Haim Shapira, Ronen Bergman, “Life of Pie” The movie
Yoav Kfir, CPA, CEO Var Management, Practices since 1987
Quote: “In a debt settlement one has to maximise equity because at the bottom line there is only one plate”
Ronen Nir, Advocate, Practices since 2009
Books: “The Bible”, “Tao Te Ching” Laozi, “All Quiet on the Western Front”, Erich Maria Remarque
Sefi Hauslich
Yair Mamo
Danny Yafit, Physician, resident in ears, nose and throat medicine. Practices since 1989
Merav Suissa, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Shiatsu. Practices since 1988
Avishay Mizrahi
Or Zvibach, Industrial Engineer, R.O.D, Practices since 1991
Quote: “When things get messed up, return to basics״
Book: ״The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game״, Michael Lewis
Amie Zafon, Practices since 2003
Quote: “Life is what happens while you plan something else”
Inspiration: Robert Heinlein, Nature walks, History
Zion Cohen
Navot Tamari
Dudi Ohaion. Practices since 1996
Nadav Dayan
Benni Summers
Danny Luria
Liran Sarig
Avner Aferovich
Ariel Bino
Yoram Kligman
Amir Haimi
Yaniv Brody
Matan Diwald
Yuri Nulman
Dudi Gordon
Gideon Zaghar
David Gedepker, Practices since 2010, Electrical and electronics engineering.
Quote: “Honor thy mother and thy father”
Noam Hadari
Quote: Every one should have two pockets, the contents of them he’ll use when he’ll need to. In one pocket there will be a note – “The world was made in my honour”, and in the other pocket – “And I am dirt and ashes״
Book: “A Song of Ice and Fire”, George R. R. Martin
Yoni Ziv
Arie Zaidan
Amir Swisa
Adam Myodownik
Oren Perez
Nimrod Lucas
Dan Calrman
Eshel Marko
Miky Federman
Gali Riemer
Lior Nahmani
Guy Sharon
Zahi Grimland
Eyal Grontman
Ygal Kushnir
Tal Flint
Eli Robinson
Yaron Konigsberg
Sharon Ba’al Zedaka
Shmulik Karp
Oded Zilberberg
Danny Brudner
Adi Flint
Shon London
Shai Nahari
Guy Kligman
Steven Little
Eyal Rosenwein
Silviu Berko
Roi Golombik
Shar Gross
Tal Rosenwein
Kfir Mazaki
Yuval Yarmolowski
Yotam Yosefian
Michael Koleman
Lotem Bergman
Yonathan Calderon
Ariel Friedman
Roi Reimer
Dan Gashai
Eyal Yaish
Eldar Riklis
Noam Shai
Matan Malewski
Daniel Miodovnik
Ido Levit
Ran Camun
Eyal Ron
Shamulik Yeshaia
Ran Ariely
Daniel Bekker
John Branchcomb
Daniel Oz
Yonathan Rosen
Itai Ofzhar
Almog Cohen
Nizan Ravhon
Tom Shahar
Tomer Bernard
Aviv Rabina
Ohad Wintraub
Muni Hershkowits
Itai Abraham
Boaz Yafe
Alon Adika