Krav Maga Detractors

I saw the following comment on a blog the other day.

I’m scared. I hate this. I don't know what I’m supposed to be doing, stocking up food or trying to buy a gun or getting what little money I have out of the bank or what!

The following is the advice from the blogger that was advising the commenter on what to do and what not to do in this time of crisis.

Get in shape, or stay in shape if you are already there. Since you are getting in shape, ask at the gym for self defense classes, boxing, BJJ or some other martial art.

Avoid Krav Maga like the plague.

It creates a false sensation of “superman/superwoman” and that’s ok for Israeli soldiers because they carry a combat rifle, but it’s not your case.

If you don’t like striking do Judo instead. Judo makes GREAT fighters and it’s easy on women that don’t like the idea of getting punched or kicked in the face.

Real KM, they don’t spar. Supposedly because it’s not a sport and it’s too deadly to put into practice.

Problem is, every time a KM fighter fights a mixed martial artist or competes in vale tudo “everything goes” street fights, they always end up losing. Why? Precisely because they don’t compete.

Okay. That’s enough.

Look… I know I’m singing to the choir here for some, but for those of you that might be interested in becoming a Krav Maga practitioner, please consider the aforementioned blogger’s advice as drivel.

When you look closely at Krav Maga’s techniques, you will see elements of western boxing, muay thai kickboxing, kicking style martial arts, wrestling, judo and jiu-jitsu. And… Kravists do spar.

Yes… Kravists don’t compete. Krav Maga isn’t a competitive sport. There are rules in competitive sporting events. Kravists don’t play by the rules because perpetrators of harm don’t play by the rules. Read “Misunderstanding Krav Maga.”

Krav Maga is not a system of techniques, it is a system based on principles. Read “Krav Maga Basic Principles.” In addition, it is a system that uses scenario-based training. Read “Scenario-Based Training at Its Best.”

There are also the stress drills in Krav Maga training in which you have to apply techniques and principles under various types of pressure. For example, at the end of an exhausting class… when you’re at your weakest… you’re sparring several people or you’re being put through a scenario that has you being attacked by several people that are armed, unarmed or both.

Believe it or not… Kravists even do de-escalating drills because what reasonable person wants to get into a fight!

Lastly, here is a quote by Donavin Britt of Krav Maga Las Vegas.

When the man attacks us, he has no idea that we have been preparing for him, we are prepared to unleash hell on him and he is in for the worst day of his life.

Hooah!

All Levels Training and Escapes

Due to the weather conditions Monday, the training center decided to combine the three night classes into a one “All Levels Class” for an hour and one half. So... we did 360-degree defenses at the beginning of the class (Level 1) that actually appeared again in a knife defense against a downward stab (Level 5) by the end of class.

It was good for the beginning students to see how the Level 1 techniques are applied in the higher Level techniques. Moreover, it was good for the beginning students to see why it is important to master the Level 1 techniques in order to be effective in the higher Level techniques.

We did some defensive front kick drills against two people with kick shields. We also did some of these kicks with our backs against a wall. If a person approaching you was too close for a front kick, you delivered a knee strike.

Another drill had you stand in a neutral position (hands by your sides) with your eyes closed. When you heard someone say hey, you opened your eyes and defended against a knife attack.

We ended the class by having someone attack you with a knife. You defended with a defensive front kick if the attacker was in kicking range. If the attacker was too close for kicking, you defended with the appropriate close quarters defense. At times, you were told to do a back breakfall and then you had to defend against a knife attack while on your back and mounted by the attacker.

Wednesday’s ground fighting night was focused on escapes from arm locks and the dreaded triangle choke. Most of the beginning grapplers are familiar with applying the Americana, Kimura, Straight Arm Bar and Triangle Choke, but many don’t know how to escape from them. The KMWW curriculum shows how to apply the Americana, Straight Arm Bar and Triangle Choke in Levels 3 and 4, but surprisingly it doesn't show how to escape.

