Martial Arts Of The World - Webs
Martial Arts Of The World - Webs Martial Arts Of The World - Webs
310 Krav Maga terest from the general public, after retiring from the IDF, Lichtenfeld began to modify the art for civilian use. In 1978, the International Krav Maga Federation was founded to teach the art worldwide. Its headquarters are located in Netanya, Israel. Branches of the main school can be found all over Israel, and at the present time the art is being taught worldwide. It is most popular in Israel, Finland, Sweden, Brazil, the United States, and France. Although Imi Lichtenfeld died in 1998, the success and popularity of krav maga continues. Krav maga is divided into two main systems. The first, Self-Defense Krav Maga, is a standardized basic course of self-defense that can be learned in as little as twenty hours’ time. It teaches students how to defend themselves effectively against the most common attacks. Practitioners also learn to strike the weak points of the human body, to use basic holds and throws, and to recognize the danger signs of an attack. The second system, Combat Krav Maga, is a combat martial art. It is mastered over a period of time, like other martial arts, and practitioners are graded according to a belt system. Belts begin with white (beginner) and proceed to black for advanced students. Combat Krav Maga practitioners are taught all phases of combat, including kicks, punches, throws and takedowns, grappling techniques, and weapons use. Krav maga differs from most Asian martial arts in three respects. First, there are no kata or forms that practitioners must learn. Kata (Japanese; form, forms) are prearranged patterns of movement that teach practitioners the correct way to move and punch, block, kick, or execute a throw. Krav maga techniques are designed to be instinctive rather than learned. Second, krav maga has no ritual or ceremony attached to it. In Asian martial arts, a fighting match usually opens with a bow. By contrast, krav maga practitioners are expected to move directly into combat, with the assumption that the opponent is trying to kill the practitioner; no opening ceremonies are expected or practiced. Third, krav maga immediately attempts to psychologically prepare the practitioner for fighting. This training is intended to develop the fight-or-flight response that is innate in humans into either correctly fighting or seizing an opportunity to escape. Often, when a combat situation is initiated, an untrained individual will be
powerless for a few seconds while the psyche attempts to adjust to the situation. These few seconds can be enough to give an opponent time to kill or injure. Krav maga practitioners are taught to overcome this initial hesitation with action, whether it is action to fight or to escape. The krav maga curriculum begins with learning to be aware of possible danger situations. Practitioners also are taught that it is important to be able to size up a situation before entering into peril. This part of the training reflects Lichtenfeld’s initial experiences with fascist gangs in Europe and also addresses the contemporary situation in Israel, where sudden terrorist attacks are a constant threat. At this beginning stage, students are also taught the basics of human anatomy (specifically weak points of the human body), how to fall from various positions and land safely, how to make a fist and punch, and the basics of boxing. As students progress, they are taught advanced boxing techniques and other empty-hand strikes, kicking techniques, and defenses against punches and kicks. Students are then taught how to break free of choke holds, neck locks, and holds against the legs, waist, and chest. Later, students are introduced to higher-level concepts of fighting, including more kicks, throws, and takedowns (attempts to destabilize the balance of an opponent and force him to the ground). At the highest levels of training, students are taught to recognize the threats that involve being attacked with a knife, gun, or even a submachine gun, and disarming techniques against these weapons. Krav maga practitioners are also expected to continue development of their sense of danger awareness. At higher levels, students also can learn techniques that can aid in various professions. For example, there are techniques that are designed for police and other law enforcement officers, to help these professionals in subduing opponents without seriously injuring the opponent. Advanced techniques also exist for bodyguards and special operations soldiers. Krav maga techniques are designed to be simple and direct. There are no high kicks used in the art; kicks are directed at waist level or below. Knee strikes, especially against the groin and inner thigh area, are especially used. Practitioners also use kicks against the legs, similar to those used in Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing), to unbalance an opponent. Punches are based on boxing moves and are intended for vital points or to place the mass of the body behind a blow to gain punching power. Open-hand techniques to the eyes, ears, throat, and solar plexus are used. Elbow techniques are used extensively. These techniques require little strength but have devastating results; an elbow strike to the face or floating ribs can easily disable an opponent. Throwing techniques are not of the type usually seen in jûdô or sambo (a modern Russian martial art); they have more in common with freestyle Krav Maga 311
- Page 278 and 279: 258 Kenpô Kempô grand master, the
- Page 280 and 281: 260 Ki/Qi See also Kajukenbo; Karat
- Page 282 and 283: 262 Ki/Qi jujitsu. Martial artists
- Page 284 and 285: 264 Knights crossbow, or harquebus.
