MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS
Jeff is a 4th Dan Black Belt with Krav Maga Worldwide, a train-the-trainer, and a Civilian Force Training instructor. For 15 years, he served as Director of Operations for Krav Maga Maryland, one of the largest multi-location Krav Maga training centers in the world.
During his career, Jeff has trained over 55 law enforcement agencies as well as dozens of specialized military units and deployable members of the intelligence community in the Washington, D.C. area. He has trained thousands of civilians with original curriculum for such topics as Active Shooter Neutralization, Anti-Abduction/Foreign Travel Safety, and Pre-Fight De-escalation. He also piloted a program designed to train self defense instructors to provide trauma-informed training for survivors of violent crime.
Outside of Krav Maga, Jeff is an author and leadership coach. He was born and currently resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
Joel Ellenbecker is an Owner and the Chief Instructor of Fortitude Krav Maga in Neenah, WI, and a representative of the leadership team at
Krav Maga Worldwide.
In 1998, Joel began his training in American Freestyle Karate at Karate America Neenah under the guidance and instruction of Matt Schaefer. After a decade of training and competing in martial arts, he began teaching in 2008. Two years into his teaching experience, Joel was able to make martial arts training and instruction his full time career. In 2011, he traveled to Columbia, Maryland and completed his first Krav Maga instructor certification. He fell in love with the practical and effective system that improves and saves lives, he now has over 500+ hours of Krav Maga instructor training experience between Maryland and Los Angeles. He recently earned his 3rd Dan Krav Maga Worldwide black belt, making him one of only 15 3rd Dan KMW Black Belts
across the globe.
Through Fortitude Krav Maga, Joel is on a mission to unleash greatness in everyone he works with. He believes that self defense and fitness training helps people overcome adversity in all areas of their life.
When he is not teaching martial arts, he loves spending time with his wife and business partner Tamrah, and his kids Theodore and Lincoln. He is passionate about continuing his training and adding more to his knowledge base. Currently he is working on becoming a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and building leadership within the Krav Maga Worldwide community.
Chris Baardsen began his involvement in the martial arts at the age of nine.
He received his 1st Dan Black Belt in Krav Maga in 2019, 5th Degree Black Belt in American Freestyle Karate in 2019, Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2022, 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do in 2001, and is recognized as a certified Krav Maga Worldwide Instructor. Baardsen graduated with a BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Chris is a top-level instructor that motivates his students to greater achievement while keeping classes challenging, exciting, and dynamic. While he continues his own training, he finds passion in teaching and sharing his knowledge with his members and those within the community.
As a former Police Officer, Chris has firsthand knowledge of being in situations where individuals suddenly become violent.
In addition to his numerous certifications, rankings, and real-life experience he also has proven his skills by becoming a certified Defense and Arrest Tactics Instructor; through his instruction, active duty officers have learned how to control individuals who are combative or resisting arrest. He is also a certified Krav Maga Worldwide Force Training Instructor and has previously led classes for his former department, where he taught his fellow officers the same principles and techniques of Krav Maga that he teaches at Impact Martial Arts.
