02/11/2026
California Youth Karate Club, Inc. Kicks Off the New Year with Act of Kindness from Celebrity Partner Aaron Cohen
California Youth Karate Club, Inc. proudly kicks off the new year alongside our celebrity partner and longtime supporter, Aaron Cohen, whose generosity is already making a meaningful impact. Cohen recently donated thousands of dollars’ worth of martial arts training equipment, now actively in use within our after-school programs across multiple schools in the Hawthorne School District—directly benefiting the youth we serve.
Cohen began his Hollywood career as a technical advisor on major motion pictures, including Steven Soderbergh’s Haywire, and as a tactical trainer for A-list actors such as Keanu Reeves for the globally successful John Wick franchise. He later transitioned into acting, appearing in numerous film and television projects, including 211 opposite Nicolas Cage, Rambo 5: Last Blood with Sylvester Stallone, a recurring role on Netflix’s Luis Miguel, and a supporting role opposite Antonio Banderas in the 2022 crime thriller The Enforcer.
Beyond entertainment, Aaron Cohen is an Israeli-trained career special operations and intelligence veteran, with over two decades of counterterrorism experience. He began his service in Israel’s elite undercover mista’aravim (“Arabist”) units, highly specialized counterterrorism teams trained to assimilate into hostile environments while conducting high-risk arrests, intelligence operations, and counterterror missions using disguise and surprise as primary tactics.
Cohen is also the host of The Aaron Cohen Show, a weekly podcast delivering in-depth discussions on Israeli special operations, counterterrorism, global security, and pro-law-enforcement topics, featuring expert interviews and firsthand insights. He is among the most recognized on-camera law enforcement and counterterrorism analysts, with hundreds of appearances across major news networks, including CNN and Fox News Channel, and was a recurring guest with Larry King for over a decade.
Currently, Cohen serves as a Lieutenant (Reserve) with a U.S. Sheriff’s Department, where he has volunteered for over 15 years. He facilitates advanced tactical training for patrol officers, school resource officers, and SWAT teams, and remains an active SWAT team member, assisting in high-risk operations. Internationally, he has trained hundreds of police agencies and military units in Israeli counterterrorism methodologies.
Cohen is also the author of the bestselling memoir Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World’s Most Elite Counter-Terrorist Units, published by HarperCollins and translated into eight languages.
A dedicated martial artist, Aaron Cohen is a Kenpo Karate Black Belt and a valued member of our extended Kenpo family. He was introduced to us by fellow Kenpo Black Belt Master Dr. Joey Cadena of Texas, strengthening a bond rooted in discipline, service, and community.
California Youth Karate Club, Inc. is honored to partner with Aaron Cohen—whose commitment to youth development, public service, and martial arts excellence continues to inspire and uplift the next generation.
