Hi Moshe,
I've seen I. demonstrate this technique,
but adds a punch to the face to shock the opponent before he grabs the
stock. Do you think it is better to not punch?
Moshe Katz:
First, I. does it differently than I do.
I have changed it to make it more effective. I have taught this to many Israeli soldiers, they consider it an upgrade over what they were taught in the IDF.
No,
I do not believe in the punch to the face, I think that is a big
mistake, possibly a life and death mistake. I never advocate a punch to
the face when here is a weapon. I have written many blogs about this and
I demonstrate it my seminars.
1. My primary, my ONLY concern
here is to get the weapon away, if I take even a split second to do
something else, anything else, such as punching, that is a waste of time
that can cost me my life. I must focus only on the gun. While I am
punching , even before I finish the punch, he is struggling and pulling
away, odd are that before I complete the punch he will have removed the
gun and shot me dead at point blank range.
People do the punch
like religion, out of rote, no thinking. Again, better to demonstrate
than to use words. You have two hands on the gun, I have to grab the
gun. If I take the time to attempt a punch you will use your two hands
to pull the gun away from my one hand , my weaker hand, which is
attempting to hold the gun. This is a critical time, the punch takes
time, that time is all my opponent needs to take the gun away. If we try
this with resistance you will see. You cannot pull the punch off.
2.
The all magical punch is not that effective. A man has a rifle pointed
at you, he is high with energy, he has the advantage, he is the
initiator. Who said you will land the punch successfully? or even if you
do who says that it will knock him out or even stun him? He is focusing on
pulling his weapon away and he will succeed. There is not a moment to
spare.
3. You say he punches "before he grabs the stock", that
means you don't even have any real grip on the gun, only one hand, like I
said the weaker hand.
4. This person is in a combat mode, he
will not be easily shocked or "stunned", his adrenaline will protect him. This is not
a guy in the dojo.
This is a highly dangerous situation and you
must get control of the weapons As Soon As Possible. The punch adds
nothing but uses up value time, same as with the handgun or the knife.
The punch takes us "out of our way", a detour.
5. In many cases
the punch will have the opposite effect of what you want. The punch will
push the attacker BACK, and he will take the gun with him, Thus...you
are causing him to move further away from you WITH HIS WEAPON. He will
stumble backwards but have his gun and even if he falls down he will
probably shoot you in the process, from very close range.
Thus..no, I would not punch in this case.
Many thanks for asking,
Moshe
Disarms: To Hit or not to Hit?
Very well said Moshe, I would support your statements as one who handles
firearms. If someone has a gun on you one gas to assume they are
highly aware and the greatest challenge is going to be moving into their
space. I would imagine an attempt to punch would be telegraphed much
greater then a sudden disarm. In a dynamic situation any of this stuff
is very difficult and risky, the less one has to do the less that can go
wrong.
Colby Taylor, Michigan, USA
The “shock” your inquirer mentions will likely do nothing more than move the gunman back and he’ll still have the gun. At that point, rather than just being a threat, he will likely be very angry and will probably shoot you with no further thought.
Hal Herndon, Georgia, USA
The IKI Portugal agree with Master Moshe.
I've done the technique and really the Master Moshe, to become simpler and more effective.
The punch can be the difference between life and death.
Many students will say and will continue to say they saw other schools and teachers with different techniques.
For this reason there is IKI, and to study more simple and effective techniques so that everyone can perform.
The IKI with your lab techniques, seeks to improve and simplify the
techniques to make them more effective, students must realize that there
are techniques for movies and other for real life.
There are beautiful and full of movement and punching techniques, but
in reality we only need 2 seconds to apply the technique and put
ourselves in safe.
Instructors will be required to make the student feel the essence of
IKI, but extremely functional simplicity of our techniques in the
latter case the instructor can show students the differences between our
actual techniques and what he saw on the website for other schools and
teachers. The student must feel atravéz your Instructor IKI, the essence
of being a student IKI.
My experience is with several national and International Krav Maga known to the GM.
I can personally affirm and ensure superior functionality of IKI, for the entire community.
The
IKI works for the community and not to open schools to make money by
cheating many students with techniques and nothing functional training,
as do many other organizations Krav Maga.
I'm not one, nor taste, nor speak evil, nor do wars with other
institutions. I believe if you do a good job we all win both Krav Maga
community as students and instructors but especially the students.
But the truth is that the essence of IKI, made me see differently Krav Maga.
Thanks Moshe Friend and Master.
Luis Osorio
iki.portugal @ gmail.com
Hi Moshe,
Not only is every point accurate, but your sharing of this continues to be exceptional.
You won't find a lot of senior ranked teachers that appreciate their techniques being questioned, let alone compared to another instructor! Your open approach to not only respond to the student but then also share these questions to the masses (without regard to perception or ego) allows instructors (especially junior teachers with less knowledge) to not only understand /teach better, but also answer the how's and why's in their own classes (so their students are confident in the techniques, which is critical).
Future blogs or updates as to why certain things are done an iki way and not another (due to evolution or other reason), are certainly useful to all iki members. This is how Louisa and I teach as well.
Great stuff!
James, Canada