What is Krav Maga ?
Krav Maga (or krav Magah) is a
noncompetitive martial art and practical self-defense system developed in Israel that incorporates the
simplest and most effective fighting techniques from many Martial Arts. Krav
Maga is known for its focus on real-world situations and extremely efficient,
brutal counter-attacks.
It was derived from street-fighting skills
developed by Imi Lichtenfeld, who made
use of his training as a boxer and wrestler, as a means of defending the Jewish quarter against
fascist Nazis in the mid-to-late 1930s. In the late-1940s, following his
immigration to Israel, he began to provide lessons on combat training to what
was to become the IDF, who went on to
develop the system that became known as Krav Maga. It has since been refined
for civilian, police and military applications.
Krav Maga has a philosophy
emphasizing threat neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive
maneuvers, and aggression. Krav Maga is used by Israeli Defense Forces,
both regular and special forces, and several closely related variations have
been developed and adopted by their law enforcement and intelligence
organizations. There are several organizations teaching variations of Krav Maga
internationally. In fact Krav maga may very well be considered the only martial
art that is used universally to train Combat Soldiers, Law Enforcement Officials and Self Defense
Experts in the modern times.
What are Basics Principles of Krav Maga?
A key principle of Krav Maga is finishing a fight as quickly as possible and therefore all attacks are aimed towards the most vulnerable parts of the body (e.g., face, neck, groin, knee, eyes, joints). Because there are no sporting rules, individuals trained in Krav Maga are not limited to techniques that avoid severely injuring their opponents, but training and sparring drills provide maximum safety to the students by the use of protective equipment and the use of reasonable force. ( For example, kicks to the groin during sparring are commonplace, but groin protection must be worn and students should demonstrate due diligence with regards for their partners' safety. We believe personal protection and safety devices are every person’s responsibility.)
Students learn to defend against all variety
of attacks before engaging in full-contact sparring. Students are taught to
respond to attacks in the quickest and most efficient way; a common lesson
taught is 'always use the nearest tool
for the job'. This basically means use whichever limb is closest to your
attacker at the time and whichever feels most natural. Men and women generally
undergo the same drills. It has no sporting federation, and there are no
official uniforms (such as a gi).
Usual training attire consists of a t-shirt and loose fitting trousers. Krav
Maga is also one of the few martial arts in which footwear is habitually worn,
due to its being 'reality-based training'.
General principles :
- Counter attacking as soon as possible (or attacking preemptively).
- Targeting attacks to the body's most vulnerable points such as the eyes, jaw, throat, solar plexus, ribs, groin, knee, armpits etc.
- Neutralizing the opponent as quickly as possible by responding with an unbroken, varied stream of counter attacks (i.e. attacking high/low) and if necessary a take down/joint break.
- Maintaining awareness of surroundings while dealing with the threat in order to look for escape routes, further attackers, objects that could be used to defend or help attack and so on.
Basic training entails a warm-up, learning
essential pressure points, and learning how to approach and control an opponent
using force. Students learn how to execute strikes including various punches,
hammer fists, elbows, knees and kicks. Students learn defenses against
take-downs, chokes, bear-hugs, arm bars, and other possible attacks.
Training also includes learning to defend
against various weapons such as knives, bats, guns etc. Pressure drills in
which students engage with multiple attackers are also common. Other training
exercises and pressure drills include students closing their eyes and reacting
to a variety of potential threats. Fitness and endurance training is also
incorporated into regular classes.
Training can also cover situational awareness
to develop an understanding of one's surroundings, learning to understand the
psychology of a street confrontation, and identifying potential threats before
an attack occurs.
Most importantly, Krav Maga also covers ways
to deal with physical and verbal methods to avoid violence whenever possible.
How Did Krav Maga Come into Being?
Imi (formerly, Imrich Lichtenfeld), the founder of Krav Maga, was born in 1910 in Hungary and grew up in Bratislava, Slovakia. Imi became active in a wide range of sports including gymnastics, wrestling, and boxing. In 1928 Imi won the Slovakian Youth Wrestling Championship, and in 1929 the adult championship (in the light and middle weight division). That year he also won the national boxing championship and an international gymnastics championship. During the ensuing decade, Imi's athletic activities focused mainly on wrestling, both as a contestant and a trainer.
