People begin Krav Maga training for any number of different reasons. Some are experienced fighters – martial artists and boxers who are looking to gain new skills that will give them the advantage over an opponent. Other people are drawn to Krav Maga because they have heard it is an efficient method of self protection. Some people simply realize that the study of this discipline represents a superior full body workout that never gets old or boring. The reality is that Krav Maga is all of these things and more.
Krav Maga had its inception in the 1930s when its creator, Imi Lichtenfeld, was growing up on the streets of Bratislava. Fascist groups would frequently raid the Jewish quarter, forcing Lichtenfeld and other youths like him to defend themselves. Slowly Imi began to develop a method of self defense that he eventually christened Krav Maga, Hebrew words meaning “contact combat.” He perfected the techniques after immigrating to Israel and within a few decades national armies and local police forces were adopting Imi’s methods as part of their training.
The public began to recognize the benefits of Krav Maga training as well and centers for the study of this discipline opened in many countries around the world. Because of its close relation to street fighting it is important for those interested in Krav Maga to realize that it is not a sport. Krav Maga can become a valuable part of anyone’s fitness routine, but there is no scorekeeping as would be an inherent part of a more traditional sport. Krav Maga training also encourages practitioners to utilize maneuvers that would be considered illegal in many sports. The ultimate goal of any confrontation involving the use of Krav Maga is being able to walk away relatively unscathed. Being able to do this may mean executing strikes, kicks and punches that would be considered dirty fighting in boxing or martial arts.
Krav Maga encourages the individual to work with their whole body at once. This is an enormous improvement over traditional gym exercises that typically stress isolating muscle groups or engaging in repetitive motions. Krav Maga is based on the natural kinesiology of the body and its instinctive responses to danger. Accordingly, people who begin to study this particular discipline will find that their overall coordination improves along with their strength and conditioning.
Many MMA fighters, boxers and martial artists are turning to Krav Maga to help them perfect their technique. Many experienced fighters have found that Krav Maga gives them a helpful leg up on the competition and greatly improves their performance in the ring. Fighters at this level will practice punches and kicks that are introduced to students at the beginning level, but they will also focus on much more advanced maneuvers. They will be taught to contend with complicated grappling holds. They will also receive training on throws and take downs, subjects that are not generally covered in most self defense courses.
Both men and women have found Krav Maga self defense classes to be enormously useful. Krav Maga is rooted in the real world on the streets with which people must contend on a daily basis. Instructors begin by teaching the class rudimentary principals of hand strikes like punches and elbow strikes for close quarter contact. They are also encouraged to make full use of their legs. Low kicks are the kind most favored by experienced practitioners and students are also acquainted with using knee strikes.
As the self defense course progresses the students begin to engage in some non-intimidating sparring. This provides useful practice time for students to perfect the techniques to which they have been introduced. Although many people begin such practice with trepidation, most soon realize the value of these exercises. Without actually successfully practicing the proper way to break a particular hold several times, it is unlikely the student would ever be able to perform the maneuver in a real world situation. The student in a Krav Maga self defense class must overcome their initial discomfort in order to be able to adequately protect themselves on the street.
Most centers that offer Krav Maga training also provide fitness classes meant to supplement the fighting and self defense courses. These classes combine weight training and cardiovascular exercise for a total body workout. In fact, some people continue to take these fitness classes for several years as they offer endless variety and a very motivated instructor who helps them achieve results.
Krav Maga training is designed to be approachable for men and women of all fitness levels. Even those who have never been in a fight will find that Krav Maga schools offer a course that is appropriate for them. It can be a great way to get in shape or break out of a training rut.