Last Wednesday once again we commemorated the anniversary of the September 11 attack on our country. Since Krav Maga Detroit exists as a direct result of the horrific events of 9/11/2001, we do more than just a post on social media. We honor the heroes and their sacrifice by doing hard things and offer our little suffering to show we remember. Because if not us, then who?
This year we were honored by very special guests: Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard shared with us his experiences organizing the help convoy to New York, arriving at Ground Zero and helping in recovery efforts. For those who lived through it, his words brought us right back to that time. For the ones too young to remember, he painted a picture of what it was like witnessing the worst and, at the same time, the best of humanity. Sheriff also brought with him his son who as a young kid witnessed the preparation of the convoy and now is serving in the US Army Airborne Division.
A Deputy from the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue unit brought his truck and joined the color and sound effects crew with the Troy PD officer and her scout car and the Troy Fire truck.
A fire chief from Ottawa was staying in the nearby hotel, but once he noticed the commotion he walked over and admired the toughness and determination of our students going through grueling challenges. He recognized a number of evolutions we prepared from his own fire fighter readiness test he recently redesigned to more closely mimic the challenges of the real life. So yes, what our students did was based on real skills needed to survive and to rescue others. And in case you’re wondering – no, you will not find this level of training anywhere else.
None of it would be possible without our outstanding KMD Cadre who kept everyone safe and properly motivated. And of course, if you didn’t show up it would all be for nothing, so THANK YOU for being there. THANK YOU for not quitting, for lifting each other up, for working so damn hard. You made us all proud. By completing this event you joined an elite group of people who, when faced with adversity, smile and say, “Fuck it!” and charge forward. So, if you ever see anyone with the same patch you earned last Wednesday, you will know you’re dealing with a real-life ass kicker.
Honoring Our Heroes is the most important event of the year at KMD, and we hope to see you again next year. And if you’ve never done it, just put it in your calendar right now. Do it. Thursday September 11, 2025.
See you there. Never forget.