British Krav Maga Organisation
Public Statement
British Krav Maga is aware of a number of claims made by a Wayne Edwards, trading as the British Krav Maga Organisation, The Blackbelt Krav Maga Organisation, Didsbury Blackbelt Academy or Krav Maga Manchester.
Mr Edwards made a range of misleading and untruthful claims relating to his training experience and Instructor status, he also went on to make a number of public allegations against British Krav Maga.
Because of this, British Krav Maga will release a single response on tMr Edwards claims and allegations.
Claim: Qualified BKMA Instructor
Wayne Edwards attended the British Krav Maga Instructor course in 2013 but was unsuccessful. He was invited back to retest in 3 months as is standard practice.
Mr Edwards went on to make a series of threats if he were not certified by the Association. He also began claiming online that he was a ‘BKMA qualified Instructor’.
As a result, Mr Edwards was removed from the BKMA instructor programme.
Repeated Claim: British Krav Maga (BKMA) Instructor training
In June 2016, Mr Edwards again advertised himself as a provider of BKMA training. Mr Edwards removed the ads after being contacted by British Krav Maga.
Mr Edwards Google Ad and claims.
Claim: Teaching Krav Maga since 2004
In March 2013 Mr Edwards had no prior Krav Maga training. He informed course tutors and peers that he had “no significant experience” of Krav Maga other than a weekend seminar.
By April the same year Mr Edwards had gone on to claim that he had now been teaching Krav Maga since 2004.
Claim: Racial discrimination
Mr Edwards claimed that he had been failed on the grounds of his race. Mr Edwards also claimed that the instructor course was run in an English Defence League gym, “with EDL (English Defence League), flags all over the walls”.
Successful course graduates were Chinese, South African, and Polish. The assessment team were multi-racial and Mr Edwards was learning a Jewish Martial Art. The gym had a Brazillian flag and a St Georges flag on one wall.
The venue was leased for the duration of the course and was owned by a gym franchise. There are no connections between the gym franchise and the EDL that we are aware of.
Passing off as British Krav Maga
Mr Edwards made repeated attempts to pass off as British Krav Maga. This included copying BKMA course material, claiming to offer BKMA Instructor training, copying British Krav Maga website text, T-shirt design, using identical school names and more recently claiming to have invented the term “British Krav Maga” in 2013.
Wayne Edwards has gone to considerable lengths to pass off as British Krav Maga.
Krav Maga Instructor Qualification
In 2013 Mr Edwards bagan offering Krav Maga Instructor courses. Mr Edwards had not achieved instructor status in Krav Maga at that time.
In June 2015 Mr. Edwards attended a 5-day course with the International Kapap Association organisation certifying him as an instructor with theie organisation. This appears to be Mr Edwards only verifiable training.
We question the credibility of these Instructor courses.
British Krav Maga Organisation Instructor courses
Mr Edwards launched an 18 Day Instructor course. Mr Edwards shortened his courses from 18 days, to 9 days, 5 days then a single weekend course for £299.
Credibility issues have plagued the BKMO Instructor award with Instructors contacting British Krav Maga to complain about about Mr Edwards and his practices. We were forwarded documentation appearing to show a contract where Mr Edwards owned 51% of any school assoiated with him.
Credible sources of Krav Maga in the UK
If you are looking for Krav Maga classes or Instructor courses in the UK we strongly using a recommend training with a reputable organisation.
- British Krav Maga Federation (FEKM)
- British Krav Maga (BKMA)
- Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA)
- International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF)
- Krav Maga Global (KMG)
- Krav Maga Haim Zut
Paul Grey Training Director