In the mid thirties conditions began to change
in Bratislava and Imi felt he had to take his fighting skills to the streets to
protect Jewish neighborhoods from the growing numbers of fascist and
anti-Semitic thugs who swarmed in Bratislava at the time. Imi quickly found
however that although boxing and wrestling were good sports they weren't always
practical for the aggressive and brutal nature of street fighting and he learnt
the hard way that real life fighting was very different to competition
fighting. It was then that he started to re-evaluate his ideas about fighting
and started developing the skills and techniques that would eventually become
Krav Maga. Having become a outcast of the local authorities, Imi left his home,
family and friends in 1940 on the last refugee ship to escape Europe and the Nazis.
After making his way to Palestine Imi joined
Israel’s pre-state military organization. In 1944 Imi began training fighters in
his areas of expertise: physical fitness, swimming, wrestling, use of the
knife, and defenses against knife attacks. During this period, Imi trained
several elite units of the IDF, as well as groups of police officers.
In 1948, when the State of Israel was founded
and the IDF was formed, Imi became Chief Instructor for Physical Fitness and
Krav Maga at the IDF School of Combat Fitness. He served in the IDF for about
20 years, during which time he developed and refined his unique method for
self-defense and hand-to-hand combat. After retiring from the army, Imi felt
that Krav Maga could and should be adapted to meet the self-defense needs of
civilians. (Imi Lichtenfeld died in January 1998 in Netanya, Israel.)
How did Krav Maga Become So Popular?
Krav Maga's growing popularity is due to a
number of reasons; Primarily because International organization such as the IKMF (International Krav Maga
Federation), have been promoting Krav Maga across the world.
Secondarily because TV shows such as The League, 24, How I Met Your Mother, Malcolm in the Middle, The Simpsons, House, NCIS and Archer, as well as the films -Taken, Transporter, Bourne (Series), Enough, and The Debt have featured it.
Thirdly because Krav Maga is being utilized by all of professional security and law enforcement organizations such as the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet, FBI, CBI and NSG which has led to increased popularity with civilians as well.
Secondarily because TV shows such as The League, 24, How I Met Your Mother, Malcolm in the Middle, The Simpsons, House, NCIS and Archer, as well as the films -Taken, Transporter, Bourne (Series), Enough, and The Debt have featured it.
Thirdly because Krav Maga is being utilized by all of professional security and law enforcement organizations such as the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet, FBI, CBI and NSG which has led to increased popularity with civilians as well.
What are the advantages of Krav Maga over
Traditional Martial Arts?
Everyone knows the benefits and advantages of traditional martial arts like Karate-do, Boxing, Muay Thai, Shaolin Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Kalarippayattu, Taekwond, Judo, Aikido, Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling etc. In a sports ring, any expert who has invested years of experience in such martial arts will be any day better than any novice. However, a common criticism of some traditional martial arts is the lack of real-life applicability –the fancy moves of traditional martial arts cannot hold up against thugs with weapons on the street or in a crowded bus.
After a while,
most people seem to realize that most Martial Arts in their traditional form
are not self-defence systems – and were never meant to be but a
sport: involving rules to prevent illegal moves and foul play.
Even though there are
some similarities between Krav-Maga and martial arts, there are basic difference. Krav-Maga was
developed in an environment where the Israeli military could not devote many
hours to prolonged hand to hand combat training for their personnel.Therefore,
the Krav-Maga system was created with great importance placed on bringing
students to a high level of skill in a relatively short period of time. There
are no katas (forms) or rules in the system. Anything goes when you are
fighting for your life!
Krav-Maga is
more of a survival system dealing with personal safety issues in the context of
defending against both armed and unarmed attackers. It is considered to be a
modern, highly refined, street fighting system, designed to be utilized against
muggings, street attacks, and sexual assaults.
No one martial
art is better than any other, all serve their relative purposes.
A Comparison Table:
Krav-Maga
|
Traditional
Martial Arts
|
Fighting dirty
and learning no-holds-barred moves in a realistic environment
|
Formal, ritual
oriented, and difficult to learn
|
Adapts to the
student
|
Expects the
student to adapt to it
|
Students build
on their natural human reflexes
|
Teaches moves
adapted from animals
|
Relies on
“continuous motion” to complete the defence hence nothing is ritual or
choreographed
|
Competitive
tournaments, katas, rituals, or choreographed routines
|
Brings students
to a high level of skill in a relatively short period
|
Brings
students to a high level of skill in a long period like 10 to 20 years
|
Incorporates
modern realistic re-enactments so students learn how to operate under the
stress
|
Ritual
oriented routines based on old era of swords and arrows
|
No Rules; use
everything you have
|
As a sport, it
has rules and illegal moves
|
Adapts and is
a hybrid of mixed martial arts techniques like Boxing, Karate, Judo, JuJitsu,
Muay Thai and other lesser known styles
|
Does not adapt
or learn from other martial arts
|
Students learn
to function during the stress and shock of a sudden, violent encounter/ Thus,
it is excellent for realistic Self Defence in an unpredictable environment
like streets
|
Most Martial
Arts in their traditional form are not realistic Self Defence systems
|
What are the different kinds of Krav Maga Techniques?
