- Home
- Krav Maga Blog
- Krav Instructors
- Train in Israel
- Tour Train Israel
- Krav Shop
- DVD
- Kickboxing
- IKI Near Me
- Seminars
- IKI Membership
- On-Line Training
- Krav Maga Training
- Testimonials
- History Krav Maga
- Instructors Page
- Past Blogs
- Spanish
- Italian
- Certification
- Contact
- Holland Seminar
- Vienna Seminar
- Poland Seminar
- Italy Seminar
- Belt Requirements
Simplified Defense krav maga
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
December 11, 2024, Israel
Real knife attack in Israel, real problems, when people come to kill you had better be prepared.
There are no better teachers than your parents, if you are blessed with good parents, as I was. It is now 3 years since my dear mothers' passing and 20 years since my dear father. But their words still form the foundation of my approach to life. Neither one of my parents were complainers; they were doers. They believed in learning life lessons from our mistakes and never looking back with regret, "Could have, would have, should have, the cry of losers" my said, quoting his father, Moe Katz.
They grew up in the shadow of the Jewish Holocaust, and the Great Depression. My economic survival during these 5 "draught years" of Coronavirus regulations and our current 7-Front war is due to my father's economic advice. My approach to Krav Maga is based on my mothers', "If you don't like how things are being done, don't complain, just find a way to do it better."
And that is what IKI Krav Maga is all about; Do it better.
I came across a post on social media recently. There was a video of a knife defense. This was not our style, and I found it a bit too "involved". Our style preaches the gospel of "We do not rely upon Speed, Strength, or Precision". I have written about this extensively in other blogs. Please see the Three Amigos. I simply feel that when we rely upon those three unreliable friends, the risk of failure is too great, and the cost of failure is the death penalty or a face and body that look like Frankensteins' monster.
I have often compared some Krav Maga techniques to a Sleight of Hand as done by professional magicians, that is why I always refer to our style as IKI Krav Maga, to distinguish it from other styles that do not share our approach. So I watched this video, scratched my balding head, and thought, same old, same old, nothing ever changes, no one seems to question anything. and I feel like a fellow MOT - Member of the Tribe, who may years ago wrote, Hear my words that I may teach you, take my arms that I my reach you, but my words, like silent raindrops fell...
So I write, and try to do it better, as my mom would say.
I came across the following comments, and I will never mention names as my intention is to never to shame, ridicule, or embarrass, anyone, only to try and improve. As it turns out the teacher in question is one whom I hold in great esteem as a human being, for whom I have only admiration. but on the technique and the approach, I respectfully differ.
A comment was made on the video...How do you do this?! This is totally amazing. I must someday learn this! It is so fast and strong. and for those who do not have good natural reactions, it must take a ton of training and practice, am I correct?
Teacher's response: Yes indeed, that is correct. This technique requires a very high level of proficiency in martial arts. That is why this is only taught at the brown belt level in Krav Maga. This means that before a practitioner begins to learn this technique, they will have had at least five years of intensive training. It requires a LOT of practice and review, and a great deal of prior training before approaching this technique. I would certainly not recommend this technique for beginners.
Let us analyze this conversation.
First, the questioner: I must someday learn this. Note how this is not, where can I sign up today. But rather, learning to defend against a knife attack in a country where this is common, is relegated to "someday", some time in the unknown distant future. This is surely a sign of a potential student (Not). the message is, if you can show me quickly how to do this, fine, but if it involves actual training, you can count me out.
The teacher wisely answers that you will actually have to put in some time. I respect this answer. I too get requests from people on social media to teach them how to disarm a gunman, or block a knife attack, they expect this as a reply on Facebook. But no, that is not how it works, as this instructor correctly responded, you will actually have to put in some work. I agree.
But here is where I have some issues. Our defense versus an Upper Knife attack is the use of our IKI Universal Block. (I will not explain that here, come to class or sign up for our online training.) This is a versatile block that we use for a myriad of attacks against the upper and lower torso; punches, sticks, clubs and knives. We teach this to beginners, in fact you will learn it in your first lesson, in the first half-an-hour. And you will be able to use it immediately, many have.
No, this is no gimmick, no "come on", and our students can vouch for this. I have come to understand that most students who walk in the door will not stay very long. Some will stay for a week, some for a month, some for 20 years. But what about those who try a few lessons and then leave? What should our attitude towards them be?
I will tell you.
Most instructors that I have trained with, will respond as follows: They are cannon foder. They pay; we don't really pay attention to them until they have proven themselves as students. The beginning is basically a trial period. If they don't stay, it is their loss. i.e. Who cares, at least we made some money.
Our attitude: If you came for one lesson, if you came for half an hour, I will try to teach you something that can save your life. It must be Easy to Learn, Easy to Apply to many diverse situations, and Easy to Remember. If I only have half an hour with you, I will try and make the best of it. Perhaps this half an hour will save your life.
Over 2,000 years ago lived two great rabbis, giants of men! but one was soft in his approach and the other was stricter.
"The gentile came before Shammai and requested, 'Convert me on condition that you teach me the entire Torah while I stand on one foot.' He [Shammai] pushed him out with the ruler in his hand. He then came before Hillel, who converted him. Hillel addressed to him the immortal words, 'That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. That is the entire Torah; the rest is commentary. Go and learn.'" Afterwards, the successful convert declared in the presence of Hillel and Shammai that it was Hillel who had been his salvation."
If I only have a few minutes with you, if you tell me - Teach me all of the Torah, or all of Krav Maga, while I stand on one foot, i.e. in a hurry, I will teach you the basics, as Hillel did over 2,000 years ago. And the rest is commentary, which I hope you will stay for and learn more, train more. I will not dismiss you with a court answer and push you away.
Love thy neighbor as thyself, that is the basic. The IKI Universal Block, that is the basic, the rest is commentary, applications, adjustments. You will not have to put in 5 years of intensive training to become eligible to learn how to survive a knife attack. And what if you don't have five years? What if you get attacked before those five years are up?
I have had many Krav Maga visitors, practitioners of other styles, other organizations, they were on visits to Israel and decided to come try out our classes. I would often ask, so what is your defense for such and such a gun situation? and the answer would be, Oh no, I am not at that level yet, you need to train for 2 years and be P4 (whatever) level 3!
And then I show them our defense, and in 5 minutes they have mastered it.
Teach me the entire Torah while I stand on one leg - yes, we will do that.
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.
Start Your REAL Training TODAY
Or is someone coming to save you?
IKI Krav Maga online distance training - Leading to ranks and certification.
Tour and Train Israel Experience
Personal Training - If you are interested in personal Krav Maga training please contact us on the form below.
