Nathan Zimmerman MS, CSCS, USAW, SFG
Owner and Operator, Krav Maga 2nd Degree Black Belt, BMT Purple Belt
Nathan is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, a certified level 2 Sports Performance Coach through USA Weightlifting, a certified a Strong First Girya Instructor, and a G3 certified Krav Maga Global Instructor. He holds a MS in Kinesiology from Cal Poly, SLO. Nathan assisted at a SFG(certification) for the first time in November, 2015. His experience includes working as a physical therapy aide at the Body and Balance Center in San Luis Obispo and as a volunteer aide at Bell Trace in Bloomington, Indiana. At Bell Trace, he treated shoulder, knee, hip, and back injuries. Nathan also had the privilege of interning at Athlon Elite under Ryan Joiner. Since then he has gained experience in the fitness field through working at the Cal Poly Rec Center as a personal trainer, as well as helping with strength and conditioning for a local kickboxing team. Nathan has trained with and learned from the likes of well known and influential trainers in the strength and conditioning community including Dan John, Pavel Tsatsouline, Doug Nepodal, Brett Jones, Jeff O’Connor, Max Shank, Kelly Starrett and David Whitley.
Martial Arts Background:
Nathan started his martial arts training in 1995, training Taekwondo in South Korea. He participated in worldwide competition at Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Center. Nathan really started getting serious about his martial arts training in 2006, training Hawaiian Kempo and Grappling at SLO Kickboxing in San Luis Obispo California. In 2007 he transitioned to Krav Maga and Muay Thai and fell in love with both systems.
In 2009 Nathan passed his Level 1 Krav Maga Instructor test with Krav Maga Worldwide and competed in his first Muay Thai bout, which he won. While pursuing his Masters Degree in Kinesiology from Cal Poly, Nathan continued his Muay Thai and Krav Maga training, continuing to compete in Muay Thai all through college and added boxing training with boxing coach Darby Evans.
After graduation, Nathan opened his own Krav Maga school in 2013 and made the transition to training with Krav Maga Global under the tutelage of Alan Predolin and Eyal Yanilov.
Nathan is currently a Second Degree Black Belt with 360 Krav Maga under Alan Predolin and a Bang Muay Thai Blue Belt under Sensei Duane Ludwig. Nathan continues to train with and learn from some of the best Krav Maga practitioners on the planet.
Paul Benincasa
Krav Maga and Kickboxing Instructor, BMT Yellow Belt
Paul Benincasa has over 20 years of experience in the Martial Arts with a focus on Self-Defense and Third Party Protection. He has advanced ranks in Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has been teaching Krav Maga since 2009 and is committed to helping his students develop confidence on and off the mats.
“I feel too often those who are most in need of this type of training rarely seek it out. It is my sincere hope that every interaction I have with students fosters a safe, fun environment for learning.” Paul Benincasa