This week’s lead instructor showed two escapes for the Americana, Kimura, Straight Arm Bar and the Triangle Choke. He explained that you should have a minimum of at least two escapes for each situation in your repertoire.

Although the escapes the instructor showed were high percentage escapes, nothing is 100 percent guaranteed. What works well for one individual might not work as well for another. Experiment in the grappling lab until you find what works well for you.

The instructor also explained that once your opponent has the lock or choke cinched, you’re toast. You have a better chance of escape or reversal upon initiation of the lock or choke than you do when it’s been applied.

Back In The Saddle Again

Having recuperated from last Saturday's Test Day, I'm back in the saddle again.

Wednesday, our ground fighting night started out with doing some light wrestling. At the end of a period of wrestling, the instructor asked if any of the least experienced grapplers had any questions relative to situations they found themselves in. Once a question was asked, suggestions and demonstrations for solving the situation were given by everyone that had an answer. Usually, there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

Later we practiced alternative mount position escapes to the Krav Maga mount position escapes. The standard “Krav Maga bridge, trap and roll” poses some problems for some individuals.

Next we practiced an alternative attack from the rear mount position. The bread and butter attack from this position is usually applying a rear naked choke to your opponent. However, since most savvy opponents expect this, an excellent alternative attack is a straight arm bar.

In Thursday night’s scenario training class, we started out with the standard confrontational situation whereby you made an attempt to de-escalate the situation. I always have a hard time putting myself in that bad guy roll. When I’m in the bad guy roll, I usually accuse people of cutting me off while driving or taking “my” parking space.

Our next drill involved practicing hook punches with and without focus mitts. Along with knee strikes, hook and uppercut punches are great combatives to use against that person who decides that they want to get in your face.

Later a scenario drill had you leave the room so that your group could plot its assault on you. When you re-entered the room, you had no idea as to how the scenario was going to play out. In my case, I was approached by two male individuals. One of them acted like he knew me and wanted to talk. All the while his friend was trying to circle around me.

Acting on the gut instinct that this did not look or feel right, I attacked. I kicked the guy circling around me with a back kick and then scurried away from the other guy.

We ended the class with a stress drill. You were surrounded by five people. Two held kicking shields, two held tombstone pads and one held a focus mitt. You could kick or knee the kicking shields, straight punch or hammerfist the tombstone pads and hook punch the focus mitt. Once the instructor said go you did the aforementioned. At times, the instructor would tell you to drop. You sprawled on the floor, got back up and continued striking until told to stop.

I wonder what we’ll be doing next week?!

Test Day

Well… Level Testing was held yesterday. Level 1, 2 & 3 students were tested. And, although in attendance, Level 4 students didn’t test. For them, the day was a review of prior Level material as well as some material for their Level.

Past practices for testing have been that each Level was tested separately. You would start out with a review of the required material to go from your current Level into the next. Once that review was finished, the actual test began. Now… as you can imagine, once the review was completed, you’re exhausted. And that’s where Krav Maga instructors want you. They take students to a point where they think they’re about to quit.

Yesterday’s Level Testing was done differently. There were no reviews. All reviews were conducted over the past two weeks. This past Friday’s class afforded all students the opportunity to review any technique(s) that they felt needed further review.

Level 1, 2 & 3 students took their tests together. Everyone started at 9:30 with the Level 1 material. Once the Level 1 test was completed, Level 1 students were excused and the remaining Levels continued with Level 2 material. Once the Level 2 test was completed, Level 2 students were excused and the remaining Levels continued with Level 3 material. Once the Level 3 test was completed, Level 3 students were excused, but although utterly exhausted, the Level 3 students stayed to review the Level 4 material. I think that’s called esprit de corps!

Knowing that we were going to be testing for several hours nonstop, I prepared like a marathoner. I hydrated heavily during the week and carbohydrate loaded Thursday and Friday.

