June 2007
Krav Maga Maryland was profiled on WJZ 13
Profiled on the "Health Watch" section, Thursday, June, 14, 2007

Click the link below for the complete story

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December 2006
Controlling Fear and Fighting Back
Little Rock Car Jacking Seminar

Click here for all the details, images and video.

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November 2006
Crimes Against Women
KXAN 36 Austin Tue, 14 Nov 2006 3:10 PM PST
Most women fear the most violent of crimes -- rape, shootings and stabbings. Reality paints a slightly different picture."

Click here to read more and watch the video clip.

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November 2006
Utahns Study Israeli Self-Defense Methods
(KUTV) SALT LAKE CITY It’s called Krav Maga, the official hand-to-hand combat system of the Israeli Defense Forces. But as we found out, you don’t have to be on the front lines to train for an attack.

“We don’t train to fight, we train to defend,” says Krav Maga instructor Darryl Johnson.

It’s not a sport, nor a competition. Krav Maga trains individuals to defend themselves in real life situations.

Meet Chris Gebhardt police officer, Christopher Sans business manager and Valente Bejarano, a high school student.

Three very different men learning what they call practical skills.

Chris says, “As soon as adrenaline hits your fine motor skills are gone, Krav Maga based on large body movements and win the fight pretty quickly.”

High school student Valente says, “Here it’s based on total application. Whatever you use in class you use in real life and it’s effective here it’s based on total application. Whatever you use in class you use in real life and it’s effective.”

Krav Maga shares many of the same techniques as other martial arts like punches and kicks.

But it’s the training that’s different and stresses fighting under worst case scenarios.

Like Jennifer Lopez’s character ‘Slim’ does in the movie Enough and Matt Damon’s character in the Bourne Identity, using the techniques on police officers in the park and the assassin in his apartment.

Krav Maga is also taught to the Israeli Defense Forces.

“Israel’s army is not volunteer based,” says Darryl “Everyone serves. So they have to use something that will work for everyone not just for the big strong guys.”

“It gives you the confidence that if you do have to defend yourself as a last resort you have the skills to do so,” says Chris.

The idea is to deal with the immediate threat, like being choked, and prevent the attacker from re-attacking, even when a weapon’s involved.

Darryl says, “We try not to encourage our students to engage someone’s weapon because that’s always a disadvantage. If at all possible, escape, get barrier. Hand to hand combat is always a last resort.”

And even if they never have to defend themselves on the street these students say Krav Maga gives them more confidence, security, and a great workout.


“It’s a release from work and stressful situations takes your mind off burdens of every day life,” says Darryl.

For more information on Krav Maga and instruction locations in Utah visit: www.kravmaga.com/utah.asp

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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November 2006
S.W.A.T. Magazine
Krav Maga featured in SWAT Magazine
Click here for the entire article...

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November2006
The Pathfinder
OSI Teaches Airmen Krav Maga
Click here for the entire article...

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October 2006
Waterloo Krav Maga Official Training Center Grand Opening

Krav Maga Popular self-defense training school moves to north Waterloo
Jennifer Ormston, Waterloo

Krav Maga Official Training Centre co-owner Aubrey Brawley - sporting a high-gear suit used for police and military training -- and instructor Karrie Ondercin demonstrate Krav Maga moves. The business is moving to Waterloo later this month.
JENNIFER ORMSTON PHOTO

As a young boy, Aubrey Brawley was small for his age and had red hair, both of which made him a target for school-yard bullying.

"I went to a pretty rough public school, so I needed some self defense," said the 35-year-old.

"Red hair and a boy named Aubrey, geez, that was it."

His parents enrolled him in a nearby karate school, where he learned more than just how to defend himself; he also developed confidence.

"I never had a problem after that."

Now Brawley is moving his Kitchener-based company, Krav Maga Official Training Centre, to Waterloo.

Krav Maga -- a martial art -- is the official self-defense and fighting system created for the Israeli defense forces, he said.

