Lately it seems like Krav Maga is everywhere. It has been featured on television and in various movies, yet most people actually know very little about the discipline. That is beginning to change as the popular media turns a spotlight onto this athletic pursuit. It’s not exactly a sport and it’s not precisely a martial art. However, it is a great way to get in shape while also learning to defend yourself with some seriously tricky tactics.
In some respects Krav Maga does share similarities with martial arts. Unlike most other martial arts Krav Maga does not have an overarching philosophy, religion or way of life at its core. Krav Maga was created to help people survive an unexpected threat – whether that threat may occur in a dark alley or in the bedroom of their home – and Krav Maga Houston instructors help students to do just that.
Since its earliest development in the 1930s Krav Maga has been closely linked to the art of survival. Actually, it was initially developed to help one man, Imi Lichtenfeld, to survive the urban jungle of Bratislava. Imi spent years perfecting his techniques and passing on his knowledge to hundreds of students, many of which included national and local police forces around the world. Today Imi’s methods are recognized as an easy to learn means of self defense and are also used to promote overall health and fitness.
Krav Maga Houston centers build on the legacy that Imi Lichtenfeld started so many years ago. Most schools that teach the rudiments of Krav Maga offer fitness classes for individuals seeking a total body workout that is far outside the typical fitness routine found in most gyms. They also provide a rich variety of fitness classes at various levels. Many of them are designed to accommodate novices who have never encountered any kind of fighting before. Most of these Krav Maga Houston centers also offer a very different kind of experience for people who are simply interested in learning how to fight. These classes focus on perfecting strikes and kicks and also teach pupils how to fight on the ground.
Krav Maga fitness classes are meant to help students achieve their personal best fitness level. Each class session is unique and challenging, meaning there is never an opportunity to get bored. Students are encouraged to focus on their whole body working together as a complete system just as it operates in real life. This focus is based on solid Krav Maga techniques that encourage the individual to fight with everything that is in them, especially in a fight to survive. If this sounds a bit intense, perhaps it is. But it is precisely this sort of intensity that attendees at Krav Maga fitness classes find so appealing. It drives their motivation to succeed and leaves them feeling able to conquer the world.
Many people take such fitness classes in concert with self defense classes. Krav Maga Houston classes prepare students to deal with the sometimes perilous situations that exist on the streets of any big city. While it is statistically true that most people will never be the victim of a violent crime, it is nonetheless wise to be prepared for such an eventuality. Proper preparation with self defense training allows the potential victim to take back some control in a situation where too frequently the victim feels powerless. Krav Maga self defense techniques prepare the individual to defend themselves in the event of an attack and also teach them to counterattack should such an offensive prove necessary.
These self defense courses are designed to accommodate men and women of any level of fitness. There are no prerequisites for enrolling other than the desire to learn. Class attendees are encouraged to be present at every session since each week’s lesson will build upon what was learned during the previous week’s class. This way, students acquire a real understanding of and facility for using vital self defense techniques.
Those who are interested in fighting will also find appropriate courses in Krav Maga Houston centers. Many of the people who attend these classes are already experienced fighters. However, most of these gyms also offer introductory level fighting courses that offer comprehensive training from the ground up. Pupils who begin in these classes start with the basics and build to more advanced concepts over the course of months and years. Eventually they get into some pretty serious sparring to really test their progress.
Krav Maga is not a sport with a system of points. Its basis is in street fighting and consequently the only winning comes from being able to walk away from a confrontation relatively unharmed. It is a great way to get in shape and learn some valuable self defense techniques in a non-intimidating environment.