On Saturday morning, my breakfast consisted of a Met-Rx drink and a banana. Thirty minutes before testing I took a pre-workout drink called Arnge Krush. During the testing I consumed 96 ounces (approximately 3 litres) of an electrolyte drink called e-Fuel. I had 4 Balance bars with me, but I didn't have time to consume them during the testing. Two of those bars ended up being my post testing meals during the ride back home. Next time I'll take a post workout meal like After Glow.

After all of that, I still ended up cramping. About the time we got to the Heel Kicks in the Level 3 material, my right calf was cramping up on me. I guess after four and one half hours, something had to start breaking down on this old body. And, of course, every muscle was sore by then. The only injuries I sustained were a strained right thumb and some scratches and bruises on my right forearm.

So… I now start the process of recuperation for a couple of days and then get right back into the Krav Maga training mix. Hooah!

Level Testing Reviews

As I mentioned last week, this Saturday is “Test Day.” Level 1, 2 & 3 students (yellow belt, orange belt and green belt) will be testing. Level 4 (blue belt) students will be put through the paces by reviewing all material up to their Level.

The class I attended Monday night was mostly a review of Level 2 material with a smidgen of Level 3 material. We started with punch combinations (straight, hook and uppercut) then we did outside punch defenses, and then we went into defenses against outside and inside punch combinations. Next, we reviewed the standing reverse headlock (guillotine). We also did chokes from the front, back, side and choke from the front with a push as well as choke from behind with a push.

We reviewed bearhugs for the rest of the class. We reviewed:

• Bearhug from the front with arms free
• Bearhug from the front with arms free (leverage on the neck)
• Bearhug from the front with arms caught (with space)
• Bearhug from the front with arms caught (no space)
• Bearhug from behind with arms free
• Bearhug from behind with arms caught (with space)
• Bearhug from behind with arms caught (no space)
• Bearhug from behind (with lift)
• Bearhug from the front (with lift)

We ended the class with breaking up into groups of four. Each member of the group took his turn defending against the other three members as they attacked nonstop with various chokes and bearhugs.

Wednesday’s groundfighting night went over some Level 1 and 2 material, but concentrated mostly on KMWW curriculum for Levels 3 and 4. We reviewed:

• Arm bar from the guard
• Guard reversal (sit up and sweep)
• Escape from the guard (stacking)
• Trap opponent’s arms to chest to pop up and out
• Side mount (basic position)
• Side mount (arm lock)
• Side mount (strikes)
• Side mount (transition to full mount)
• Side mount disengage (knee on belly)
• Triangle choke
• Guard - bottom position: guillotine
• Guard - bottom position: defense against guillotine
• Defense against headlock from behind

Phew!

There’s No Middle Ground in Fight or Flight

The following is another excerpt from the soon to be released book, "No Second Chance: A Reality-Based Guide to Self-Defense" by Mark Hatmaker.

The amazing abilities your body exhibits while under stress are part of the parasympathetic nervous system; these abilities are often referred to in the layman’s term “the fight or flight response.” Notice that this parasympathetic choice is black and white, either/or. Flight or flight is not subject to subtlety, shades of gray, or abstruse gradations of reasoning. The parasympathetic fight or flight response is a binary call to action--it’s one or the other.

We need to swallow this lesson now as most of us are steeped in civilized society (as we have every right to be) and have adopted some cozy notions of security. Ideas such as the police will handle my threats if I’m ever confronted. Allow me to disabuse you of this idea, the police, while as efficient as they can be in most cases, they are like FEMA in worst case scenarios--too little, too late.

911 is a magnificent preventative tool if one has any foreknowledge of threat but if the threat is of complete surprise then 911 is too late. Even if you do manage to dial 911 just moments before your attack, how long will it take for emergency support of any kind to arrive? Do you just plan to sit and wait the predator attack out and hope that someone else will arrive in time to take responsibility for saving your life?