"Part of the underlying principle with Krav Maga is it has to be applicable to everyone because men and women served in the Israeli defense forces."

The center's Kitchener location on King Street opened five years ago.

By the end of September, the company will have relocated to the new business centre at 283 Northfield Dr. E., in Waterloo.

"We're just bursting at the seams here," Brawley said. "We've been growing in leaps and bounds over the last few years."

The new 6,000-square-foot location has three classrooms, adult and child change rooms and a family washroom.

As well, it has matted floors, which are designed to prevent bodily strain.

"There's not going to be any martial arts school like this anywhere," Brawley said.

Classes will begin there on Sept. 25, and the centre offers a variety of programs.

There are conditioning classes for adults that offer fighters' workouts from a fitness perspective.

"People come in and they might take a class that's all working out on the heavy bags or doing rounds on pads like a boxer's workout. But it doesn't have the applied self-defense fighting part of it," said Michelle Janzen, the center's co-owner and manager.

Then there is the Krav Maga self-defense training program and the fight program, which is mixed martial arts training. One-night self-defense courses cost $15.

And there are a variety of membership opportunities.

The most expensive one is $105 per month and gives students the chance to take part in any class.

Classes run throughout the day, beginning at 6 a.m., Monday to Saturday.

Private lessons, which range from $15 for kids to $50 for adults, are also available.

There is also a three-month $150 membership for preschool-aged kids, which includes training twice a week at the minimum.

The kids' extreme martial arts program teaches mind and body skills, including focus, confidence building and how to deal with bullies.

Janzen said the kids' favorite part is learning the Jackie Chan-style jumping kicks and gymnastics moves.

Regardless of a student's age, these programs can have a dramatic impact on a person's life, Janzen said.

"They get a lot out of it character-building wise. A lot of our students come in not sure if it's something they can do, and, within a short period of time, they develop such a sense of personal power," Janzen said.

Instructor Karrie Ondercin knows first-hand what a difference Krav Maga lessons can have on one's life.

"Karrie was one of those timid students to start with and she's certainly far from that now," Janzen said.

Ondercin had always been physically active, but wanted to take self-defense courses to build her confidence.

"I didn't have a lot of it (confidence)," she said.

After a short time practicing Krav Maga, the 36-year-old noticed a significant difference in herself.

"My confidence, the way I carry myself, everything is completely changed."

One thing new students can expect is to sweat a lot in the classes, she said.

"I've never sweat like this."

The centre -- which employs eight instructors -- is always updating its programs to ensure the most recent and effective techniques are taught.

"It isn't that we're doing the same thing that some marital arts may have done 50 or 100 years ago," Brawley said.

"Old techniques that are just not practical or out of context are removed.

"A hundred years ago maybe people had to worry about sword attacks or things like that. Now we have to deal with knife attacks and gun threats."

Equipment packages, which cost between $70 and $297, depending on the program, are available from the centre.

There is a pre-registration special, until Sept. 15, that includes 20 per cent off the packages.

Those interested in registering can go to the new location or to its website at www.joinkravmaga.ca , or can call 519-880-9200.

Those who do will see results, Brawley said.

His childhood experience with bullying has been the motivation behind this business.

"That's why all this exists," he said.

Bullying is something that affects people for their entire lives, and it doesn't just happen to kids. It also occurs in the workplace, he said. That's why it's so important to learn how to deal with it.

"If you don't, it can affect how you view yourself, what kind of marks you get in school and eventually whether you go for a job interview or not.

"It all stems to confidence, and we try and build confidence."
 

August 2006 Women from around the East Valley turn to self-defense classes to build confidence Indy Couch, left, and Sue Mollica spar at Krav Maga Center in Chandler. Lisa Olson Tribune

By Julie Janovsky, Tribune

August 3, 2006

Indy Couch was in for a tough battle. In the span of 60 minutes, the 35-year-old sales associate from Tempe fiercely kicked, blocked punches and came close to being choked — twice. Exhausted and sweaty, the intense fight scenarios she was thrust into at the Krav Maga Center in Chandler on a recent Wednesday evening may have been only a test, but the adrenaline-bursting sparring bouts against her classmates came as close as possible to the real thing.