Along with traditional techniques developed
by Imi, in its basic nature of continuing progress, Krav Maga, has integrated techniques from
traditional Eastern European street fighting, military combat, Kung-Fu, Karate, Boxing,
Muay Thai, Judo, Aikido,
Western Wrestling and Ju-Jitsu. While ancient martial arts
already developed ways to reach all the angles of the human body with kicks and
hand strikes, Krav Maga Kicks and Hand strikes are unique in their teaching
methods and actual execution that calls for most efficiency and effectiveness in
their respective execution.
Arm techniques
Punches are highly emphasized in Krav Maga as basic strikes
which are useful in almost any situation. Training in boxing is highly prized
in Krav Maga. Among the punches taught
are the straight punch, palm heel strike, low
punch, hammer fist, hook, uppercut, chop, overhand, as well as a
variety of elbow strikes.
Leg techniques
While Krav Maga does use kicks,
it focuses on efficient, low-risk kicks. The main focus is on low kicks. More
advanced and risky kicks are taught at high levels, but use of them is
discouraged. They are primarily taught so that practitioners are able to
recognize them in case they are facing an opponent with a background in kick-heavy
martial arts. Leg techniques that are taught include the front kick, round
kick, side kick, back kick, heel kick, slap kicks, axe kicks, various knee
strikes, and sweeping.
Head strikes
Krav Maga uses all of the tools available,
including the head.
Defense techniques
Krav Maga practitioners are taught to go from
defending to attacking as quickly as possible, and most blocking techniques are
designed to facilitate this. They learn how to defend against both kicks and
punches, as well as learning how to defend against attacks from any angle.
Throws and take downs
Throws are not covered much in Krav Maga,
because the system stresses staying off of the ground. Some techniques that are
taught include the wrist lock, one and two leg take downs, the
hip throw, and the one arm shoulder throw.
Ground fighting
While Krav Maga stresses staying off the
ground at all costs, it accepts that you may occasionally have no choice but to
fight there. Students are taught the best positions while on the ground, how to
throw certain kicks while on the ground, arm bars, triangle choke, and guillotine. They are also taught to defend
against punches while mounted, chokes, headlocks, and what to do if their
wrists are pinned.
Gun, knife and stick defenses
Krav Maga details many ways to remove and
defend yourself against many common weapon threats. These techniques include
defences against guns, knives, and blunt striking weapons, such as sticks. The
use of these techniques vary: each possible scenario requires its own set of
actions.
How is Grading done in Krav Maga?
Krav Maga uses grading system
based on a series of patches. The patch system was
developed by Imi itself,in the late 1980s.
The
grades are divided into 3 main
categories; Practitioner (P), Graduate (G) and Expert (E) Levels. Each
of the Levels/Grades, has 5 ranks. Grades P1 through to P5
are the student levels and make up the majority of the Krav Maga
community.
After P5 are G1-G5, and in order to achieve Graduate level the student has to demonstrate a proficiency in all of the P level techniques before advancing. The majority of instructors hold a G level grade and are civilian instructors. However, passing the instructor's training course is a requirement. The Graduate syllabus also builds on the Practitioner syllabus by focusing more on developing fighting skills.
The Expert grades cover more advanced military and 3rd party protection techniques as well as advanced sparring and fighting skills. People who hold these ranks tend to teach in other sectors such as military and law enforcement in addition to civilian. In order to progress to Expert level one has to demonstrate proficiency in all of the Practitioner and Graduate syllabi and have excellent fighting skills.
Beyond Expert 5 there is the rank of Master. However, this rank is held by only a small number of individuals and reserved only for those who have dedicated a lifetime to Krav Maga and made valuable contributions in teaching and promoting the Krav Maga.
