In the martial arts there has always been this need for the student to latch onto a specific instructor. It is very common for students to want to train with instructors who have a direct link to the founder. In Krav Maga this is extremely common in fact. But again what does it mean. Over the past several years I have heard, seen, read and witnessed instructors and students alike waste time arguing over who is teaching Imi's Krav Maga.
The truth of the matter is that none of the civillian organizations are teachin military Krav Maga. So depending on when an instructor became involved with Krav Maga the style of "Imi's Krav Maga" was different. As an instructor grows in any system he changes over time. This is especially true for the founder of the system. Krav Maga was meant to change. It was meant to constantly improve. It is not static and stale it is alive and breathing. So should our training be. More to come.....
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
What Kind of Student are you?
Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with so many different students. These folks have ranged in ages 8 years old to 80 years old. So many different backgrounds, nationalities, ablility level, training goals etc...
As an instructor I have seen so many students come to us in various mental, physical and emotional states. I truly believe that Martial Arts in any form improves the students lives if they are seeking to conquer their own fears. Perhaps they wakled into our doors looking to get into shape. Perhaps they came to us because they were being abused by their spouse. Perhaps they came to us because they are a soldier or law enforcement officer who needs a specific skill set. It does not matter why they came to us, the fact is that they have come to us and we are giving them what they need and so much more.
The students who embrace their new lifestyle, and believe me, training is a new lifestyle. For these students who embrace their new tribe (this is what we call our family of students) we see immediate changes in them. They begin to get in better condition. They have emotional breakthroughs because they are in an enviornment that is both demanding and nurturing. They begin to see themselves differently and all of these things are more important than any punch, kick or technique that we have ever taught them.
There is something magical that happens when students come together to learn and improve themselves. There is almost a "third mind", that is created when people get together and work toward a common goal. A students life is enriched in every aspect because they have surrounded themselves with like minded individuals.
If you are not training consistently you are robbing yourself of a magical experience. Do not allow the day to day grind of life to distract you from your training. Everything in life boils down to habit. It is habit to train or not to train. So who are you going to be? Are you the type of student who wants to train hard? Do you want to wear the shirt and shorts and say you train but never attend class? It's your decision.
As an instructor I have seen so many students come to us in various mental, physical and emotional states. I truly believe that Martial Arts in any form improves the students lives if they are seeking to conquer their own fears. Perhaps they wakled into our doors looking to get into shape. Perhaps they came to us because they were being abused by their spouse. Perhaps they came to us because they are a soldier or law enforcement officer who needs a specific skill set. It does not matter why they came to us, the fact is that they have come to us and we are giving them what they need and so much more.
The students who embrace their new lifestyle, and believe me, training is a new lifestyle. For these students who embrace their new tribe (this is what we call our family of students) we see immediate changes in them. They begin to get in better condition. They have emotional breakthroughs because they are in an enviornment that is both demanding and nurturing. They begin to see themselves differently and all of these things are more important than any punch, kick or technique that we have ever taught them.
There is something magical that happens when students come together to learn and improve themselves. There is almost a "third mind", that is created when people get together and work toward a common goal. A students life is enriched in every aspect because they have surrounded themselves with like minded individuals.
If you are not training consistently you are robbing yourself of a magical experience. Do not allow the day to day grind of life to distract you from your training. Everything in life boils down to habit. It is habit to train or not to train. So who are you going to be? Are you the type of student who wants to train hard? Do you want to wear the shirt and shorts and say you train but never attend class? It's your decision.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Evolution of Krav Maga.....
Recently I had the opportunity to discuss the current state of Krav Maga with one of the world's best instructors. We were talking about the systems challenges and how these challenges would be met by those who are working tirelessly everyday to push this great system forward.
Krav Maga is still relatively young in North America, especially when you compare its popularity compared to say Tae Kwon Do. The reality is that prior to the 1950's Americans were not exposed to the martial arts. So the entire genre of martial arts is only 60 years old here in the U.S. . Compared to say Japan, China, Indonesia, Africa etc... the history of combat systems is extremely young here in North America.
These are interesting times indeed. Recently there have been many developments in the world of Reality Based Martial Arts, a world which Krav Maga is the premiere system by the way. There have been many instructors and systems which have been exposed as being less than what they have claimed the are.
Are there really "different styles" of Krav Maga? Is Krav Maga a generic term which describes all Israeli martial arts? Does the system have a specific set of techniques which makes it unique to other forms? Is this a principle based or a technique based system? Is there any room for improvement to the system? If so, who is "authorized" to make such a change?
These are just some of the questions surrounding our system. I will answer these questions to the best of my ability, which means that I am giving you my opinion. I know, I know, opinions are like some a certain part of the anatomy..... everyone has one. These opinions are based on conversations that I have had with some of the top practitioners and instructors in the world. Some of these individuals actually trained with Imi. Others have contributed much to the system and are recognized around the world as experts in Krav Maga.
So let's get busy.
1.Are there really "different styles" of Krav Maga?
