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Some frequently
asked questions:
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WHAT IS
KRAV MAGA?
Krav
Maga ('Contact Combat'), in Hebrew is a highly effective, battle tested,
modern day self defence system. It is extremely easy to learn as its
actions are based on the body's natural defence instincts. Therefore
a practitioner can expect to become proficient very quickly. The system
has been adopted by the Israeli Defence and
Security Forces and has been used in some of the most severe combat
settings of this century amidst Nazi terrorism, the combat of World
War II, and the extremely violent military confrontations of the Middle
East.
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WHY DO
WE NEED KRAV MAGA?
More and more people are becoming victims of unprovoked attacks. These attacks
can range from a simple verbal attack to a serious assault where often an
edged weapon may be deployed. There are also incidents where a firearm may
be used. Scotland especially has seen a huge increase in the number of attacks
with an edged weapon in recent years. The Government is currently looking
into ways to combat the “Booze
and Blade” culture which is a problem that is sadly spiraling in Scotland.
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WHO IS
IT FOR?
The beauty of Krav Maga is that it precludes nobody. The system is designed
to be able to be learnt quickly by anyone. It was originally designed so
that any member of the Israeli armed forces, whether they were a chef or
a special forces soldier could be brought up to a similar level in a short
period of time.
Classes are aimed towards men and women of all ages regardless of shape,
size and level of physical fitness.
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WHAT WILL
I LEARN?
- Defence against attacks from all angles and whilst
in a variety of postures.
- Unarmed and armed attacks featuring, edged weapons,
impact weapons and firearms.
- Dealing with multiple attackers who may be armed or
unarmed.
- Attacks in confined spaces.
- How to function under the stress brought on by an
attack
- How to deploy common objects when under attack
- Prevention, avoidance, escape and evasion
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HOW WILL
I LEARN?
Krav Maga uses a simple approach to learning through practice
and repetition. The most effective defence against each kind of assault
become almost second nature and automatic, so that in actual “street” confrontations they will be immediately utilized.
Techniques are broken down into stages and practiced until
the user becomes fully confident.
Techniques and training methods emphasize the ability
to function from a poor state of readiness, and to move from a passive
to aggressive state immediately in order to fight back and survive.
Instructors incorporate realistic re-enactments, teaching students how
to operate under the stress of an actual attack.
Krav Maga teaches hand to hand combat. This is a more
advanced and sophisticated phase, and shows how to neutralize an opponent
quickly and effectively. It embodies elements related to the actual
performance of the fight including tactics, feints, powerful combinations
of different attacks, the psychological dimensions of the fight, and
learning how to use the environment to your advantage.
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WHAT CAN I EXPECT
IN A CLASS?
A thorough warm up which will ensure your body is prepared
and stretched for the class. Clothing wise you may wish to consider
the appropriate apparel available through this website. However, anything
that allows freedom of movement will be fine.
You can find yourself in a bad situation at any time and
in any place. It would be foolish to suggest that we can train you for
each and every possibility however, we can train you how to get out
of bad situations you could find yourself in. For example, being attacked
in a confined space, dealing with a multiple attack, or an attack involving
an impact or edged weapon.
We will show you how to cope with the “adrenalin
dump”, which is that rush of panic we all feel when in a confrontational situation.
With the right degree of controlled realism we can even show you how
to turn this to your advantage.
We aim to teach in a way that will make you much more
aware of your surroundings and the people in them. Classes can be quite
noisy sometimes which is designed to enable you to deal with confusing
and stressful situations. Having your brain bombarded this information
overload is a simple method that allows you to make the right decisions
for your own safety and escape.
At the end of each class there will be a proper a proper
'warm down' and a time to ask any questions you may have.
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BENEFITS
- Krav Maga
teaches individuals to deal with unpleasant situations that they may
find themselves in and provides them with a means to come out from
such a situation in tact.
- Give individuals
a greater knowledge of how to neutralise a possible attack before anything
happens.
- How to avoid
dangerous situations
- Increased
cardiovascular fitness through practicing techniques and drills.
- Building core
strength from learning to strike
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PRINCIPLES
- If diplomacy fails, If FORCED to fight, no rules,
no limits, no hesitation, no holding back.
- Avoid getting hit. Techniques will always have an
element that minimizes the danger of you being hit, especially in vulnerable
areas.
- Don't be fancy. Techniques are simple
and instinctive.
- Defend yourself in the quickest, safest and most effective
way. Most techniques include both defensive and offensive elements
designed to protect you while inflicting maximum possible damage to
your opponent to end the conflict quickly.
- Don't rely on strength. Techniques
are designed to exploit the many and other not so obvious weak points
on the human body.
- Use available objects as defensive weapons. The system
is designed to teach you to effectively use improvised and ordinary
weapons.
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WHY IS IT DIFFERENT
FROM OTHER MARTIAL ARTS?
Martial Arts are
not predominately concerned with self preservation. Often the techniques
learnt either take too long to develop or are not practical in so far
as they cannot be used in certain circumstances. For example, try executing
certain techniques in a phone box.
When learning
self defence, you have to figure in 'the fog of war'- adrenal stress.
When you are very scared and full of adrenaline you need techniques
that are going to work with as little modification as possible.
A soldier for example has to be able to apply their close
combat training when they are exhausted after a forced march of 30 mile
carrying kit, weapons and ammunition. They have to be able too use it
if they have been captured and are malnourished and have been abused.
This means that techniques relying on brute force and strength are of
no use. This makes Krav Maga perfect for everyone, male or female regardless
of size.
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WHO USES KRAV MAGA?
- Israeli Defence
and Security Forces
- FBI
- SWAT
- Military Units
around the Globe
- 200,000
everyday people like you and me
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THE HISTORY OF KRAV
MAGA
Krav-Maga was created and developed by Imi Sde-or (Lichtenfeld),
Israeli Grand-master (1910-1998) who started KM in the late 1940's whilst
serving as Chief Instructor for hand to hand combat and combat fitness
training for the Israeli Defence Forces. Imi, as a young man growing
up in Bratislava, Slovakia, was a champion boxer, a top-level wrestler,
and an expert in judo/jujitsu. Imi's father was a police officer in-charge
of the detectives in Bratislava who taught his detectives (and Imi)
police defensive tactics.
Imi took part in numerous street fights defending the
Jewish quarter against local fascists and Nazis before and during the
first phase of World War II. After two years of travel, Imi immigrated
to Palestine (1942), which became Israel in 1948. Due to the political
situation, Israel was immediately at war with its neighbours and did
not have the luxury of a six-month boot camp for its young soldiers,
who were literally conscripted and sent to fight. Due to this, the Israeli
military needed an effective hand to hand combat system that could be
learned very quickly, was easy to retain and was very effective. Beginning
with Israeli special forces units like the Haganah, Palmack, and Palyam
Krav Maga became the official fighting system for all military personnel,
Israeli police and security forces. Since then it has been studied,
tested, improved and developed extensively.
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