Comments about Moni*Joel Gerson: A student's observations
I know him better than any of his other students, and we're like family. Not only have I studied under him for more than 16 years, but I've studied him as a person as well. I could tell you about him as a teacher, but I believe his track record (in producing champions and successful people) speaks for itself.

For me, Moni has an uncanny ability to give far and away the best advice on life matters. Of all the professors, doctors, family members, and friends I've approached life issues presented, he's the best. In fact, whenever I went to him for help, no matter how busy he was, he always made time for me. He's always a few moves ahead of you, just like in chess. Only he's thinking, "What good can come from doing this?" or even, "Is someone going to be hurt from this Moni is militaristically punctual, always. I remember once when we were in our hotel room in Japan, and we were supposed to meet the people from the Shooto Federation in the lobby at 6PM. Our room was only a few floors up and I see him leaving to meet them in the lobby at 5:45. I didn't understand. I said, "Moni, it takes MAYBE 1 minute to get downstairs." He had a very interesting response, he said, "Yes, but you never know. Maybe you have to help an old lady in the hallway--you never know.

I remember as a teenager in judo, my groundwork always raised eyebrows, and senior instructors at competitions always came up to me and asked, "who's your instructor?" At one training camp there was a man about 50 lbs. heavier than me who had medaled several times in the European Judo Championships. I wanted to check out his groundwork, and I did OK, even surprising him a few times. He was also curious who my teacher was. I thought, if that guy would come to class, I would have to bring an ashtray, because Moni would smoke him.

When I trained with the National Team in Montreal, I didn't come across any coach who had the depth and breadth of knowledge that he had on the ground. Nobody in Canada had any idea or could even appreciate the resources that were available in him. He was the main reason I transferred from McGill to the University of Toronto.
On any given day, Moni at 50+ years old is in better shape than most of his best students were in their prime. His motivation and genetics seem freakish. I'm 29, work out all the time, and still active in jujitsu; we did cardio together once this year over some hills and trails in the city. He's a big guy, but so fast, the only way I would have been able to keep up with him was if I was on a mountain bike. I remember watching him disappearing in the trails ahead of me.



*Avi Nardia's Observations
We are two Lotar instructors seating here at LA Lotar Head Quarter...me Avi Nardia and Uri Kaffewe both students of Moni Aizik and we try to put some words for him.
I started studying with Moni when I was a child, and I say WITH and NOT UNDER him in Judo. Moni never let you feel you were under him, he taught us what I call, at eye level; he never asked to call him grand master even though he is. He taught us as if he was one of us, when we did pushups he did them as well, if we did sit-ups he did too! The only difference was that he did many more. He never asked us to do something that he couldn't do. Moni was, and he still is a great ground fighter.

Moni taught us that martial arts is more than just fighting, it's a way of being. He taught us to be professionals and not to look for excuses. I studied only with Moni. He spoke so much of the training in Japan it influenced me to go there and stay for seven years to train. Uri studied under Sigalit Aizik, Moni's sister and then started studying with Moni. My partner and I were the first California instructors for Lotar and Kapap and we always look forward to Moni's visits.



*Maryann Whitside
I have had the privilege of knowing Moni Aizik for six years, since my two kids and myself started Martial Arts at the Samurai Club. Most people know of Moni's accomplishments as Israeli Martial Arts Champion for seven years, his years of training in Japan, his extreme sacrifice as a combat veteran and the ever so apparent confidence he has in anything he chooses to undertake. He undoubtedly has the toned physical physique standing six foot two and the background experience in martial arts, but this is only a small component of an excellent instructor.

Moni's passion for teaching, fitness and martial arts is apparent in every class you take. As a student, I love the fast paced combat conditioning that starts off each class. He always manages to challenge me physically and mentally through a fun and varied warm-up to our martial arts training. For Moni and his students, being in shape is essential to progress at any martial arts endeavor. He is definitely an instructor that teaches by example and he always sets the bar very high. I do not know of anyone who has the same caliber of physical, mental and dietary conditioning.

Moni is a perfectionist, always focusing on detail. As an instructor, he adds what appears to be small points with each repetition of the lesson, which I soon learned would eventually improve my technique. His classes do not focus on the "quick and easy". You will learn patience, persistence and self-confidence, which are all required aside from your physical abilities.

In addition to being an excellent adult instructor, Moni knows how to teach lessons to kids, while having a fun time doing it. Whenever Moni would come into our kids classes, the kids would get excited and want to work with him. Yes Moni has a black belt and it is a privilege to work with any black belt, but to these kids it was not only a privilege but also fun and exciting as well. My son and daughter have a great time working with Moni in randori.
The saying, "those that can't do, teach" is in no way applicable to Moni. He has mastered both. Thanks to Moni, I have improved physically and mentally!


*Doron Kay
My name is Doron Kay and I am the senior partner of an international security consulting firm called global impact. I have known Moni Isaac for the past 15 years, and in those years he has been an instructor, trainer, teacher, mentor, and now close friend. In fact I knew Moni before I personally met him.
I was drafted into the IDF nine years after the Yom Kippur war and the beginning of the Lebanon war. In an intense basic training course we were taught about the valuable lessons learned in one of the bloodiest battles of Israel's history. Those lessons were learned by the blood of Moni and his fallen comrades.

One of the most valuable lessons that a person can learn is when the moment of truth is upon us, when things in war or life look hopeless and when we feel physically and emotionally helpless -- that is when our true strength is measured. As a soldier we looked at commandos like Moni as our heroes. Not just heroes of Israel, but as true warriors, people who have gone against overwhelming odds, overcome the circumstances, fought like lions and paid the ultimate price, but won. That determination, spirit, will, discipline, intelligence and compassion for life truly defines a man.

In 2002 I was decorated during a tour of duty in Israel and mostrecently returned from another tour. When I am working or training other professionals in my field I often draw and reflect upon all the lessons that were taught to me over the years and it is Moni's voice that often reverberates through mine, the true standard of excellence in being a real warrior.
During a period in 1989/1990 I was Moni's personal student and practiced between six and eight hours a day, six days a week, I studied more than half a dozen styles (of martial arts). Moni had literally taken me under his wing. During that time I learned about balance, power, and the conditioning of the mind and body.

One of the most important lessons I learned was about the man himself. You see there are lots of fight clubs out there but few instructors' that really know what they're doing. Moni's approach to teaching is driven by his own experience and passion for life. Few people have his life experience or willingness to deliver that knowledge to other people.
His conviction to help build the human spirit and physical body is unequaled. The lessons on the mat or grass or pavement are lessons for all of life's situations and accompany you throughout your journey. Moni dedicates to himself what he dedicates to the world, an uncompromising level of discipline strength, spirit, balanced with intelligence art and compassion. The attributes of a true warrior, complete harmony.

They say that a student is only as good as his teacher; Moni Aizk has created a perfect environment for learning and training whose lessons extend way beyond the dojo, and accompany a person throughout their lives I am proud to say that I studied personally under Moni.


*Comments from WR, Realfighting's Publisher:
The best way to describe Moni is, "he talks the talk and walks the walk." Moni is the real thing, he personifies the eternal warrior. He upholds his personal ideals and lives them -- not part time, or when it's convenient, but every moment of the day. Moni is also one the strongest and toughest individuals I've ever met, but he's also honorable, kind, generous, contemplative, artististic and intelligent. He sets an example not by telling you what to do, but by his quiet demeanor.