- Page 286 and 287: 266 Knights tury, when the benefice
- Page 288 and 289: 268 Knights vided with support in t
- Page 290 and 291: 270 Knights adopt those hereditary
- Page 292 and 293: 272 Knights hope of being knighted
- Page 294 and 295: 274 Knights acquire dominions and f
- Page 296 and 297: 276 Knights which time the tourname
- Page 298 and 299: 278 Knights their own troop and fou
- Page 300 and 301: 280 Knights Germany were probably f
- Page 302 and 303: 282 Knights glect. Instead, many ne
- Page 304 and 305: 284 Knights From the beginning of t
- Page 306 and 307: 286 Kobudô, Okinawan Kobudô, Okin
- Page 308 and 309: 288 Kobudô, Okinawan Japanese Infl
- Page 310 and 311: 290 Kobudô, Okinawan various forms
- Page 312 and 313: Winners of an archery contest in Ko
- Page 314 and 315: 294 Korea fucianism so completely t
- Page 316 and 317: 296 Korea nese withdrawal. Moreover
- Page 318 and 319: 298 Korea KTA and changed the name
- Page 320 and 321: including Ming general Qi Jiguang
- Page 322 and 323: 302 Koryû Bugei, Japanese koryû b
- Page 324 and 325: 304 Koryû Bugei, Japanese student
- Page 326 and 327: 306 Krav Maga Krav Maga Krav maga (
- Page 328: Krav Maga practitioners are taught
- Page 333 and 334: Krav maga has been called the “fi
- Page 335: Two young women demonstrate Chinese
- Page 338 and 339: 318 Masters of Defence and-death en
- Page 340 and 341: 320 Masters of Defence “Masters o
- Page 342 and 343: 322 Masters of Defence ing both in
- Page 344 and 345: 324 Masters of Defence naissance sp
- Page 346 and 347: 326 Masters of Defence the classic
- Page 348 and 349: 328 Medicine, Traditional Chinese f
- Page 350 and 351: 330 Medicine, Traditional Chinese s
- Page 352 and 353: 332 Medicine, Traditional Chinese o
- Page 354 and 355: 334 Medicine, Traditional Chinese
- Page 356 and 357: A sculpture of Buddha in seated med
- Page 358 and 359: 338 Middle East Maliszewski, Michae
- Page 360 and 361: 340 Middle East ture battles. The c
- Page 362 and 363: 342 Middle East The oil obviously m
- Page 364 and 365: 344 Mongolia to gain punching power
- Page 366 and 367: Two Inner Mongolian wrestlers await
- Page 368 and 369: 348 Mongolia range of up to 500 yar
- Page 370 and 371: 350 Muay Thai Sinor, Denis. 1990. T
- Page 372 and 373: 352 Muay Thai (Praditbatuga 2000).
- Page 374 and 375: 354 Muay Thai Ron Smith emphasizes
- Page 376 and 377: 356 Ninjutsu ninja boom that spread
- Page 378 and 379: 358 Ninjutsu Nobunaga in Kyoto in 1
powerless for a few seconds while the psyche attempts to adjust to the situation.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se few seconds can be enough to give an opponent time to kill<br />
or injure. Krav maga practitioners are taught to overcome this initial hesitation<br />
with action, whether it is action to fight or to escape.<br />
<strong>The</strong> krav maga curriculum begins with learning to be aware of possible<br />
danger situations. Practitioners also are taught that it is important to be<br />
able to size up a situation before entering into peril. This part of the training<br />
reflects Lichtenfeld’s initial experiences with fascist gangs in Europe<br />
and also addresses the contemporary situation in Israel, where sudden terrorist<br />
attacks are a constant threat. At this beginning stage, students are<br />
also taught the basics of human anatomy (specifically weak points of the<br />
human body), how to fall from various positions and land safely, how to<br />
make a fist and punch, and the basics of boxing.<br />
As students progress, they are taught advanced boxing techniques and<br />
other empty-hand strikes, kicking techniques, and defenses against punches<br />
and kicks. Students are then taught how to break free of choke holds, neck<br />
locks, and holds against the legs, waist, and chest. Later, students are introduced<br />
to higher-level concepts of fighting, including more kicks, throws,<br />
and takedowns (attempts to destabilize the balance of an opponent and<br />
force him to the ground). At the highest levels of training, students are<br />
taught to recognize the threats that involve being attacked with a knife,<br />
gun, or even a submachine gun, and disarming techniques against these<br />
weapons. Krav maga practitioners are also expected to continue development<br />
of their sense of danger awareness.<br />
At higher levels, students also can learn techniques that can aid in various<br />
professions. For example, there are techniques that are designed for<br />
police and other law enforcement officers, to help these professionals in<br />
subduing opponents without seriously injuring the opponent. Advanced<br />
techniques also exist for bodyguards and special operations soldiers.<br />
Krav maga techniques are designed to be simple and direct. <strong>The</strong>re are<br />
no high kicks used in the art; kicks are directed at waist level or below.<br />
Knee strikes, especially against the groin and inner thigh area, are especially<br />
used. Practitioners also use kicks against the legs, similar to those<br />
used in Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing), to unbalance an opponent. Punches<br />
are based on boxing moves and are intended for vital points or to place the<br />
mass of the body behind a blow to gain punching power. Open-hand techniques<br />
to the eyes, ears, throat, and solar plexus are used. Elbow techniques<br />
are used extensively. <strong>The</strong>se techniques require little strength but<br />
have devastating results; an elbow strike to the face or floating ribs can easily<br />
disable an opponent.<br />
Throwing techniques are not of the type usually seen in jûdô or sambo<br />
(a modern Russian martial art); they have more in common with freestyle<br />
Krav Maga 311