“I joined to be safe. . . . I want to be prepared,” she says of the news reports about the Baseline Killer that inspired her to sign up for selfdefense classes nearly a year ago. The Baseline Killer and the person known as the Serial Shooter have given many women in the East Valley like Couch cause for concern. Security experts say residents, especially women, need to avoid a panic mentality. “You can’t alter your lifestyle so it’s negatively impacted by bad things that can potentially happen,” says Jim Hardina, a member of Arizona State University’s security team. “It’s important to strike a balance between the way you think and the way you prepare.” So instead of sitting and worrying about what they cannot control, a growing number of women are enrolling in martial arts courses. OUT- THINKING THE ENEMY “In a criminal’s mind, they’ve won the fight before the attack,” says Jay Ackerman, owner and chief instructor of the Krav Maga Official Training Center. Students who study Krav Maga (which means “contact combat”) train to even the score. “What makes us different is everything we do, we do under stress,” says Ackerman. “We don’t do forms — there’s no art to this. Students do training drills first, then are put into attack situations and taught to get out of it.” Krav Maga was developed about 60 years ago by the Israeli army. Today, it’s studied internationally by law enforcement professionals, military forces and those who want to learn self-defense. Ackerman and his instructors at the school’s Chandler, Phoenix and Glendale locations teach their students REACT (Reality Environmental Adrenal Conditioning Training), which employs self-defense moves such as strikes and blocks that are similar to those found in traditional martial arts classes but put students into the heart of a street fight from day one. Through simulated attacks, students learn how to defend themselves in a number of situations ranging from being choked from behind to being thrown down to the ground. “No one wins a street fight,” says Ackerman. “You train how to survive a street fight.” The classes, which are typically a 50/50 female-to-male split, run for about an hour and have students going through a series of blocking moves and kicks, sprawls and “stress drills” that give them a chance to learn how to survive a fight while under the kind of pressure they would likely experience on the street. For Krav Maga students such as Couch, that means often going head to head in the class with men twice her size. “It’s hard sparring against the men,” she says, “but you realize this is real life.” The guys in the class “push you pretty hard,” says Sue Mollica, 30, of Mesa. “It gets your adrenaline pumping that much more.” At the Krav Maga Center in Chandler, head instructor Manny Robinson and instructors Matt Passow and Steve Valletta demonstrate various attack situations and have their students simulate them as realistically as possible without hurting each other. They also verse their students on how not to behave like a victim. “A lion in the jungle is not going to attack another lion,” says Ackerman. “They are going to go after someone who looks weak.” “If you look like a victim, you will have a higher percentage of getting attacked,” says Ray Hughes, owner and chief instructor of the Scottsdale Martial Arts Center ( www.azwado.com ). Hughes says most attackers look for “victim-type people” who appear weak in the way they walk (i.e., if they are looking down while they walk), don’t make eye contact or are distracted. “Just acting confident stops a lot of crime,” says Hughes. TRAINING TO BE STRONG “It’s easier to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble,” says Hughes. He says the first step, in addition to surveying your surroundings, is displaying strength and confidence. But he says women studying martial arts shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security. “A lot of people don’t realize that self-defense and martial arts just improves your odds. There are no guarantees. Even as a martial artist you don’t want to get in a bad place,” he says, explaining that studying martial arts should be a lifelong pursuit. Since every attack scenario is different, Hughes says there are no universal rules or 100 percent fail-safe methods to keep a person from getting attacked. He tells his students: If somebody approaches, be strong and put their hands in front of themselves and say “Stop.” Scream. Make noise. “There are no rules on the street,” he says. “You have to be creative.” He advises people to always keep some type of object between themselves and the assailant whenever possible. “For instance, if you are out there and someone is starting to approach — get to the other side of