About us
About Glasgow United Krav Maga
Glasgow United Krav Maga is a self-defence school built around one simple idea:
teach people what actually works in real situations.
We’re part of United Krav Maga World Organisation — an international governing body developed by experienced instructors to provide practical solutions to modern-day threats, not sport or theory.
Our training is straightforward, realistic, and designed for people with no previous experience. Whether someone wants to feel safer, build confidence, or get fitter with purpose — everything we teach has a clear reason behind it.
This isn’t about memorising techniques.
It’s about understanding how to react under pressure.
Our Background
Glasgow United Krav Maga was founded in 2014, and has been representing United Krav Maga World Organisation since 2015.
We started out by running classes in the well-known Griphouse Gym, one of Scotland’s most respected combat sports facilities.
In 2020, we expanded into our own dedicated space within the same building, giving our students a more comfortable and structured training environment, with a separate reception and changing rooms.
Over the years, we’ve built a strong reputation for high-quality training and a welcoming atmosphere where anyone can start.
What Makes Us Different
What they usually find is:
- Training that is practical and pressure-tested
- A structured system that builds skills step by step
- A supportive environment — no ego, no intimidation
- Dedicated team of Instructors who continuously train and continue developing themselves
Start Training
The hardest part for most people is walking in for the first time.
That’s why we offer a free trial class — so you can experience the training, meet the team, and see if it’s right for you.
Book your first class and get started.
meet the team:
Founder & Head Instructor:
Bartosz Szczepanski
Bartosz Szczepanski is the founder of Glasgow United Krav Maga and has been teaching since 2011.
He began training in 2007 and went on to qualify under senior figures within the Krav Maga world, including Avi Moyal, Haim Sasson, and Tamir Gilad. For a number of years he continued to develop his coaching under leading international instructors, including Eyal Yanilov’s network.
He holds the rank of Expert Level 2 (2nd Dan Black Belt) within United Krav Maga World Organisation, awarded by Master Tomasz Adamczyk in 2022.
Alongside Krav Maga, Bartosz has trained extensively in both striking and grappling disciplines, developing his skills at The Griphouse, one of Scotland’s top combat gyms. His experience includes training internationally and gaining qualifications in both civilian and military combat systems, including knife fighting and law enforcement technique.
His focus is simple: Help people become more confident, capable, and prepared for real situations.
Rafał Morus
Rafał Morus brings over 20 years of martial arts experience.
He started with Kyokushin Karate before moving into Muay Thai, where he competed professionally. His introduction to Krav Maga came during his time in the army, where he saw first hand the value of practical, no nonsense self-defence.
He has been training with Glasgow United Krav Maga since 2014 and became an instructor in 2019.
Rafał focuses on helping students build confidence, resilience, and real-world skills, while continuing to develop his own training across multiple disciplines.
Kirsty McEwan
Kirsty McEwan has been an instructor since 2018 and developed her skills through Glasgow United Krav Maga.
She holds Fighter Level 5 and qualifications in teaching children, teens, and adults. Her coaching focuses on building confidence through structured, supportive training.
Kirsty leads the 6-week women’s self-defence course, designed specifically for women. The programme is based on specialist training methods developed to support those facing risks such as harassment, stalking, and domestic violence.
Her aim is to make this type of training accessible, practical, and relevant for women in Glasgow.
In addition to teaching and training Krav Maga, she is an active Muay Thai fighter with competitive experience.
Conor Clafferty
Conor joined Glasgow United Krav Maga in 2023 after playing rugby for many years, looking for a new challenge.
Conor completed separate instructor courses to teach adults and kids. Holding the grade of Fighter 1, he is qualified to lead classes for adults, teens and children.
Drawing from his background in hospitality management & staff training, Conor uses his experience managing high-stress & confrontational situations to teach practical self-defence. His aim is to help people feel safe and prepared to protect themselves if they ever need to.
Conor aims for students to leave his training sessions feeling confident, included, and eager to return to another training session.
Yana Dimitrova
Yana Dimitrova has been training Krav Maga since 2023, starting with a desire to build confidence and capability in an uncertain world. What began as pratical prepartion quickly developed into a genuine passion for personal growth and self-defence.
Committed to continuous learning, Yana regularly attends seminars and events, including Women’s Self Defence, Bar Fighting, and the Largs Summer Camps. Through consistent dedication, she has achieved the rank of Fighter Level 1, with a long-term goal of reaching Expert level.
In 2024, Yana earned her Kids Instructor qualification at the United Krav Maga HQ in Lodz, Poland, and soon began teaching classes. Working with young students is deeply rewarding to her, as she focuses on helping them develop confidence, discipline, resilience, and practical self-defence skills that will benefit them for years to come.
Paige Adams
Having started her training on the Women’s Only course in August 2024, Paige now holds Defender Level 4 in Krav Maga and she is a fully qualified Instructor for children.
“I joined the gym looking for a way to regain control of my life, but I’ve gained so much more; A solid community, supportive friends, employment, and a sense of purpose.
I want children to leave each session feeling stronger and prepared for anything. I want students to have a fun, engaging experience where they can grow their confidence, build strength and develop vital self-defence skills. I want to give them the tools I wish I’d had earlier in life. They don’t always realise how cool they are, but they inspire me.”
As an instructor, her goal is to ensure every student feels safe, comfortable, and ready to face challenges. She brings this dedication to her kids’ classes, focusing on fun, engaging environments where young people can grow in confidence, build strength, and learn essential self-defence skills early in life.