I don't think that there are different styles of Krav Maga. However I do think that there are different interpretations of Krav Maga. The system has been practiced in an ever changing environment, Israel, for many years. Remember Krav Maga is a military system and each unit in the military has a different area of expertise. So one unity may have need for more expertise in a particular set of tactics in Krav Maga that another unit may not require. The system was created to provide options for the practitioner. So if the techniques can be modified to fit the task what governs the techniques? In other words how is the technique selected for the practioner? What is the criteria?
These to me are the more important issues. I submit that the principles that govern our system are far more important than any particular technique or set of techniques. Principles. Rules. Not Dogma. Principles. In an individuals personal expression of Krav Maga the techniques need only to fit the principle of the users comfort and ability to perform the technique under stress. This is a different thing entirely from inserting a technique into the system simply because an instructor favors that technique and therefore he/she wants the students to know the technique.
So if we are evaluating the merit of a particular Krav Maga organizations techniques then we should use some sort of generally accepted principles in order to properly assess the technique.
1. Is the technique based on natural movements or does it require heavy memorization?
2. Can a smaller person perform the technique against a much larger attacker/
3. Does the technique solve multiple attacks or is it only applicable in a specific situation?
4. Has the technique been tested under stress and pressure?
5. Is there already a technique in the system that can be applied to the situation?
These are just a few of the questions that we should be asking regarding any technique in Krav Maga. If the technique can pass this little quiz then it is more than likely "Krav Maga". Now if in fact the technique has a base or root in another system, that is fine. This means that the technique is probably based in truth because truth is eternal and it is consistent in any form.
There is a difference between the way Krav Maga is presented in the IDF, The IDF spec forces, Civilians and law enforcement here in the U.S. and around the world. Does this mean that the Krav Maga being taught at your school is "watered down"? Truthfully, I don't know. Is it watered down just because your instructor was not an IDF Krav Maga Instructor? Of course not. However to claim that what is taught at the local Krav Maga school is always the same as what is being taught in Israel is not at all accurate.
The instructors overall understanding of Krav Maga is the most important attribute that an instructor should have. There is a difference because most of us as instructors have not had to grow up in Israel, a place where your life is on the line daily. So of course the techniques have been modified to fit our environment. Is this a bad thing? I don't think so. I think this shows the beauty of the system the way Imi intended.
Is Krav Maga a generic term which describes all Israeli martial arts? Yes and No. Yes first. Has anyone ever asked you "what kid of Karate" you take? Well this illustrates my point. If you go to certain parts of the U.S. and order dinner at a restaurant the waitress will come to your table and ask you "what kind of Coke" you want. I have been asked this many times and sometimes my answer is Pepsi. They are using the term Coke to define carbonated beverages generically. So in some circles in Israel "Krav Maga" is used in a similar manner that Karate is used. However Krav Maga is a specific system with specific principles, techniques, tactics and strategy. One cannot just grab a technique from Judo and call it Krav Maga.
So it is sometimes generic when spoken of. However it is very specific when studied and practiced.
Is there any room for improvement to the system? If so, who is "authorized" to make such a change?
The system was created to deal with a myriad of situations so as situations change the system must be able to adapt to them. The Wingate Institute and the IDF will always be viewed as the governing bodies of Krav Maga on an official basis anyways. However there are very talented instructors who have devoted their lives to training and teaching at the highest levels. They have earned the right to look at the system and make it more efficient. Of course the principles that are listed above must be adhered to above all.
In order for this system to continue to be the recognized leader in the Reality Based Systems revolution we have to maintain our principles without becoming rigid. Our principles must serve as a checklist. The curriculum of the different organizations should be evaluated and it should be said here that not all teachers or curriculum are the same. They are not equal. Just as all law schools are not equal.
Lastly,
The evolution of our system can't happen if one organization and therefore one instructor is the only source of Krav Maga. It is not possible. Imi is gone now. His teachings live in all of us. We have to improve what he gave us. We have to search for ourselves and remain humble enough to always be a student. I am blessed. My mentors, peers and friends share this mindset. These men are leading the way in the next evolution of Krav Maga and I have a front row seat. I am glad that I have the blog to give you all the play by play.
Be safe. Train hard.
Krav Maga is still relatively young in North America, especially when you compare its popularity compared to say Tae Kwon Do. The reality is that prior to the 1950's Americans were not exposed to the martial arts. So the entire genre of martial arts is only 60 years old here in the U.S. . Compared to say Japan, China, Indonesia, Africa etc... the history of combat systems is extremely young here in North America.
These are interesting times indeed. Recently there have been many developments in the world of Reality Based Martial Arts, a world which Krav Maga is the premiere system by the way. There have been many instructors and systems which have been exposed as being less than what they have claimed the are.
Are there really "different styles" of Krav Maga? Is Krav Maga a generic term which describes all Israeli martial arts? Does the system have a specific set of techniques which makes it unique to other forms? Is this a principle based or a technique based system? Is there any room for improvement to the system? If so, who is "authorized" to make such a change?
