Armed Combat & Tactics school
martial arts school, dedicated to Fighting with and against weapons, including empty-hand solutions
Armed Combat & Tactics (ACT) is an Israeli full-contact weapon fighting system developed by Alexander Zhelezniak and Noah Gross. It was formalized and introduced to the global martial arts community in 2000. The system has been presented and taught (seminars and courses) in more than 35 countries. ACT is currently being taught on a regular basis in 25 countries.
ACT is about giving the student the tools to handle himself/herself in combat with and against weapons.
Translation? We teach people how to fight with weapons and effectively defend against them, whether the student is armed or unarmed.
The main idea is that if you want to learn how to fight, you’d better include just that in your training — Fighting.
You could learn how to handle a weapon by practicing the same movements over and over again but you can’t become a fighter until you fight a committed opponent.
No amount of kata or exercises will prepare you for that. While teaching you what to do with the weapon, repeating pre-set patterns alone will not give you the answer to how to apply the learned material in combat.
Closing the distance, maintaining the distance, feinting attacks, reading your opponent, charging, evading, timing, control, speed, power, agility of mind, as well as that of the body, the simple, yet all-important matter of overcoming your fear while your opponent is trying to take your head off, stab you or break your bones – all of these can not be taught without rigorous sparring with as few limitations as possible.
That is what ACT is all about.
You can’t be sure, that you actually know what you are doing, until you have fought against a committed opponent who is trying to hit you as hard as possible. Everything taught is tested through sparring and pressure scenarios and we provide the conditions for these to be as realistic as it gets.
A key component in creating the proper testing grounds is the use of accurate weapons simulators. Our weapon simulators – trainers allow us to practice actual combat with minimal protection (extremely important) while maintaining the proper weight, size, balance and the very shape of the simulator with respect to the weapon it represents.
We teach modern weapons as well as a more traditional arsenal and combine ideas and concepts from both Asian and western martial arts. Our curriculum encompasses 7 core weapons, improvised weapons, and Empty-hand solutions. The 7 weapons taught as part of our curriculum are Knife, Machete, Kubotan & Short Knife, Tactical Baton, Staff & Cane, Sword (Japanese Katana or European Longsword), and Spear (Yari or Naginata).
Empty-Hand solutions – Fighting Without a Weapon
ACT does not separate empty-hand combat from weapon fighting. The system’s empty-hand curriculum is based on its weapon-fighting methodology. Knife training, for example, develops the reflexes, evasive body movement, and defensive responses that (with the right methodology) can translate into unarmed combat. Rather than treating unarmed combat and weapon defense as separate skills, ACT teaches it as a direct extension of armed combat. The same principles apply whether a person is armed, unarmed, or facing an opponent with a weapon.
ACTiKIDs Program
The ACTiKIDs program teaches children to fight using padded simulators for both short and long swords, as well as selected empty-hand applications appropriate for their age. Knife fighting and tactical scenarios designed for adults are not part of the curriculum.
Fighting skills, however, are just one part of what ACTiKIDs offers. Training emphasizes discipline, coordination, and communication. Children learn to work with a partner or in a group, developing awareness of their movements and actions in relation to others. Conflict resolution and personal responsibility are central to the program, ensuring that they understand not only how to fight, but also when and why to apply what they learn. Through martial arts, ACTiKIDs fosters both physical and mental development, helping children build confidence, resilience, and self-discipline.
Practical Approach to Combat Training
ACT is built on application, not assumption. No matter how many drills a student performs, real combat ability is developed only through fighting against a fully committed opponent. This is why sparring is a fundamental part of every training session. It is not an add-on, not a test at the end—it is an integral part of the learning process.
Sparring allows students to experience uncertainty, pressure, and resistance. It teaches them how to adapt, how to handle impact, and how to continue fighting even when things do not go as planned. Without this, training remains theoretical. If you cannot apply a technique under pressure, you do not truly know it.
ACT does not claim to offer shortcuts or guaranteed outcomes. Fighting is unpredictable, and there is no perfect technique that works in all situations. What we offer is a structured way to prepare, using methods that have been tested against real resistance.
This approach is what has made ACT grow. Schools, instructors, and students around the world recognize that what holds up in sparring is what holds up in combat. If a method does not work under pressure, it does not belong in the system. There is no other way to learn how to fight.