My story
Raw Krav Maga means teaching Krav Maga as it is, with no added flavour.Gopal Raghavan, founder
How I found Krav Maga
In 2009 I came across Krav Maga and began training. It was a completely different way to approach self-defence: every situation is treated as a real fight, and the stress and the mind are part of the training. That is why I started Raw Krav Maga, to teach it as it is.
One student
In 2014 I started teaching with one student. Six months later, a second student joined. I was so passionate about Krav Maga that I stayed with it, even with just two students. Slowly things started moving: more students joined, and corporate workshops began. Training the sailors and officers of INS Carnicobar and INS Darshak remains one of my proudest moments.
What keeps me on my feet
Training adults comes easily to me. What keeps me on my feet is teaching kids: they bring so much energy, and we teach them self-defence through games. Whoever walks in, I want them to leave having learnt something practical that will go a long way.
I have not done this alone. Captain Goutam Jaiswal, Nagraj Dhandapani, P V Harikrishnan and Colonel Bhagavat Singh Bharat (Retd) have been with me on this journey.
What we believe
Krav Maga as it is
No added flavour. Short, simple and honest.
Train like it is real
Stress, surprise and aggression are part of the training, so your body and mind know what to do.
Practical, and lasting
Skills that go a long way, long after the class ends.
For everyone
Adults, women, kids and working teams.
Meet Gopal Raghavan, founder and head instructor
Gopal Raghavan is the founder and head instructor of Raw Krav Maga in Chennai. An economics graduate with a background in digital marketing, he understands the pressure that working professionals face, and it shapes the way he teaches.
- Krav Maga since 2009, teaching since 2014, and also trained in boxing and MMA.
- G2 from Krav Maga Global (KMG), awarded by KMG Chief Instructor Eyal Yanilov.
- Certified Unarmed Self-Defence Instructor at NSQF Level 5, under Skill India (Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, NSDC).
From the Indian Navy to corporates, schools and large college groups, Gopal tailors every programme to the people in the room. Self-defence is not one-size-fits-all: it needs planning and customisation to work.
At his studio in Anna Nagar, Chennai, where he teaches alongside Captain Goutam Jaiswal, classes follow systematic lesson plans, carefully built drills and realistic scenarios. The training builds physical and mental resilience, so people leave with the skills and the confidence to handle a threat.
His aim is simple: to make self-defence accessible, practical and life-changing, so that every participant leaves with techniques they can use and a sharper awareness of the world around them.
Our Coimbatore branch
Raw Krav Maga Coimbatore is a branch of our Chennai studio, teaching practical, real-world self-defence to all ages and fitness levels. Visit the Coimbatore page.
P V Harikrishnan: lead instructor, Raw Krav Maga Coimbatore
P V Harikrishnan leads Raw Krav Maga in Coimbatore, with more than 15 years of hands-on experience.
He has completed the IKMF Civilian Instructor Course (CIC), the Kids Instructor Course and an advanced instructor course in Germany.
He customises training for women, children and men, with practical techniques, real-life scenarios and mental resilience, and teaches the Sunday classes alongside Colonel Bhagavat Singh Bharat (Retd).
Colonel Bhagavat Singh Bharat (Retd): from the NSG to the Krav Maga training room
Colonel Bhagavat Singh Bharat (Retd), known to many as Bharat Singh, is a former Army officer and National Security Guard (NSG) commando. He appears in Sandeep Unnithan's Black Tornado, the account of the NSG's 26/11 operation, as Major B. Bharath, an NSG squadron commander. His expertise in counter-terrorism and tactical combat is an inspiration to everyone at Raw Krav Maga.
Now retired, he brings that experience to civilian training. He teaches Krav Maga at our Coimbatore branch alongside P V Harikrishnan, and contributes to specialised projects including police training and advanced tactical workshops.
His courage, discipline and resilience set the standard for everyone who trains with us.
In the press
- The Hindu MetroPlus: "Fighting to the Finish"
- DT Next, January 2018: "Kick, throw punches, Krav Maga style"
Who we have trained
Teams and students across IT and technology, consulting, automotive, engineering and energy, manufacturing, healthcare and education, in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. We have also had the honour of training the sailors and officers of INS Carnicobar and INS Darshak.