These are just some of the questions surrounding our system. I will answer these questions to the best of my ability, which means that I am giving you my opinion. I know, I know, opinions are like some a certain part of the anatomy..... everyone has one. These opinions are based on conversations that I have had with some of the top practitioners and instructors in the world. Some of these individuals actually trained with Imi. Others have contributed much to the system and are recognized around the world as experts in Krav Maga.
So let's get busy.
1.Are there really "different styles" of Krav Maga?
I don't think that there are different styles of Krav Maga. However I do think that there are different interpretations of Krav Maga. The system has been practiced in an ever changing environment, Israel, for many years. Remember Krav Maga is a military system and each unit in the military has a different area of expertise. So one unity may have need for more expertise in a particular set of tactics in Krav Maga that another unit may not require. The system was created to provide options for the practitioner. So if the techniques can be modified to fit the task what governs the techniques? In other words how is the technique selected for the practioner? What is the criteria?
These to me are the more important issues. I submit that the principles that govern our system are far more important than any particular technique or set of techniques. Principles. Rules. Not Dogma. Principles. In an individuals personal expression of Krav Maga the techniques need only to fit the principle of the users comfort and ability to perform the technique under stress. This is a different thing entirely from inserting a technique into the system simply because an instructor favors that technique and therefore he/she wants the students to know the technique.
So if we are evaluating the merit of a particular Krav Maga organizations techniques then we should use some sort of generally accepted principles in order to properly assess the technique.
1. Is the technique based on natural movements or does it require heavy memorization?
2. Can a smaller person perform the technique against a much larger attacker/
3. Does the technique solve multiple attacks or is it only applicable in a specific situation?
4. Has the technique been tested under stress and pressure?
5. Is there already a technique in the system that can be applied to the situation?
These are just a few of the questions that we should be asking regarding any technique in Krav Maga. If the technique can pass this little quiz then it is more than likely "Krav Maga". Now if in fact the technique has a base or root in another system, that is fine. This means that the technique is probably based in truth because truth is eternal and it is consistent in any form.
There is a difference between the way Krav Maga is presented in the IDF, The IDF spec forces, Civilians and law enforcement here in the U.S. and around the world. Does this mean that the Krav Maga being taught at your school is "watered down"? Truthfully, I don't know. Is it watered down just because your instructor was not an IDF Krav Maga Instructor? Of course not. However to claim that what is taught at the local Krav Maga school is always the same as what is being taught in Israel is not at all accurate.
The instructors overall understanding of Krav Maga is the most important attribute that an instructor should have. There is a difference because most of us as instructors have not had to grow up in Israel, a place where your life is on the line daily. So of course the techniques have been modified to fit our environment. Is this a bad thing? I don't think so. I think this shows the beauty of the system the way Imi intended.
Is Krav Maga a generic term which describes all Israeli martial arts? Yes and No. Yes first. Has anyone ever asked you "what kid of Karate" you take? Well this illustrates my point. If you go to certain parts of the U.S. and order dinner at a restaurant the waitress will come to your table and ask you "what kind of Coke" you want. I have been asked this many times and sometimes my answer is Pepsi. They are using the term Coke to define carbonated beverages generically. So in some circles in Israel "Krav Maga" is used in a similar manner that Karate is used. However Krav Maga is a specific system with specific principles, techniques, tactics and strategy. One cannot just grab a technique from Judo and call it Krav Maga.
So it is sometimes generic when spoken of. However it is very specific when studied and practiced.
Is there any room for improvement to the system? If so, who is "authorized" to make such a change?
The system was created to deal with a myriad of situations so as situations change the system must be able to adapt to them. The Wingate Institute and the IDF will always be viewed as the governing bodies of Krav Maga on an official basis anyways. However there are very talented instructors who have devoted their lives to training and teaching at the highest levels. They have earned the right to look at the system and make it more efficient. Of course the principles that are listed above must be adhered to above all.
In order for this system to continue to be the recognized leader in the Reality Based Systems revolution we have to maintain our principles without becoming rigid. Our principles must serve as a checklist. The curriculum of the different organizations should be evaluated and it should be said here that not all teachers or curriculum are the same. They are not equal. Just as all law schools are not equal.
Lastly,
The evolution of our system can't happen if one organization and therefore one instructor is the only source of Krav Maga. It is not possible. Imi is gone now. His teachings live in all of us. We have to improve what he gave us. We have to search for ourselves and remain humble enough to always be a student. I am blessed. My mentors, peers and friends share this mindset. These men are leading the way in the next evolution of Krav Maga and I have a front row seat. I am glad that I have the blog to give you all the play by play.
Be safe. Train hard.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
TRIAL BY FIREARMS!!!!
All,
I want to call your attention to an amazing event that will be happening in Las Vegas in a few weeks. TRIAL BY FIREARMS! This is a dynamic three day course that will focus on Krav Maga and firearms training. The three days will cover weapons disarms, third party protection, live firearms training, tactical shooting, clearing rooms and a grand finale so intense, so realistic and so crazy that I can say without a doubt that nothing has ever been done on this level in Krav Maga!