After P5 are G1-G5, and in order to achieve Graduate level the student has to demonstrate a proficiency in all of the P level techniques before advancing. The majority of instructors hold a G level grade and are civilian instructors. However, passing the instructor's training course is a requirement. The Graduate syllabus also builds on the Practitioner syllabus by focusing more on developing fighting skills.
The Expert grades cover more advanced military and 3rd party protection techniques as well as advanced sparring and fighting skills. People who hold these ranks tend to teach in other sectors such as military and law enforcement in addition to civilian. In order to progress to Expert level one has to demonstrate proficiency in all of the Practitioner and Graduate syllabi and have excellent fighting skills.
Beyond Expert 5 there is the rank of Master. However, this rank is held by only a small number of individuals and reserved only for those who have dedicated a lifetime to Krav Maga and made valuable contributions in teaching and promoting the Krav Maga.
What are the Benefits Of Krav Maga?
Self-Defense:
Despite many
claims, very few modern martial arts are suited for this level of conflict,
both from a technical, and perhaps most importantly, a legal standpoint. A
situation is defined as self-defense when your attacker has some level of
criminal intent and this intent supersedes basic morality. Chances of serious
injury or death are high, and a strong possibility of multiple attackers
exists. Lethal weapons are likely to be involved, including baseball bats,
knives, or firearms. While the attacker in a self-defense situation does not
follow any rules, you are legally bound to using reasonable force based on the
actions of the attacker. The legality of a self-defense situation is what may
make it the most challenging of the four levels of conflict, as it is possible
to win physically yet lose legally. Your adrenaline level will be vastly
increased in a self-defense situation, due to the increased chances of serious
injury or death, as well as the added fear of the unknown. Attackers in
self-defense will typically have minimal training and are generally unskilled.
Modern Combat System:
This is the
highest and most dangerous level of conflict, with only the vast minority of
today’s martial arts being equipped to realistically address it. Your
attacker’s intent in combat is to kill you; serious injury or death is
imminent. There could be anywhere from one to several potential attackers in a
combat situation. Unlike the complicated rules of self-defense, there are no
rules in combat. Training and preparing becomes hardest at this level due to
the increase in the adrenal factor. Typically, only large movements and gross
motor skills will work with any success. Employing lethal weapons is virtually
guaranteed. If your martial art does not include weapons training, then it
simply does not prepare you for combat. Going into a combat situation unarmed
is poor strategy and should be avoided if at all possible. Opponents in combat
generally rely on their weapons and are poorly trained.
Let’s make a few
observations about what happens as you climb the levels of conflict. As the
level of aggression increases, so does your adrenal level. This will cause a
decrease in your fine motor skills. The aggressor’s skill level usually
decreases as does the amount and specifics of the rules of engagement. The
probabilities of weapons, multiple attackers, and serious harm or death rises.
It becomes evident that each level has its own challenges, be it your
opponent’s skill, the adrenaline, or the legal aspects.
So how does one
know for which use their martial art is suitable for? You
must examine your art with an unbiased view. Possibly the greatest flaw,
however, with virtually all martial arts is this: they are designed to defend
against their own style. Most martial arts simply fall apart when faced with
the unorthodox attacks of either an untrained fighter or someone outside of
their style. One of the few potential exceptions to this is the various Mixed
Martial Arts systems. While this may be true, many MMA students have developed
a sense of elitism because of their systems’ versatility. MMA is often touted
as the ultimate self-defense system; however, that is not completely accurate.
MMA is fantastic for competition and fighting, but it is generally inadequate
for self-defense, and almost completely inapplicable to combat. This is mainly
due to the lack of weapons training and recognition of possible multiple
attackers. It would be much wiser to consult a Military system (Krav Maga being
one of them) for self-defense or combat than a top MMA coach.
It’s important
to realize that these guidelines are in no way definitive of every situation.
It is entirely possible to have a combat situation with a highly-skilled, yet
unarmed attacker intent on choking you to death; or to face an untrained
individual in competition that breaks all the rules. Also be aware that the
levels can quickly escalate. What starts out as a fight can quickly turn into a
self-defense or combat situation. Intents can change, weapons can be drawn, and
opponents can increase.
Know your enemy,
know yourself, and know your limitations. And choose your system or martial
arts wisely. And do a background check on your instructor too!!!
For all your
enquiries
Adv.
Anu V. Nambalikkaran,
Krav Maga Kerala.
(M) 0 9744
22 9744
Email: RampartServices@gmail.com
KravMagaTrivandrum@gmail.com
KravMagaTrivandrum@gmail.com