Hollywood Hunks Get Ripped With Krav Maga

Image by Getty Images
Details has only just now caught on to the popularity of Krav Maga, the famed Israeli approach to self-defense training. The magazine seems to have noticed a critical mass of male celebrities using the program to get in touch for their roles on screen — and in life. “Made in Israel. Imported by Hollywood’s A-List. Coming soon to a health club near you,” shouts its article’s subtitle.
Among the Hollywood hunks mentioned in Details’ Krav Maga story are Daniel Craig, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and John Mayer. British actor Jason Statham reportedly also used the technique to train for his role as “an ass-kicking man of mystery” in his new movie, “Safe.”
“Directors are coming to us because they want realistic fight scenes,” Darren Levine, founder of Krav Maga Worldwide, told Details. David Kahn, U.S. chief instructor of the Israeli Krav Maga Association, added that the “emphasis on ‘continuous combat motion’ provides the toning you’d get from boxing, with better full-body results.” But “most people are never going to have to use the fighting skills, but they’re going to come out of a workout feeling empowered.”
Ashton Kutcher is also reportedly a Krav Maga devotee. He has said that he does it so he can be in proper shape to “save the people I care about.” That’s a lovely, caring sentiment. But we shouldn’t discount the simple fact that what might be motivating him is that when you start training you begin “envisioning yourself as a bad-ass,” as Kutcher’s instructor reflected.
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism so that we can be prepared for whatever news the rest of 2025 brings.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
Readers like you make it all possible. We’ve started our Passover Membership Drive, and we need 1,800 readers like you to step up to support the Forward by April 21. Members of the Forward board are even matching the first 1,000 gifts, up to $70,000.
This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism, because every dollar goes twice as far.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO