As a professional Tactical Close Quarter (Hand-to-Hand) Combat Instructor, Tactical Firearms Instructor, Bladed and Edged Weapons Instructor, Israeli Krav Maga Instructor and Black Belt (Trained by Ex-Special Forces), Ivana specialises in teaching advanced close quarter combat to members of special law enforcement units, VIP/Close Protection Officers/Bodyguards, Armed and Unarmed Security Personnel, members of Emergency Services and Emergency Responders, and Civilians.  

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EMPOWERING OTHERS

Ivana is all about empowering others.  She has a deep passion for teaching and  the transfer of knowledge.  Her goal is the elevation her many students to their highest possible level of proficiency, understanding, refinement and mastery - with the objective of ensuring they are mentally and physically prepared for dealing with a violent encounter. 

 

More than this, she cares deeply about the overall wellbeing of her students and seeks to foster an environment where every Storm Combat member can develop confidence, live a healthy lifestyle, improve fitness, strength and athleticism at any age, deal with trauma, manage stress, reduce anger, make new friends and generally grow and flourish.   While she will teach ruthless and powerful techniques, she is equally a "mamma bear" looking out for her students.

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FOUNDER OF STORM COMBAT AND ICS

Ivana is the founder of Storm Combat as well as Integrated Combat Systems (ICS) upon which all techniques and principles taught at Storm Combat are based.

 

ICS and Storm Combat turns up the heat with an intensified system of self-defence which seamlessly integrates Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Filipino Martial Arts, Bladed Weapons, Boxing, Wrestling, Muay Thai and MMA.  

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Ivana does not like the term "self-defence".  She promotes the concept of 'counter-assault' instead.  Self-defence mentally puts one on the back foot whereas counter-assault turns the victim into an attacker's worst nightmare.  

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Many of her students have been attacked on the streets over the years, and with the training they received at Storm Combat, they all came back with similar comments:  "It felt like just another day in class."  In every case, the student escaped unharmed.  We can't say the same for the attacker. 

 

Ivana stands only 5 foot 2 inches tall and she has spent years carefully developing a counter assault system that will work regardless of an attacker's size and strength.  She constantly reminds her students (especially her taller, stronger students who tend to rely a little too much on their own physical strength) to ALWAYS work on the assumption that their attacker is bigger, stronger, faster and more athletic than they are. 

 

Using a combination of intelligent biomechanics, leverage, timing, fight IQ, psychological domination, recognition of pre-attack indicators, explosive movement and more, her system helps students prevail in the face of violent encounter.

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Ivana draws on an extensive background in Krav Maga, supported by FMA Bladed Weapons, Firearms, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts, Kickboxing, Kali, Fitness and Gymnastics.  She has been privileged to train alongside professional international champions and remains a life-long student. 

 

LIFELONG STUDENT

Living by the motto:  "Who Dares to Teach Must Never Cease to Learn"  Ivana actively continues her own personal training regimen and is constantly expanding her own knowledge. 

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COMBAT SPORT COACH 

Alongside her tactical focus, she is also a licensed and qualified Mixed Martial Arts Coach through the International MMA Federation (IMMAF). She is an Affiliate Coach of Quan Wessels  (BJJ/MMA/Wrestling). 

 

Ivana trains competitive athletes and her students compete several times a year.

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SPEAKER

She is a sought after conference speaker and motivational speaker.  

 

ANTI-HIJACK & DRIVER TRAINING

She further specialises in tactical risk mitigation strategies for all road users, including Transport and Logistics Companies, Fleet Owners as well as the general public. 

 

COMMUNITY WORK

In addition Ivana is actively involved in projects to curb gender-based-violence as well as human trafficking.

 

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