Testimonials
Jack Mantor - Business Owner
"Having worked as a bodyguard for many people who had previously been attacked, these people would have done and paid anything to have the training Ari provides. I highly recommend everyone take this training especially women. It helps in so many ways and Ari makes it fun."
Crystal Paterson - Mother
"I couldn’t love this place more! I have a 9year old son on the spectrum that was getting bullied and after talking to Ari I brought him in for a session… it was the best thing I’ve done for him in this area. The amount of confidence he has now is amazing and we have only been doing it for a few months! I can’t wait to see how far he goes! ♥️"
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Serving the communities of Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Calabasas, Newbury Park, and Moorpark
What is Modern Combatives?
We teach Combatives, derived from the US, UK, and Canadian militaries and transformed into civilian use.
As part of Combatives training we also teach the functional parts of other systems. They include:
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Hap-Ki-Do - From this Korean form of Martial arts you will learn joint locks, arm bars, throws and pain compliance systems
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Boxing - Foot work, timing, and strike efficiency
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Muay Thai - Devastating Elbows and Knees plus Clinch work.
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Self Defense - For those in the health professions (nursing, social work, care giver) who need to know how to defend themselves from hostile clients but cannot hurt them we teach non-combative self defense techniques
Testimonials
Jay Rankin - Security and 2nd Dan Black Belt
"I have a 2nd Dan black belt with 40 years' experience. I found my new home at Modernize My Fight. The atmosphere is so inviting, everyone feels like family. Everyone is welcome. I come from a Kempo Karate background and have my 2nd Dan in American Muay Thai. The emphasis of this gym/dojo is Combative/Self Defense, but it is so much more. Coach Ari uses a combination of Modern Combatives, Hapkido, Boxing, and Muay Thai to get students "street/bully safe" as quickly as possible. I must say the students respond: they learn quickly. It is a pleasure to see their confidence and self-esteem grow. There is much laughter and hard work but through it all they learn to handle real problems in the real world. Coach Ari has little patience for punching in the air or doing endless repetition. Real world self-defense is his only goal."
Paula Quintana - Business Owner, Mobile Dog Grooming
I LOVE this place!! I am NEVER sorry that I do the strength training class, especially when I can take my gains from there into the self defense class. But physical strength isn’t the only thing I have gained; I have more confidence, I feel great and I have a much better sense of awareness. There is such a sense of family here and I know that I have developed real friendships. Ari is the best coach and everyone is so supportive and encouraging. I HIGHLY recommend Modernize My Fight to everyone!
The Only Combatives Gym in the Conejo Valley
Welcome to the only Combatives Gym in the Conejo Valley. We are located in Westlake Village across the street from the Four Seasons Hotel. Interested in learning the physical and psychological techniques of being street aware and street safe? Modernize My Fight is for you.
Come and be Combative - Protection on the Street, School, or Club
Even the beginning student does not hit air in this gym. We like to be physical. From learning how to hit focus pads, to hitting heavy bags, to hitting one or more human partners. You do it all from day one. And yes, you do hit back. One cannot learn how to be victorious in street violence without learning how to take a hit! Do not worry, we teach you how to create fences and shields to withstand the first violent assault so you can go on the counter offense and make the street predator into your prey. Your assault is continuous until you can escape.
It is all about thinking and fighting like the attackers
Modernize My Fight is not a traditional Martial Arts studio. We teach Tier 1 Civilian Combatives. Unlike Martial Arts we focus on gross motor skill striking in close quarter combat (CQC). CQC is the type of fighting that you will typically encounter during attacks on the street, school yard, or from sexual assault. Our fight ethic is that we train to protect ourselves, our family, our friends, and those that cannot protect themselves. Combatives, unlike Martial Arts and Combat sports, focuses on the mental and emotional tool kit required to recognize pre-threat cues that danger is imminent. Once the threat is recognized safe escape is possible.
If escape at the moment is not possible Combatives teaches how to manage the extreme stress that violence produces and how to switch on predatory instincts and fight until escape is possible. Obviously, one cannot prevail over an attacker with just mental and emotional strength. Combatives teaches the Physical Tool kit to overcome the attack which in the current state of the world means fighting multiple attackers more than likely armed with weapons. Through simulation and scenario driven drills you will become aware of the strategies attackers use to set you up for a violent confrontation and know how to combat them.
MEET THE COACH
Ari Danesh - Head Coach, Owner
3rd degree Black Belt Modern Combatives
Black Belt Hap-Ki-Do
Black Belt American Muay Thai, Owner Modernize My Fight
Master of Fine Arts - Animation and Visual Effects
20 years experience in teaching & coaching at Universities and Martial Art Studios.
Constantly on the move going from one studio to another. Switching training partners often. I was never satisfied with one style of fighting. Simple questions kept on stumping me. Why are we training a strength move to a woman who is only 125 pounds? Why are we training over and over small joint locks when the attacker on the street is probably too sweaty to get a firm grip? Why are we doing self defense techniques that take 5 moves while the attacker has already struck 6 times? Because of these questions and others I kept on refining my techniques to simplify and economize the motions. I wanted the old and young, men and women to be able to defend themselves. That is why I decided to open a gym focused on self defense classes for those in Thousand Oaks, Wetlake Village, and surrounding areas.
Teaching people to be safe is my passion and it is my promise that not only will you learn fight technique but you will have the deep understanding of the principles of fighting that hopefully will allow you to prevail in violent encounters.
Jay Rankin - Striking Coach
Masters Degree Clinical Psychology, 2nd Dan American Muay Thai
Started studying Kempo Karate 40 years ago in the famous Tracy School of Self Defense, Hollywood, CA.
Jay grew up in the rough streets of Downey, CA where he had to learn the rough and tumble quickly. As an adult Jay worked in two psychiatric hospitals in the locked units; security at the Palamino Club in Hollywood and as a Probation Officer for Los Angeles county.
Dale Jacoby - American Muay Thai Coach
Teaching 40+ years in Martial Arts, Has taught in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, and Agoura Hills.
2020 Instructor of the Year - Fighter Magazine
Credentials 8th degree blackbelt in Kyokushin
8th degree blackbelt in Taekwondo
8th degree blackbelt in Kenpo under Cecil Peoples
6th degree blackbelt in Muay Thai under Benny Urquidez
Dana Hernandez - Strength Coach
Dana is a veterinarian turned trainer in the fields of self defense, mixed martial arts, strength training, and nutrition. Oh, and snowboarding at Mammoth Mountain.
Dana's journey began in 2010 while visiting South Africa. While in Johannesburg, we were told to be cautious as it was a dangerous city. I walked around scared, not knowing what I would do if I were attacked. It was not a comforting feeling. Fast forward to my recent trip to Egypt in October of 2021 where I walked around feeling completely differently. I was much more aware of my surroundings. I took note of exit strategies inside buildings should I need them. Most importantly, I KNEW that if I were forced to meet violence with self defense, that I would use my bony weapons (think, elbows) against an attackers soft targets (think, jaw/temple.) Her goal is to empower people in all aspects of self protection: of mind, body, and energy.
THE GYM
1700 square feet of Mat and Bags. Fully stocked Combatives gym. Come experience it for yourself.
ADDRESS
31133 Via Colinas #102
Westlake Village, CA 91362
(805) 551-1435
HOURS
MONDAY - SATURDAY
HOURS VARY, Call for latest schedule