Full disclosure. This event is a Krav Maga Alliance event that Krav Maga Las Vegas (my school) are putting on in conjuction with the fine people at American Shooters Club in Las Vegas. John Whitman and I will be teaching the Krav Maga portion and our friends at American Shooters will be covering all aspects of deploying firearms tactically.
This event is open to any and all Krav Maga practioners, regardless of organization. Let me repeat that. We do not care what organization you belong to. This is about Krav Maga and weapons training. Don't miss this oportunity to train with one of the top instructors in the world (John Whitman) and one of his blackbelt instructors (me).
It has come to my attention that my friends who belong to a certain organization which will not be named here has banned their instructors from attending events that are not presented by their organization. How sad. How arrogant. How insecure. Do not be dismayed my friends, you are still welcome. I am not asking you to put your job in jeopardy. I am asking that you attend the event if you can.
For more information please go to www.kravmagalliance.com
I hope to see you there. Remember the event is June 4th thru June 6th. You need no prior experience. All you need is an open mind and a desire to learn and have some serious fun!
I want to call your attention to an amazing event that will be happening in Las Vegas in a few weeks. TRIAL BY FIREARMS! This is a dynamic three day course that will focus on Krav Maga and firearms training. The three days will cover weapons disarms, third party protection, live firearms training, tactical shooting, clearing rooms and a grand finale so intense, so realistic and so crazy that I can say without a doubt that nothing has ever been done on this level in Krav Maga!
Full disclosure. This event is a Krav Maga Alliance event that Krav Maga Las Vegas (my school) are putting on in conjuction with the fine people at American Shooters Club in Las Vegas. John Whitman and I will be teaching the Krav Maga portion and our friends at American Shooters will be covering all aspects of deploying firearms tactically.
This event is open to any and all Krav Maga practioners, regardless of organization. Let me repeat that. We do not care what organization you belong to. This is about Krav Maga and weapons training. Don't miss this oportunity to train with one of the top instructors in the world (John Whitman) and one of his blackbelt instructors (me).
It has come to my attention that my friends who belong to a certain organization which will not be named here has banned their instructors from attending events that are not presented by their organization. How sad. How arrogant. How insecure. Do not be dismayed my friends, you are still welcome. I am not asking you to put your job in jeopardy. I am asking that you attend the event if you can.
For more information please go to www.kravmagalliance.com
I hope to see you there. Remember the event is June 4th thru June 6th. You need no prior experience. All you need is an open mind and a desire to learn and have some serious fun!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
What Krav Maga has given to you?
Krav Maga has given me so much. It has enriched my life in many ways. The most powerful impact that the system has made on me is in my personal relationships with my mentors, instructors and students. Truly I have been blessed.
There are times when I sit in one of our schools and I look at the walls and mats and I can hear the sounds of students training and facing their fears. I realize how lucky I have been to receive such great instruction from some of the finest teachers in the world. I have a circle of influence that boasts some of the top people in this field and I say that with great humility.
The punches, kicks, blood, sweat, tears are all worth it. To be able to pick up the phone and call my mentors and have them teach me and advise me on how to become a better instructor. This is why I have dedicated my life to learning, understanding and teaching Krav Maga. The world will need us now more than ever! Never doubt this. Please comment on this. I would love to hear what Krav Maga has done for all of you.
There are times when I sit in one of our schools and I look at the walls and mats and I can hear the sounds of students training and facing their fears. I realize how lucky I have been to receive such great instruction from some of the finest teachers in the world. I have a circle of influence that boasts some of the top people in this field and I say that with great humility.
The punches, kicks, blood, sweat, tears are all worth it. To be able to pick up the phone and call my mentors and have them teach me and advise me on how to become a better instructor. This is why I have dedicated my life to learning, understanding and teaching Krav Maga. The world will need us now more than ever! Never doubt this. Please comment on this. I would love to hear what Krav Maga has done for all of you.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Source Of Krav Maga: Truth or fiction
The source of Krav Maga!
Is there such a thing? I don't think so. While the IDF and Wingate institute can certainly be considered a governing body for the system. I don't think that any civilian organization in the U.S., Israel or any other place can make such a claim. There are two reasons that organizations and their leaders claim to be the source of Krav Maga. Money! Ego!
The phenomenon of systems splitting and having multiple organizations is not exclusive to Krav Maga. In fact this is quite common in martial arts. As much as Krav Maga practioners and instructors do not want to be refereed to as "martial artists", this behavior is very typical of martial arts.
Krav Maga has been around for 60 years. Even though its existence in the main stream has been a relatively new event, the system has been exposed to people of all levels. There are so many talented instructors and practioners who have had an opportunity to learn the system, how can anyone claim to be "the source"? If you add the fact that almost immediately after Imi's death, many of his higher ranking students began to publicly claim to be his chosen successor. It is easy to see that the very notion of there being one "source", is absurd.
