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Tour and Train Israel Review
By Jürgen Köhler , IKI Germany
Tour and Train, June 2015
IKI Team Germany, Counter-Terror training. Team leader - Jürgen Köhler
Editor's note: Jurgen is a highly respected martial arts master. He came to IKI Krav Maga already a certified instructor and black belt in several styles. He has produced several martial arts instructional DVDs. Yet he came to IKI with no rank and no demands,
He has hosted two hugely successful seminars in his hometown of Königsbach-Stein and a third is scheduled for September this year.
He is a second dan black belt in IKI Krav Maga. Yet, even as a high-level practitioner and instructor, he found that in Israel he has much to learn. He came as a student and humbly dedicated himself to improving his Krav Maga skill and learning about Israel and our culture.
I can honestly say there is the before Israel Jurgen, and the after Israel Jurgen. I invite other instructors to follow his path.
Thank you Moshe, thank you Esther for your work with IKI, for organizing this indescribable Trip to Israel.
When I came home … many friends asked me: how was it, did you enjoy the Tour ?
Oh, yes … and I cannot explain .. “good” is not enough, Tour and Train is ..wooowww!
But why is it “wooowww” ? It is because of … where should I start?
Ok, at first the
Training-sessions:
The Group trains inside and outside, with local Krav Maga students and with the
international students exclusively … alone this makes a big difference to
regular Seminars. You train in Israel … with the pupils of this fantastic
country. You become part of this country. Training with the locals .. does not
matter if men or women … they are all so friendly, like really good friends. We
met a former IDF Soldier … a young man, he was in the Gaza-War .. he told us
the real thing, … not even what the newspapers around the World tell. Here you
see, why it is important to learn Krav Maga.
Maybe some of you think the Training in Israel –at Moshe – is only soft skill… hahahahha, so I tell you:
Train with the locals
, feel the low kick from Laizer, enjoy the elbow strikes from Yonat or Julia.
If you talk with these guys and girls … you will get a flavor how is it to live
in Israel.
Maybe in Your Home dojo the Gun-defense is just a game … wow, here it is real life. Everyone here knows: ”if I do not practice enough, maybe tomorrow I will lose my life” IKI Krav Maga is not a game! It is to protect yourself and your beloved ones.
Our group was recruited by students and Instructors around the World. Australia, Poland, England, Swiss, Sweden, Croatia, Cayman Island, United States, Germany … all of us have different backgrounds. There was a former American Football Player, Bodyguards, Soldiers, Doormen, whatever… with these backgrounds we worked together with new situations. A technique which works with an IKI Instructor with 30 years in Martial Arts will not work with a young women which never was trained in any style of Martial Arts / Self-defense. … so we where searching and finding a solution which fits every one.
During the two weeks all participants live together with local families … on this way we can talk with the “native speakers” … they are always friendly – also to us – the Germans. Here we have learned a lot about the culture and the lifestyle. I must say: this was a great experience for me. I made new deep friends.
Israel – the land of the Torah and the Bible – here all these stories become alive! The old City (of King David) or the Battlefield of David vs. Goliath … we also visited the first Christian Church in which the wonder of Pentecost occurred .. wow, I can not give words for this.
Counter-Terrorism Training…
Anti terror training, what should I say? I've never shot before, I was not in the Army .. but yes it was great. The way how these experts teach you to shoot with a handgun or a machine gun … easy and effective! And than … in the lunch-break … a Man – I call him HERO – told us from his “job” in Uganda … to rescue about 100 hostages from terrorists.
Shai Ish Shalom speaking with members of IKI Tour and Train about his experiences with Yoni Netanyahu of blessed memory, rescuing the hostages in Operation Entebbe.
Visit the Synagogue on Shabbat.
OK, I did not understand any Hebrew word … beside "Jerusalem" and "Amen". But this does not matter.
I've had the great honor to be there twice … and see the Jews …hear them pray .. and feel: the presence of the King of Kings, and LORD of all LORDS. Yes you can feel him.
After the ceremony in the synagogue we went to Esther for Shabbat meal. Eating together, talking and get the blessings from Moshe … WOW, why “WOW”? because Moshe is in the direct line to Aaron, the brother of Moses (Moshe) .. Aaron was the first High Priest of Israel. The First Cohen Gadol.
Heritage of the Fathers, synagogue in Maaleh Adumim.
But was there anything bad? or terrible … ?
Yes! When we walked in the Old City, we had to go into the Muslim-quarter … no, this is not a racist blog! But I felt not really safe in this area. .. for me it seemed dark and dusty.
The way how the Arabs have watched us … was not really friendly. Again: this is MY version and MY sight … maybe other guys of our group felt secure – but not me.
So what should I say … if you wanna be a Krav Maga –warrior … you “must” train there. You will never ever feel this Spirit if you will not be Part of this land.
Tour and Train IKI gives you much more than only training. Here you become something for your body, spirit and mind. .. all three levels of human being are involved.
Thank you Moshe!
With blessings to Esther, Laizer, Yonat, Julia and Rachel (a friend of Esther)
The men of the IKI Germany delegation at the Western Wall in Jerusalem