Event Update
Due to the winter storm, this event has been re-scheduled to Sunday, February 8 AT 1PM.
Special registration pricing is available through February 2 following the rescheduled date. Standard pricing will apply after this window closes. Use code FEB8.
Empower & Protect: Community Self-Defense Training with Alec Goenner
Presented by Collective Threat Response Initiative (CTRI)
Location: Rockville, MD Area - Address provided after registration
Sunday, February 8 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
About This Event
In a world where Jewish communities face rising threats, preparedness is empowerment.
Join us for a dynamic, hands-on self-defense and situational awareness training led by Alec Goenner, owner/instructor at IKMA Krav Maga — Israel’s official system of self-defense and close-quarters combat.
This three-hour workshop focuses on practical, effective self-defense skills designed for real-world situations. Participants should be comfortable with moderate physical activity and hands-on drills. Participants will develop tools to:
Recognize and avoid potential threats
React decisively under pressure
Protect themselves and others with confidence
Build the mindset of readiness and resilience
The training will address practical self-defense skills applicable to both everyday personal safety situations and community settings. Participants will learn techniques relevant to street-level encounters, as well as response principles for identifying, managing, and disrupting a hostile individual attempting to gain access to a Jewish institution — with an emphasis on awareness, positioning, and decisive action rather than physical strength.
No prior experience required. Open to men and women ages 16+.
Modest workout attire recommended.
Fair market value: $150 (non-deductible). Amounts paid apbove FMV may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. CTRI is a 501(c)(3), EIN 88-1086261.
About the Instructor
Alec Goenner is the owner and lead instructor at IKMA Krav Maga and has completed over 3,000 hours of advanced instructor training. He holds Black Belt ranking, earned directly under Grandmaster Haim Gidon in Israel — one of only a few Americans to do so. Alec is a certified Krav Maga Civilian, Military, and Police Instructor, and has trained alongside elite instructors including IDF Special Forces experts Nir Maman and Garret Machine.
An active-duty U.S. Coast Guard servicemember, Alec brings years of martial arts, fitness, and real-world defensive experience to every class.
Learn more at IKMA Krav Maga.
Why This Matters
This event is more than just a class — it’s part of CTRI’s mission to empower the Jewish community through training, readiness, and volunteer security leadership.
Proceeds support CTRI’s training and operational readiness work, helping equip and license community volunteers who protect Jewish institutions across our region.
Your participation strengthens individual readiness and communal resilience.
Support Opportunities
Want to bring a future training to your synagogue or community center?
Contact us at info@ctresponse.org to host a class or sponsor volunteer training.
Can’t attend? You can still make an impact — donate to support CTRI’s work protecting Jewish life.