Breaking the Stigma: Welcoming Mazikeen to the KMB Team (January 2026)

At the end of January 2026, my partner Johanna and I welcomed a very special new addition to our family and the Krav Maga Berlin team: our puppy, Mazikeen (or "Maze" for short).

Maze is an American Staffordshire Terrier. In Berlin, this breed is legally classified under the "dangerous dog" category - a label that comes with heavy societal stigmatization and strict bureaucratic requirements, including police background checks and behavioral tests. However, this stigma often distracts from the real issue, which almost always sits at the other end of the leash: the responsibility of the owner.

In martial arts and in life, raw strength and assertiveness mean very little if you do not know how to channel them constructively. The exact same principle applies to raising a dog. Johanna and I are dedicating every free minute to Maze's training, with the clear goal of raising her to be a phenomenal, socially balanced ambassador for this highly affectionate and people-oriented breed.

To integrate her into our daily work at the KMB Dojo, we have introduced our clients to their hardest mental drill yet: "Tactical Indifference." Because Maze absolutely loves humans, our students are asked to completely ignore her when they arrive. This teaches her that the gym is a zen zone of calm focus rather than a playground. Only after the high-stress training session ends is the indifference dropped, and everyone is welcome to say hello.

So far, everyone - from our clients to pedestrians passing by the dojo - has completely fallen in love with her. We are incredibly proud of her progress and look forward to sharing an update when she officially passes her mandatory character test at 15 months of age.