Learning Krav Maga

Learning Krav Maga is easier than most martial arts. I have trained in many styles and have seen the differences. Some styles require many years of devoted study until one reaches a level of proficiency. Some styles progress very slowly and require spiritual development as part of their criteria for advancement.

Not so with Krav Maga. The history of Krav Maga is tied in with the history of Israel. In 1948 while Israel was fighting for independence and survival, refuge immigrants were arriving daily. Israel needed them right away on the battlefield. They had to be trained and prepared for battle quickly.

Time is still a critical factor in Krav Maga training. Every male soldier will serve for three years, most of that time he will be needed for active duty. Only a small amount of time is available for training. That training must of course include firearms, strategy, navigation, unit exercises and so forth. That leaves only a short amount of time for hand to hand combat/ Krav Maga training. As such, that time must be utilized to the maximum.

Any technique that takes too long to learn and absorb – is dropped from the Krav Maga curriculum. Every defensive tactic that is not easily applied, is dropped or modified.

In stressful situations, when a soldier is fatigued or hurt, fine motor skills disappear rapidly. As such Krav Maga does not trust them. We employ only gross motor moves with a proven tract record. We learn to apply them aggressively.

In real combat you do not let up until the problem is solved.