Monday, 23.04.2007
Krav Maga
Many martial arts stem from traditions that date back 5,000 years, involve wearing pyjama sets and channelling the spirit within. Bowing is often required and participants regularly thank the person that is hurting them. However, if you prefer your violence to be a little more unadulterated, then perhaps Krav Maga is the method for you.
Krav Maga is the official self-defence system of the Israeli Defence Forces that has been developed and refined during years of conflict. It has been taught worldwide since 1964 and it emphasises easy-to-learn techniques that are instinctive and effective. Patrick Cumiskey, of Krav Maga Ireland, says that there is probably no other martial art in the world more battle tested.
"We know Krav Maga works and it works under stress. When you learn Krav Maga, you can rest assured you are learning techniques that are proven to work."
There are two main parts to Krav Maga - self-defence and hand-to-hand combat - although most courses concentrate on the former. Students are taught to defend themselves against a variety of hostile actions, to avoid injury, and to overcome their assailant. And what an assailant. According to www.martialartsacademy.org:
"Krav Maga defences address a wide variety of aggressive acts, such as punches, kicks, chokes, bear-hugs, headlocks, grabs, as well as defences against multiply assailants and assailants armed with a firearm, knife or sticks."
"Students apply the relevant Krav Maga principles and techniques in a multitude of situations, even in unfamiliar or adverse circumstances, such as dark surroundings; from a sitting or lying position; with limited freedom or movement; or under extreme stress and/or fatigue."
Krav Maga Ireland offers both weekly and intensive weekend classes, but the first thing that all students learn is confidence. Muggers, says Cumiskey, are not looking for a fair fight; they are looking for a victim.
"When they come up to you at first, they'll often 'interview' you. If you come across as confident, and in control of the situation, they are less likely to strike."
Lt. Conor Gorey, who took the weekend course, says that after the psychological training, his class then quickly progressed on to drills - 'hits, slaps, and knees' - all tested on pads and on a partner.
"By the end of the first day, we had learned and practiced repeatedly everything from how to hit most effectively to how to break out of headlocks and other common holds. When we finished after one final endurance exercise, I was exhausted, soaked in sweat, bruised and sore, but also more confident in my own ability to defend myself successfully."
The hand-to-hand combat part of Krav Maga is designed to teach students to neutralise an opponent quickly. How to take them down to Chinatown, basically, and not just to buy them a spring roll. This part of the course will teach you all the Jean Claude Van Damme moves - tactics, feints, powerful combinations of different attacks, and how to use the environment to your advantage.
And the moves that you learn are not just theoretical - by the end of the second day of the weekend course, you stand with your eyes closed and your back turned, while an instructor in full body pads sneaks up and attacks you. You must then react and fight, not quite to the death, but at least until your padded assailant falls to the ground.
"The instructor isn't keen to lie down and certainly knows how to punch making it the closest to reality you can safely come. By the end of it, I was barely able to lift my arms but was happy with my newfound skills and knowledge," says Gorey.
There are no formal competitions or belt systems in Krav Maga, due to its no-holds-barred nature. After all, the system encourages students to use their environment to their advantage, so competitors would be within their rights to pick up a handy bench and conk their opponent with it. Krav Maga is not the sort of martial art that you can use to playfully spar with your brother at a family barbeque - unless, of course, you mean to kill him...
So if you want to have something to back up that defensive scowl, then why not learn Krav Maga? Lessen your fear on the Nitelink...