Law enforcement and other emergency personnel (firefighters, EMTs, et cetera) are known as first responders and it is a deserved reputation but, in actuality, you are the first responder. You as the victim are the first to react to whatever threat you have been confronted with. It is up to you to be energized with your fight or flight physiological boost and make the choice between the two that will best ensure your survival.

There is a choice to ensure yourself of pain (both physical and psychological) and quite possibly the loss of your life or that of a loved one and that is to make no choice at all. Being immersed in the world of civilized society can, for some, lead to a opossum-like state of vacillation when confronted with non-civilized situations. This inertia is quite understandable as we conduct the vast majority of our lives in a realm where conflict is not violent, disputes are solved via reasoning or discussion and, those we deal with respond in a reciprocal manner. We have cultivated the habit of civilized conduct and when confronted with behavior so far outside of our understanding we sometimes see a victim stuck in neutral trying to evaluate the situation in terms of civilized experience.

This sort of vacillation is a problem as we, the civilized prey animal, have no correlating experience with which to evaluate and handle the situation. What is occurring here, in mechanistic terms, is a sort of cognitive short-circuiting of the parasympathetic nervous system. The fight or flight response is an older system in brain development, we easily recognize fight or flight parasympathetic reaction in “lower” species. Our neo-cortex, which is responsible for all of the advances we have made in culture, society, science et cetera, is a relatively new development. When we encounter threat and subvert the older system (the parasympathetic) with the newer system (neo-cortex) we essentially lock up both systems leaving them both to spin their wheels and gain zero ground in protecting us from the threat at hand.

We need to inoculate ourselves against the possibility of this lock-up by making a conscious, cognitive choice now before any hint of threat appears on the horizon. We must resolve now that we will step out of the way and let the fight or flight response work its magic. We inoculate ourselves by understanding the processes at war within our craniums and make a decision to allow the civilized neo-cortex to fade away in time of primitive threat so that the primitive parasympathetic system can work at optimum capacity.

Deciding now to slough off the veneer of civilized conduct if/when things go primitive is of vital necessity in your quest for survival. You must reduce your cognitive options to two and only two--fight or flight. There is nothing else to choose except loss.

Reviews and Scenarios

This past week, there have been Level 1, 2 and 3 (yellow belt, orange belt and green belt) reviews for all Levels because of the upcoming belt testing scheduled for next Saturday. There will be more reviews next week also.

So... during our groundfighting night, Wednesday, we reviewed all Krav Maga Worldwide (KMWW) curriculum groundfighting techniques for the aforementioned Levels. We didn’t practice techniques that we might normally practice on this night because they are usually outside of the KMWW curriculum.

Some of the striking groundfighting techniques reviewed were front, side and round kicks from the ground. Some of the grappling groundfighting techniques reviewed were headlock on the ground, arm bar from the guard and choke from the side.

Thursday night, I took the Scenario Training class. The class was very interesting because we had to deal with the escalating levels of a confrontational individual. Our lead instructor asked us to play the role of the antagonist by trying to think and act the way an antagonist would think and act (method acting).

The first drill involved being confronted by an irate person and you had to try to de-escalate the situation. Another drill involved a person that would not calm down and continued to press you by getting in your space to the point of being threatening. You had to decide what your rules of engagement were going to be. In other words, when do I decide it’s time to stop this person before she attacks me?

We were put through another drill that exhausted us before being confronted. Our partners held focus mitts and we had to punch as fast as we could for speed, then as hard as we could for power, then for speed again and then for power again. I’m guessing we punched for a total of two minutes nonstop. Once exhausted, we had to deal with the whacko that’s accused us of looking at his girlfriend with lustful eyes.

Our final drill involved sitting in a chair. Our partner could attack us in any manner, armed or unarmed. We had to reach into our Krav Maga tool box and make a defense.

As I stated in my last post, “the more times you correctly repeat your techniques, the better you will be at them.” And you can’t beat the scenario-based training for putting you in mock situations where you get to practice the application of your Krav Maga skills.