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Fantasy Land Krav Maga
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
May 24, 2024, Israel
Years ago, while teaching a seminar in Canada I stayed at an amazing hotel. It was called the Fantasy Land hotel, and it was truly unforgettable. There was a mall in the hotel and a huge swimming pool large enough for a pirate ship. There was even a kosher restaurant. It was the height of luxury and left me with a feeling of WOW.
Today I viewed some videos of defense in and around a car, something which we at IKI popularized and now teach all over the world. But, I was very disappointed. As much as I have been disappointed before, I was doubly disappointed. I simply could not believe that people believe that what they are teaching actually has a chance to work. So without mentioning the names of the guilty party, I will explain.
But first, a note. Why do I do this? Can't I leave as, we agree to disagree? can't I say, well there are many styles of Karate so why can't I accept that there are many styles of Krav Maga and all are valid? No. I cannot. But I will be very Jewish and answer a question with a question. If you are an Oncologist and you have decades of training and experience, and a patient asks you how you feel about eating grapes as a cure for cancer (Yes, I have heard this and many similar "cures"), or using acupuncture, what should that expert doctor answer?
Should he be polite and say, Well, there are many different approaches, you must choose what you think is best. Or should he answer, Listen! If you want to live, if you want to beat this thing, we must follow conventional medicine.
That is how I feel. I am in the business of saving lives, so I have to preach what I believe with all my heart to be the truth. I will not be "politically correct" if that might lead to your death.
In this video, and set of photographs, we see the assailant pointing a car at an individual, when both are inside a car, and when one is outside the car and the victim is inside. I am very familiar with these cases, and I have experiment and tested techniques in these exact situations. I know what can work, and what is highly unlikely to work.
In both cases the assailant is holding the gun in his strong hand, or in both hands. And in both cases the angle is very difficult, and the defender can only reach the assailant with this left hand, which is rather far away. He quickly grabs the gun in an awkward angle and powerfully twists it out of the hand of the surprised assailant.
Let us think about this for a moment.
In our style we say never use any technique that relies upon Speed, Strength, or Precision, as those are very difficult to access in times of great stress, and we assume the assailant to be at least as strong as the defender, usually stronger. So our Krav Maga instructor over here reaches over with his left hand, his weaker hand, from a bad angle, the Assailant does not shoot, does not even try to pull the gun away, the perfect disarm takes place. But this is a Fantasy Land Disarm, part of Fantasy Land Krav Maga.
Think about it; you don't need to be an expert. The street criminal has every advantage, lets count just a few:
1. He does this for a living. Muggings, holdups, killing, this is his life, his full-time occupation. We, Krav Maga practitioners, even instructors, train a few times per week but we don't have that much on the street experience. We are not cold-blooded criminals; we are not street experienced. The criminal here has the advantage. Do not commit the worst sin a martial artist can commit, the sin of arrogance. Be humble.
2. He is probably stronger than you. Perhaps you are 6 foot 4 and full of muscle, but what if you are 5 feet tall (short) and a female, or a teenager? is Krav Maga not for you?
3. He is very likely to be high on drugs that make him impervious to pain.
4. He is the Action; you are the reaction. He has taken the initiative; you are forced to react. He chooses the time, the place, the location. He has every advantage. Do not fool yourself.
5. You are using your weak hand, he is using his strong hand, and in one case both hands, do you really your one hand is stronger than his two hands? or weak hand is stronger than his strong hand? Are you really that confident?
We have other solutions, you will have to join us for class or online. I don't teach via blogs. But enough said, be humble, reject Fantasy Land Krav Maga styles. Don't be politically correct if it will cost you your life. And above all, do not commit the sin of underestimating your enemy. Think back to October 7, 2023, and countless other examples throughout history.
Keep Krav Maga simple, and honest.
Moshe Katz, 7th dan Black Belt, Israeli Krav Maga. Certified by Wingate Institute. Member Black Belt hall of fame, USA and Europe.
Understand the Israeli Fighting Mentality - Israel a Nation of Warriors by Moshe Katz
What is the cultural background of Krav Maga? What makes it unique? What makes the Israeli military so effective? Why are Israeli security systems used all over the world?
What are the Biblical origins of Krav Maga and who was the first Krav Maga instructor?
What weapons and military strategies did our Biblical ancestors use?
How has Krav Maga developed in Israel and what are its goals?
All that and more in this unique book.
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