There are so many talented instructors from all over the world who have a unique perspective on Krav Maga. To deny that these men and women have contributed to the systems development is foolish. For whatever reason though, human beings have the need to belong to a group. They want to take the part of the system that they like and discard the rest. They want to teach those portions and build organizations and curriculum to support that process. It's funny but religion has a very similar path. How can there be that many different sects of Christianity,Islam and Judaism? See the parallel?
I want to be clear. I am not suggesting that Krav Maga is not a specific system with a specific set of principles and very unique approaches to self defense and fighting. No. All of these things are evident when we are discussing Krav Maga. I am very well aware of some instructors who have been selling their own repackaged versions of Judo and Jiu Jitsu as a Commando version of Krav Maga. Individuals like this should be exposed for being the liars that they are.
What I am saying is that the various organizations and their leaders have postured themselves as "the authority" on Krav Maga. I know because I have trained with many of these men. The problem that presents itself now is that they can't acknowledge any of their counterparts and the other organizations contributions to the system because they are fearful that such an acknowledgement would give the other instructor some sort of edge. In many cases they bad mouth the other instructors because they are insecure about the validity of their own training.
As a student. Do not concern yourself with any of these types of things. Do not become bogged down by this type of stuff. You are simply seeking your own process of learning. Take the principles. Do not allow the instructors words to become Dogma! Listen, process, question, meditate and formulate your thoughts then the road will become clear. Do not train with those who claim to be the only authority on Krav Maga. This is a sign of ego centric training which will become stagnate and ole because the chief instructor refuses to grow. He is "the source" of Krav Maga. Which means that the system is limited by his ability to implement techniques, training methods and tactics. Then, when he passes away, his top students will argue about which one of them should be "the source". That organization will disband and the same vicious cycle will repeat itself.
If you are training with an open mind and the instructor is teaching and sharing knowledge with you this is all that matters. The instructor should not need to constantly remind the students or his peers that he/ she was with Imi for so many years. He/she should just be teaching.
Is there such a thing? I don't think so. While the IDF and Wingate institute can certainly be considered a governing body for the system. I don't think that any civilian organization in the U.S., Israel or any other place can make such a claim. There are two reasons that organizations and their leaders claim to be the source of Krav Maga. Money! Ego!
The phenomenon of systems splitting and having multiple organizations is not exclusive to Krav Maga. In fact this is quite common in martial arts. As much as Krav Maga practioners and instructors do not want to be refereed to as "martial artists", this behavior is very typical of martial arts.
Krav Maga has been around for 60 years. Even though its existence in the main stream has been a relatively new event, the system has been exposed to people of all levels. There are so many talented instructors and practioners who have had an opportunity to learn the system, how can anyone claim to be "the source"? If you add the fact that almost immediately after Imi's death, many of his higher ranking students began to publicly claim to be his chosen successor. It is easy to see that the very notion of there being one "source", is absurd.
There are so many talented instructors from all over the world who have a unique perspective on Krav Maga. To deny that these men and women have contributed to the systems development is foolish. For whatever reason though, human beings have the need to belong to a group. They want to take the part of the system that they like and discard the rest. They want to teach those portions and build organizations and curriculum to support that process. It's funny but religion has a very similar path. How can there be that many different sects of Christianity,Islam and Judaism? See the parallel?
I want to be clear. I am not suggesting that Krav Maga is not a specific system with a specific set of principles and very unique approaches to self defense and fighting. No. All of these things are evident when we are discussing Krav Maga. I am very well aware of some instructors who have been selling their own repackaged versions of Judo and Jiu Jitsu as a Commando version of Krav Maga. Individuals like this should be exposed for being the liars that they are.
What I am saying is that the various organizations and their leaders have postured themselves as "the authority" on Krav Maga. I know because I have trained with many of these men. The problem that presents itself now is that they can't acknowledge any of their counterparts and the other organizations contributions to the system because they are fearful that such an acknowledgement would give the other instructor some sort of edge. In many cases they bad mouth the other instructors because they are insecure about the validity of their own training.
As a student. Do not concern yourself with any of these types of things. Do not become bogged down by this type of stuff. You are simply seeking your own process of learning. Take the principles. Do not allow the instructors words to become Dogma! Listen, process, question, meditate and formulate your thoughts then the road will become clear. Do not train with those who claim to be the only authority on Krav Maga. This is a sign of ego centric training which will become stagnate and ole because the chief instructor refuses to grow. He is "the source" of Krav Maga. Which means that the system is limited by his ability to implement techniques, training methods and tactics. Then, when he passes away, his top students will argue about which one of them should be "the source". That organization will disband and the same vicious cycle will repeat itself.
If you are training with an open mind and the instructor is teaching and sharing knowledge with you this is all that matters. The instructor should not need to constantly remind the students or his peers that he/ she was with Imi for so many years. He/she should just be teaching.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Growth while shrinking
One of the biggest challenges that we face in Krav Maga is shrinking the system. The challenge is multi faceted and it is often bogged down by our inclination as human beings to accept what is given to us or go the opposite way and take too many liberties and get further and further away from the truth. So how do we balance these issues?
