Lead Instructor

Cyrus is the lead instructor at Spartan Self Defense. A former Bay Street executive, he traded in his grey flannels for his now trademark camo pants to help empower everyday people through fitness and effective self-defense. Cyrus specializes in Krav Maga and Kapap, the official self-defense and close quarter combat system of the Israeli Defense Forces. He is a highly experienced Practitioner, having trained in Israel, Poland, the UK, the US and Canada, receiving instruction from some of the best known experts in the system. Aside from helping men, women and children gain practical self-defense skills, Cyrus has also had the privilege of working with military personnel, law enforcement and security professionals from around the world.

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Given his unique background, Cyrus brings a different perspective to teaching self-defense. He firmly believes that ultimately, the responsibility for your safety and security rests squarely upon your shoulders. He adopts a broader view of self-defense which equally prioritizes awareness, avoidance and prevention and, failing these, the determined execution of brutal and efficient hand-to-hand combat techniques to protect yourself and your loved ones from harm. In this regard, Krav Maga’s straightforward nature and no nonsense approach is the perfect self-defense tool as it is easily learned and applied by anyone regardless of age, gender, size or physical capabilities.

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As a father to two teenagers, Cyrus is a strong advocate of empowering women and young people, helping them gain confidence through a combination of fitness and self-defense. He conducts Extra- and Co-curricular Programs in schools through Oakville and Burlington, along with exclusive Self-Defense Courses for Women, for Teenaged Girls and for Children. He also conducts Corporate Workshops and Community Programs to bring his message of safety and security to as many people as possible.

Outside of training or teaching, Cyrus’ other passion is the outdoors. He is a professed bugslinger and could usually be found wading one of the nearby rivers, fly rod in hand. He is also an avid turkey, waterfowl and upland game hunter, although not a very successful one.

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Cyrus is proud and honoured to have won the Platinum Award for Best Personal Trainer and Best Martial Arts Instructor, as well as the Diamond Award for Best Fitness Instructor/Trainer in the 2022 Burlington Post Reader's Choice Awards.