Mike Lee Kanarek

• Israeli Special Forces Combat Veteran - 3 Years
• Fifth Degree Black Belt- Joe Lewis American Full Contact Karate
• Fourth Degree Black Belt- Survival Hisardut
• First Degree Black Belt- Krav Maga
• Blue Belt- Brazilian Jui-Jitsu
• Certified Muay Thai Kickboxing Instructor
• Self-Defense Instructor of the Year-Florida Martial Arts Brotherhood Hall of Fame
• Combat Shooting Expert
• Tactical Knife Fighting Expert

Kanarek is a former Israeli Special Operations Group Commando of the battle-hardened Golani Brigade and a world class hand-to-hand combat instructor. His hard-core small team Special Ops unit operated behind enemy lines typically alone and miles from backup. In south Lebanon they terminated terrorists and destroyed their headquarters. In the West Bank during the first Intifada they went house-to-house, capturing key militants and controlling street riots. Extreme violence was daily routine. Kanarek brings to iCAT this knowledge and his 20 years of full-contact martial arts experience.

Kanarek was born as Lee Van Hong in Saigon in 1967 to a Vietnamese mother and an American father serving during the Vietnam War. When he was six months old Kanarek was adopted by a Jewish-Belgium and given the name Michel Kanarek. In 1977 Kanarek’s family moved to Israel. His father became a soldier in the Israeli Independence War in 1948, belonging to the Palmach Brigades in one of the Haganah units (the Haganah system is named in his honor). His regiment freed Jerusalem in that war. Between the ages of 6 and 18, Kanarek studied judo and then karate until joining the IDF at age 18 in 1985. After serving three years as a Special Forces member in Orev Golani (one of the most elite commando units in the IDF) where he was extensively trained in KAPAP among other combative methodologies and technologies, Kanarek was honorably discharged as an outstanding soldier. About 10 years ago he immigrated to the United States and since then Kanarek has taught combat based self defense skills to civilians, military and law enforcement professionals, including Secret Service, FBI and DEA agents, SWAT team members, Navy SEALS, and many local law enforcement professionals. He provides specialty courses in Israeli combat shooting, counter terrorist tactics, hand-to-hand combat and Israeli tactical knife fighting.

In addition to his military training, Kanarek is a fifth degree black belt in Joe Lewis American Full Contact Karate. He also has been awarded belts and recognition in Survival Hisardut, Muay Thai, Shidokan, Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His passion is bringing together the best elements of various practical combat fighting arts makes Kanarek a vital member of the iCAT team.

For more information on Mike Lee Kanarek, visit: www.Fight2Survive.com

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