Resilient Israeli Military Reservist Offers Strength and Support to Victims of Oct. 7 Attacks

found strength in her rehabilitation through martial arts training from Sagi Dovev, a reservist in Sayeret Matkal, the elite unit of the Israel Defense Forces. Dovev taught Regev Krav Maga at Sheba Medical Center months after the incident.

Krav Maga combines boxing, jujitsu, and wrestling techniques for self-defense.

Shot by Hamas while fleeing the Nova Music Festival, Regev was held hostage and received inadequate medical treatment in Gaza.

At Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, Dovev works with patients affected by the Oct. 7 tragedy, providing Krav Maga training to aid in their recovery.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Dovev shared that he is considering naming his initiative “Fighting Back” or “Back to Fighting.”

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“They are fighting back. They are fighting back from their injuries. They’re fighting back to go back to combat, to go back to their units,” he emphasized.

Dovev highlighted the stark contrast Regev experienced, moving from a vacation in Mexico to being held captive by terrorists in Gaza within a day.

“Imagine this. One day, you are in Mexico drinking tequilas,” he recalled. “And after like 20 hours, you are in a tunnel in Gaza with shots in your leg. And then you come back to Israel, and you want to train, feel strong again.”

Dovev started sharing these training videos on social media to inspire and motivate others by showcasing the resilience and strength of the patients he works with.

While Dovev and his team volunteer their time for this cause, he aims to expand the initiative with more instructors and extend his support to patients during their post-hospital rehabilitation.

“They go home, and suddenly they have no idea what to do,” he observed. “Nobody’s treating them. They have to drive to the hospital, like, three times a week. It’s uncomfortable, and I’m thinking about going to their houses as well and continuing this.”

Born in 1977 at Sheba Medical Center, Dovev provides hope and healing to those in need. He and his wife, Einav, reside near Tel Aviv with their three children.

A former member of Sayeret Matkal, Dovev served as the head Krav Maga instructor for his fellow soldiers during his military career.

Following his retirement from active duty in 2022, he established the Special Operations Resilience Team to offer resilience workshops to organizations until he was called back to service after the events of Oct. 7.

During this period, Dovev spent time supporting wounded soldiers at Sheba Medical Center, balancing his training at the military base with volunteering at the hospital.

Each patient receives personalized training after Dovev engages in conversations to understand their feelings and provides them with lunch.

He mentioned that some of the soldiers he trained were able to return to active duty.

Dovev also has a background in competitive jujitsu, winning championships in Israel and Europe during his military service.

During a trip to the United States, Dovev met with Republican senators to raise awareness about his Krav Maga and resilience program.

Focusing on the significance of resilience post-Oct. 7, Dovev expressed, “The meaning of resilience for us is being in tough situations, being in extreme situations, surviving and learning from them, growing from them, and coming out stronger for the next time.”

He highlighted Israel’s enduring resilience through various hardships and affirmed the nation’s strength and growth capabilities.

“We had many tough situations, and we will grow stronger even now,” Dovev concluded.