How do we improve the system? How do we create? Is it wrong to look at the system and conclude that we have discovered that there are some holes in the system? Is it wrong to remove things from the system that have little value? Is such a process disrespectful to Imi? Do the changes have to come from Israel? Is there such an entity as "the source" of Krav Maga? Food for thought.....
More to come...
How do we improve the system? How do we create? Is it wrong to look at the system and conclude that we have discovered that there are some holes in the system? Is it wrong to remove things from the system that have little value? Is such a process disrespectful to Imi? Do the changes have to come from Israel? Is there such an entity as "the source" of Krav Maga? Food for thought.....
More to come...
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Back to the Blog!
I apologize for the lack of activity....
I have been a bit busy and it is mostly related to Krav Maga! Sometimes being outspoken can be a detriment. Then again it can also be a positive. There are times when I say what I feel needs to be said. There are times when I just keep my mouth shut and watch. The funny thing is that both tactics have served me well. If I have offended people with my opinions and discussions I don't aplogize. I say good. "I am a truth teller" -Mark Jackson.
There are many great things happening in Krav Maga. The system is really heading toward its next stage of maturity. By that I mean that there are a great many instructors and students who are pushing the limits of their training and therefore discovering the limitations and opportunities of our system. Limitations? Yes there are limitations in our training. We should never grow stagnate in our training. We must constantly check ourselves by first checking our egos. We must challenge our training methods and therefore our techniques in order to insure that we are progessing toward trimming the fat from our system.
I had a great conversation with my friend Nir Maman. Nir told me that he thinks that most of the organizations are making a mistake by continuing to add things to their respective books. The books themselves are too large. They contain too many techniques and too much "martial arts" to be effective.
"Martial Arts"? I agree. Krav Maga is not a martial art. It should not be treated as such. I know. I know. Martial artists everywhere are pissed off and claiming to be disrespected because they can't fathom the notion that much of their training in forms, katas, fancy kicks, manuevers which require years and years of practice and demonstrations that are nothing more than organized dance actually have no place in real world combat.
The truth is that training methods must mimic reality if you are training for reality that is.... Let me give you a visual. Imagine an NFL team practicing all week long, but instead of actually wearing pads and tackling each other, they actually use flags and play flag football instead. Then on game day they put on pads and line up against another team that has actually been wearing pads and knocking each other around all week. How effective do you think the team that "prepared" via flag football would do against the team that prepares the right way?
This is the problem I have with "martial arts" and some Krav Maga circles I might add. There is far too much emphasis being placed on techniques that require fine motor skills or in my opinion far too much coordination to use effectively. In Krav Maga we should spend much more time on the basics. We should be stripping the system down to its bare essentials. The thing that makes Krav Maga so effective is that in its simplicity its true beauty is revealed. Does one really need to know how to do a jumping spinning back kick in order to become proficient? No.
I have seen the curriculum for many of the major organizations requirements for beginners to black belt and as the belts ascend, the more I see "martial arts" creeping into Krav Maga. This is especially evident in the development of Krav Maga's "ground work". There was a point in Krav Maga's history that the going to the ground was considered an absolute no-no. Then came BJJ/MMA and all of the sudden the ground was a factor. I suppose this is a good thing because it shows the systems ability to adapt to new situation. So in Krav Maga schools everywhere I started to see a shift. People were bringing in BJJ instructors and MMA coaches to break down the "ground game". Arm bars are being taught. Kimoras, Anaconda chokes, Uma Plata and other techniques are being taught as well. This is not a slight against MMA or BJJ by the way. I love both sports. So please don't misunderstand me.
While I understand the need to evaluate the system's ability to cope with being on the ground I have a fundemental problem with the way many organizations and therefore their instructors are approaching the ground. If you look at most of the Krav Maga books you will see a pattern. Many of the techniques that are being spoken of and shown are actually being taught to the defender as if they are dealing with someone who "knows what they are doing" on the ground. Well this is a false sense of reality in my opinion. I have had my share of fights and I am proud to say that I have witnessed more than I have actually been involved with. I am talking about street fights not mutually agreed upon sport fighting. I have never seen two trained individuals fight each other in the street. Perhaps one of the combatants was trained but very rarely do you see a fight where both combatants are trained in combat systems. So where did this mindset come from?
Simple answer? "My kung fu, can beat your Kung Fu". When we train we are constantly looking for a way to validate our own training. There is no better validation to some than imagining and training for a fight with another stylist. I would submit that if we fight with a person who spends as much time doing BJJ as we do training Krav Maga and we don't use our Krav Maga tactics against that individual, we are in big trouble. In other words you are not going to out BJJ a real BJJ practitioner using BJJ. So why are Krav Maga schools teaching BJJ? The most obvious answer here is money. There is a market for BJJ so why not fulfill the need. The problem is when the BJJ training does not get "Kraved up".
