Brighton self-defense instructor to attempt Guinness World Record this month
Jennifer Eberbach
Brighton self-defense, fighting and fitness instructor Mike Berean has been using his free-time to train about five hours a day.
Berean, who co-owns Krav Maga Great Lakes with his wife Dori, is preparing to attempt a Guinness World Record for the most chest-to-ground burpees — an advanced push-up exercise — in a 12-hour period.
The 46-year-old, 3rd-degree black belt in Krav Maga said he has worked up to a pace of 500-reps-an-hour.
If he can keep that pace during his world record attempt, on Oct. 27, he will surpass the current record of 4,689 reps in 12 hours.
"My goal is 5,400, so I could beat the record by enough that I might keep it for a while," Berean said.
The Bereans are always keeping fit. It's their job.
They own two Krav Maga Great Lakes locations, in Brighton Township, at 5757 Whitmore Lake Road, Suite 1000, and in Wixom, at 48909 West Road.
But Mike Berean said training for a world record attempt hasn't been easy, even for a fitness professional.
"I figured it would be a physical feat and challenge not many people can do," he said. "This would actually be something monumental."
Dori Berean said their fitness business is all about encouraging people to accomplish physical and health-related goals.
"Mike doesn't do things to be bragadocious," she said. "He's doing it to set an example for our members, to show people there are no limitations.
"He's blowing away any perception of what a 46-year-old can do," she said.
Mike Berean said he had to change the way he eats to prepare for the record attempt.
"We've always been into nutrition and eat healthy, but my calorie count has gone up," he said. "It takes me five hours to do 2,500 reps, and I'll change 7-10 pounds because of water weight and a high metabolism."
The record is currently held by Milford resident Bryan Abell, who did 4,689 chest to ground burpees in 12 hours on July 7 of this year, according to Guinness World Records.
"Bryan attempted this record in order to raise money for the Stronger Warrior Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports active, retired, and families of service members," Guinness World Records states on its website.
Abell, 23, is an ROTC cadet who broke the record at Carls Family YMCA in Milford, MLIVE reported July 8.
A video of Abell breaking the record is posted on his Facebook page, at https://www.facebook.com/bryan.abell.9/videos/10214292348159386/
Attempt also to raise funds for cancer research
Berean will make his attempt to break the record 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at his and his wife's Wixom fitness studio location, at 48909 West Road.
The event will be open to the public.
They also plan to live stream it on their business's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/kravmagagreatlakes
He is using his record attempt to raise funds for cancer research.
All funds raised through an online fundraising webpage, https://give.everydayhero.com/us/mike-berean-world-record-for-marni, will benefit The Concern Foundation Marni Levine Memorial Research Awards. People can donate online through Oct. 31.
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The foundation was founded in memory of Marni Levine, who was Krav Maga Worldwide's highest-ranking female instructor, a 4th degree black belt in Krav Maga and the wife of Krav Maga Worldwide founder Darren Levine. She passed away in 2006 after losing her battle with breast cancer.
Berean said he discovered Krav Maga when he was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps stateside during the Gulf War in the early 1990s.
Krav Maga is a fighting style developed by Bratislava-born Imi Lichtenfeld in the 1930s to protect Jewish individuals during Nazi rule, according to Krav Maga Worldwide. Lichtenfeld was forced to leave his homeland in 1940, arriving in Palestine, now Israel, and fighting to create the independent state of Israel, according to the organization. He would go on to teach soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces his fighting system.
Berean said he is one of only a few trainers in the state certified to train law enforcement and military personnel in Krav Maga.
Krav Maga Worldwide encourages studio owners to hold fundraisers each October. They have raised nearly $4 million for the foundation, which supports cancer research focused on curing women's cancers, according to a release.
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Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Timar at 517-548-7148 or at jtimar@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Facebook @Jennifer.Timar99 and Twitter @JenTimar99.