UFC Fighter Leads Self-Defense Class at Harvard
UFC fighter Natan Levy taught a self-defense class at Harvard Chabad in September 2024 with nonprofit StandStrong, The Harvard Crimson reported.
A class at Harvard Chabad
Levy demonstrated basic techniques, including rear push kicks, jab crosses and wrist grabs, during the roughly hour-long class. Matt Travers, StandStrong’s chief executive, also showed attendees ways to de-escalate tense situations. The event was the first in a planned series of courses in the Boston area.
The Harvard Crimson reported that Chabad organized the class amid concerns about antisemitism and safety expressed by some Jewish students and affiliates. The article also described the training as part of StandStrong’s broader work with communities seeking self-defense education.
Levy’s role with StandStrong
Levy, an Israeli UFC fighter, serves as an ambassador for StandStrong. The class combined practical instruction with confidence-building and de-escalation, according to the Crimson’s account. Organizers said their goal was to help participants feel safer and more confident.
The class paired physical techniques with de-escalation, so it was not presented as a substitute for personal-safety planning or law enforcement. Levy demonstrated a small set of movements, while Travers addressed handling tense encounters. The Crimson’s report describes what attendees were taught and how the organizers framed the session.
Sources
Tags: MMA