I was at a Krav Maga instructor certification once. We were specifically working an escape from the guillotine choke from the ground. My training partner was very adept at this particular choke. Even though I have 65lbs on him he was quite strong and very skilled. So we were told to allow the attacker to put the choke on and then perform "the defense" . As my partner locked in the choke I attempted to do "the defense", of course he knew the defense and that made using it tougher.
The description of the defense is as follows: The minute you feel the attacker wrap his arm around your neck, tuck your chin. With your left hand, pluck at his hands to relieve some pressure. At the same time, wrap your right arm around his neck. This makes it difficult for him to stretch you out with his legs. STEP 2. Lift your hips up and spread your feet wide to "stack up",create a "tripod" with your two feet, using your right arm and shoulder as the third foot of the tripod. Step 3: Using your body weight,drive your shoulder into the attacker's neck and throat. It will be very difficult for him to maintain the guillotine....
The technique is actually very sound. It works. In fact I had no problem with the technique until Step 3. The stacking part was easy and in fact I accomplished that with ease. The part about driving my shoulder into the attackers throat is what bothers me. Again it isn't that the technique itself does not work. I just think that the average person would have trouble in the actual application of the "tripod" portion.
So when I performed the defense I modified my approach. I did everything up to the point of wrapping my right hand around the neck of the attacker. This seemed to me to be a bit useless at the time. I simply took my right thumb and pressed into my partner's left eyeball socket. He has trained with me before and he knows that I have a thing about jamming my thumb into peoples eyes. So as soon as I did that guess what happened? He let go. The trainer who was conducting the certification told me that "is not the defense I want to see". In my mind I was thinking "Ok,I understand that, but you do understand that is what my instincts were telling me to do"? Why bypass such an effective target just so I can "perform' a technique when I would not use that technique anyways?
Why would we not spend time discussing the value of gouging the eyeball out of the attackers head? Why would we not discuss driving knees down into his groin while we are stacking? Why not talk about tearing his ear off of his head? To me these are much easier to teach and learn. Do BJJ practioners have super powers? Are they immune to our thumbs raking their eyes our? Again I think this comes from a need to show the world that we too can use Jiu Jitsu. Foolish. Why train like a Jiu Jitsu practioner? Why not just keep it Krav Maga. Yes teach tucking the chin and plucking the hand. Yes teach the stacking concept. But never, ever teach a student to bypass such an awesome target like the eyeball!
Amir Perets once told me that one of the biggest problems in training is that the instructors have forgotten an important detail. "I want to tell you something Donavin" Amir said. "Too many instructors are trying to teach the student what they "know" instead of teaching them what works".
This is one of the most important lessons that Amir ever shared with me. It is our job to give the student what works. If the student wishes to expand his/her knowledge of our system or that of another then we can teach them all of the rest of the finer points of the curriculum. But at its base we should be giving students the simplest answers to these problems that we can find. I would argue that nothing is simpler than driving your thumb into his throat or eyes.
More to come on our "Ground Work".
I have been a bit busy and it is mostly related to Krav Maga! Sometimes being outspoken can be a detriment. Then again it can also be a positive. There are times when I say what I feel needs to be said. There are times when I just keep my mouth shut and watch. The funny thing is that both tactics have served me well. If I have offended people with my opinions and discussions I don't aplogize. I say good. "I am a truth teller" -Mark Jackson.
There are many great things happening in Krav Maga. The system is really heading toward its next stage of maturity. By that I mean that there are a great many instructors and students who are pushing the limits of their training and therefore discovering the limitations and opportunities of our system. Limitations? Yes there are limitations in our training. We should never grow stagnate in our training. We must constantly check ourselves by first checking our egos. We must challenge our training methods and therefore our techniques in order to insure that we are progessing toward trimming the fat from our system.
I had a great conversation with my friend Nir Maman. Nir told me that he thinks that most of the organizations are making a mistake by continuing to add things to their respective books. The books themselves are too large. They contain too many techniques and too much "martial arts" to be effective.
"Martial Arts"? I agree. Krav Maga is not a martial art. It should not be treated as such. I know. I know. Martial artists everywhere are pissed off and claiming to be disrespected because they can't fathom the notion that much of their training in forms, katas, fancy kicks, manuevers which require years and years of practice and demonstrations that are nothing more than organized dance actually have no place in real world combat.
The truth is that training methods must mimic reality if you are training for reality that is.... Let me give you a visual. Imagine an NFL team practicing all week long, but instead of actually wearing pads and tackling each other, they actually use flags and play flag football instead. Then on game day they put on pads and line up against another team that has actually been wearing pads and knocking each other around all week. How effective do you think the team that "prepared" via flag football would do against the team that prepares the right way?
This is the problem I have with "martial arts" and some Krav Maga circles I might add. There is far too much emphasis being placed on techniques that require fine motor skills or in my opinion far too much coordination to use effectively. In Krav Maga we should spend much more time on the basics. We should be stripping the system down to its bare essentials. The thing that makes Krav Maga so effective is that in its simplicity its true beauty is revealed. Does one really need to know how to do a jumping spinning back kick in order to become proficient? No.
