What is Krav Maga

Krav Maga is:

The longest standing military Hand to Hand combat system in modern history: the preferred system of more than 500 Military and specialist units and the world’s most frequently taught system of ‘Reality Based Self Defence’.

What is Krav Maga

Created by Imi in the Second World War, Krav Maga is a set of simple skills designed to prepare ordinary people for extraordinary situations. Taught to the vulnerable in the Ghettoes of Bratislava, it proved so successful at delivering self defence that it was adopted by the Israeli Defence Forces after the war. It has now spread globally and is the most battle-tested, consistently used system in the world today. Krav Maga’s strengths lie not just in its simple techniques, but in its methodology. Krav teaches that if you have to fight, you must do so with total commitment. Simultaneous attack and defence are common in its movements, as are simple, rapid combatives or striking. Krav practitioners are taught to close quickly, fight hard and fast and get out alive. Perhaps more essentially, unlike many other systems, Krav Maga will teach you about the mental and psychological aspects of handling violence, not just the physical. Simply put, there is nothing out there with more real-world credibility. It’s the tool of professionals – people whose job it is to stand and face violence.

Is Krav Maga right for me?

“Think Crossfit meets the MMA with guns, knives and multiple attackers”

Krav Maga’s no nonsense approach to training is perfect for some, not so much for others. The surefire way to find out is to come give it a try.

You’ll love Krav Maga if:

You enjoy setting yourself challenges, both mental and physical
You want to learn real-world, effective skills in months, not decades
You’re up for training hard with a tribe of like-minded Kravists and you don’t mind getting the occasional bump or bruise
You want to learn something practical, not flashy. After all, Krav techniques have been proven in over 70 years of frontline combat and law enforcement – why fix what ain’t broken?
You want to test yourself against a recognised national curriculum inside a credible, longstanding organisation
You believe in high standards – our gradings, should you wish to take them – are tough, high intensity events lasting 4-5 hours of non-stop training and fighting. Our Level 1 Krav Maga Practitioner grading is tougher than most black belt gradings and that’s not just our opinion – ask the many hundreds of students that hold both a black belt and a Level 1. The feedback is always the same.

You won’t like Krav Maga if:

You don’t like high intensity training
You’re after gentle practice and more academic study
you are looking for a traditional art focused on traditional weapons, forms, history, or self development
you want an art that is focused on locking or throwing, like Aikido.
You have existing and serious joint problems – Krav Maga is tough and fast paced. Having said that, we have trained many people to a high standard who came with battlefield injuries or other serious injuries from vocation or sport. Consult an instructor and your GP for more information.
You want to compete. We don’t do competitions and our ‘sparring’ is usually very unfair – think hard exercise before you start and then multiple attackers, weapons etc.
Your job is very physical. Coming to a hard Krav lesson after a hard day’s graft may simply be too much for some people.

Do I need previous experience to start

Not at all. We have extensive experience coaching people from a standing start. We will get you going gradually, introducing you to skills and giving you time to build up the muscle memory and fluidity that speed and effectiveness requires. By the same count, you don’t need to be fit to start. You’ll do just fine, as long as you start slowly, taking lots of rest and fluid breaks during class, and let your body catch up to your ambition a week at a time.

What does Krav Maga offer to its practitioners?

People do Krav for two reasons, fitness and self protection.

Fitness:

The biggest problem most people have when they try to get fit is that they don’t stick with their programmes. You know the drill: join a gym in January, go three times and then quit. Krav, on the other hand, is a great motivator. Here’s the numbers:

In the 2013 British Krav Maga members survey, over 90% of our members were still training after 4 months, and over 75% of members were still training after six months. Compare that to the gym. Major gym chains lose people at a rate of over 59% in the first 4 weeks alone, and will have lost 80% within 12 weeks.

Why the success? There are lots of possible reasons but we think it’s got a lot to do with training in a group of like-minded people. Many Kravists have developed lasting friendships with the people they train with and a few have even met significant others while training. In a group, you’ve got people to motivate you; in a gym, on your own, it’s just you. Also, while there is plenty of exercise, you’re not focused on that; you’re focused on the skills you’re learning so the time flies past and the calories mount up without you being aware of them. Contrast that with staring at the digital display on the cross-trainer. Yeah, we know that pain.

Another thing: Krav Maga training does more for you than lifting weight or working the hamster wheel. A decent Krav session will deliver high intensity training using groups of muscles, not isolated muscles. It’s functional, military fitness and will drive you to performance you’ll be hard pressed to match by going to the gym.

What does Krav Maga to its Practitioners?

From a Self Defence perspective:

Nothing else in the world shares the pedigree and proven track record of Krav Maga. It is unchallenged, unrivalled, unequalled. The best evidence we have for its efficacy is that it is in current use by military and law enforcement agencies across the world. Soldiers, security personnel and law enforcement officers use it day in, day out, to protect themselves and others. It is not a theoretical system. It is tested in the most demanding, terrible conditions and situations you can imagine on a regular basis and has never been found wanting. Whereas so much in the martial arts world is untested theory or reflections of history, Krav Maga is proven in the battleground of real life here and now, in the modern world.

How can I get started

Bristol boasts a good choice of regional British Krav Maga schools. You can find them here.

If you are outside of Bristol go to the club finder and you can look to see if British Krav Maga has a class near you.