I have seen the curriculum for many of the major organizations requirements for beginners to black belt and as the belts ascend, the more I see "martial arts" creeping into Krav Maga. This is especially evident in the development of Krav Maga's "ground work". There was a point in Krav Maga's history that the going to the ground was considered an absolute no-no. Then came BJJ/MMA and all of the sudden the ground was a factor. I suppose this is a good thing because it shows the systems ability to adapt to new situation. So in Krav Maga schools everywhere I started to see a shift. People were bringing in BJJ instructors and MMA coaches to break down the "ground game". Arm bars are being taught. Kimoras, Anaconda chokes, Uma Plata and other techniques are being taught as well. This is not a slight against MMA or BJJ by the way. I love both sports. So please don't misunderstand me.
While I understand the need to evaluate the system's ability to cope with being on the ground I have a fundemental problem with the way many organizations and therefore their instructors are approaching the ground. If you look at most of the Krav Maga books you will see a pattern. Many of the techniques that are being spoken of and shown are actually being taught to the defender as if they are dealing with someone who "knows what they are doing" on the ground. Well this is a false sense of reality in my opinion. I have had my share of fights and I am proud to say that I have witnessed more than I have actually been involved with. I am talking about street fights not mutually agreed upon sport fighting. I have never seen two trained individuals fight each other in the street. Perhaps one of the combatants was trained but very rarely do you see a fight where both combatants are trained in combat systems. So where did this mindset come from?
Simple answer? "My kung fu, can beat your Kung Fu". When we train we are constantly looking for a way to validate our own training. There is no better validation to some than imagining and training for a fight with another stylist. I would submit that if we fight with a person who spends as much time doing BJJ as we do training Krav Maga and we don't use our Krav Maga tactics against that individual, we are in big trouble. In other words you are not going to out BJJ a real BJJ practitioner using BJJ. So why are Krav Maga schools teaching BJJ? The most obvious answer here is money. There is a market for BJJ so why not fulfill the need. The problem is when the BJJ training does not get "Kraved up".
I was at a Krav Maga instructor certification once. We were specifically working an escape from the guillotine choke from the ground. My training partner was very adept at this particular choke. Even though I have 65lbs on him he was quite strong and very skilled. So we were told to allow the attacker to put the choke on and then perform "the defense" . As my partner locked in the choke I attempted to do "the defense", of course he knew the defense and that made using it tougher.
The description of the defense is as follows: The minute you feel the attacker wrap his arm around your neck, tuck your chin. With your left hand, pluck at his hands to relieve some pressure. At the same time, wrap your right arm around his neck. This makes it difficult for him to stretch you out with his legs. STEP 2. Lift your hips up and spread your feet wide to "stack up",create a "tripod" with your two feet, using your right arm and shoulder as the third foot of the tripod. Step 3: Using your body weight,drive your shoulder into the attacker's neck and throat. It will be very difficult for him to maintain the guillotine....
The technique is actually very sound. It works. In fact I had no problem with the technique until Step 3. The stacking part was easy and in fact I accomplished that with ease. The part about driving my shoulder into the attackers throat is what bothers me. Again it isn't that the technique itself does not work. I just think that the average person would have trouble in the actual application of the "tripod" portion.
So when I performed the defense I modified my approach. I did everything up to the point of wrapping my right hand around the neck of the attacker. This seemed to me to be a bit useless at the time. I simply took my right thumb and pressed into my partner's left eyeball socket. He has trained with me before and he knows that I have a thing about jamming my thumb into peoples eyes. So as soon as I did that guess what happened? He let go. The trainer who was conducting the certification told me that "is not the defense I want to see". In my mind I was thinking "Ok,I understand that, but you do understand that is what my instincts were telling me to do"? Why bypass such an effective target just so I can "perform' a technique when I would not use that technique anyways?
Why would we not spend time discussing the value of gouging the eyeball out of the attackers head? Why would we not discuss driving knees down into his groin while we are stacking? Why not talk about tearing his ear off of his head? To me these are much easier to teach and learn. Do BJJ practioners have super powers? Are they immune to our thumbs raking their eyes our? Again I think this comes from a need to show the world that we too can use Jiu Jitsu. Foolish. Why train like a Jiu Jitsu practioner? Why not just keep it Krav Maga. Yes teach tucking the chin and plucking the hand. Yes teach the stacking concept. But never, ever teach a student to bypass such an awesome target like the eyeball!
Amir Perets once told me that one of the biggest problems in training is that the instructors have forgotten an important detail. "I want to tell you something Donavin" Amir said. "Too many instructors are trying to teach the student what they "know" instead of teaching them what works".
This is one of the most important lessons that Amir ever shared with me. It is our job to give the student what works. If the student wishes to expand his/her knowledge of our system or that of another then we can teach them all of the rest of the finer points of the curriculum. But at its base we should be giving students the simplest answers to these problems that we can find. I would argue that nothing is simpler than driving your thumb into his throat or eyes.
More to come on our "Ground Work".
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