your car so you have a barrier. The longer you can stop an attack, the chances are that person will break off and leave. There’s not a lot of time, and (the attackers) are under stress, too.” Hughes says women should also be aware of their limitations and work around them. “Women cannot fight like guys. The mass size is too different. Women have to go for a knee, the throat . . . go for a weakness. . . . We are training kicking and punching, but you have to be creative,” he says, adding most women have a great weapon at their disposal — their fingernails. “Scratch (the attacker’s) face. Attack and run. Scream and go ballistic,” says Hughes, adding that most male attackers aim to knock out a woman. “The minute you are touched you have to ballistically attack their face or groin —whatever is available — and depart as fast as you can. Attacking right away catches them off guard. When that person regroups you have to be gone.” BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION Lindsay Walden-Schulz says her Krav Maga training has made her think twice about how she’s perceived by strangers. “I tend to smile at people if I see them on the street and don’t know them. That’s one of the things that can negatively affect how criminals view you,” says the 24-yearold bookkeeper from Mesa. “(The criminal) might think she’s gullible and will help me out if I say my car broke down a block away.” Walden-Schultz says she’s not about to change her personality out of fear, but remains cautious nonetheless. “I still smile at people, but I’m also aware that people need my help. I can say I can call the police right here — I’m not going to follow them anywhere. I am not going to let them into my house to call. They may see me as more likely to do something for them, but I’m not going to do it. I’ll be happy to help somebody but do it in a way that keeps me safe.” Debbie Forrister, a 38-year-old mother of two from Chandler, says when people view her out on the street they probably have no idea she’s been training in Krav Maga. Forrister, who’s been studying the discipline along with her husband, Rob, 39, and daughters Emily, 14, and Anna, 11, may not look outwardly tough, but the petite blonde knows how to throw a solid punch. “I never pictured myself in that situation,” she says of joining the Krav Maga classes. “You can never be prepared for how you would react if you encounter someone who wants to do you harm, but I feel I am better off now than before I started training this past April.” It didn’t take Forrister and the other female regulars at the Krav Maga Center long to master useful self-defense moves. Self-defense experts say learning a martial art is nothing to be intimidated about. “For women, even if they took a martial arts class for a month — they would learn a plan of attack. How to block a punch, how to kick properly . . . just that alone will give them confidence,” says Hughes, adding the more a person trains, the better their odds will be. Ackerman says that through training, students will develop “muscle memory,” where their bodies should automatically react the way they do in class to a real lifethreatening scenario. “There’s no such thing as being ‘perfect’ in class or in a fight,” he says. “The only mistake a person can make is to give up and stop fighting.” Like most students at the Krav Maga Center, Couch hopes she never has to use the techniques in a real fight. But she says that her training has made her feel more selfreliant in the event she ever does. “My confidence just walking down the street is so much higher.” Ways to relax News reports on violent crimes can sometimes leave people feeling anxious. Jeff Gishkin, a licensed professional counselor in Tempe, offers these tips: • Share your feelings with friends and relatives. • Seek online discussion groups to let you vent your feelings to people who feel the same way. • Enroll in stress reduction, meditation or relaxation classes. • Take a self-defense class. • Listen to relaxing music.

Contact Julie Janovsky by email, or phone (480) 898-6575

June 2006
 "U.S. Department of Homeland Security- Federal Air Marshall Commends Force Training Instruction."

Air Marshals commend Krav Maga.

Click here to read the actual letter...

They circle each other looking for an opening, and then in an explosion of movement, punches are exchanged and kicks are thrown.

It's the second punch that gets through. The first jab slides off the gloves and in the flurry that follows, some contact is made and a lesson is learned. Just as suddenly the opponents step back and begin their martial dance all over again.

"Keep your hands up," shouts instructor Troy Straith, as the group moves and sweats around the floor mats.

It is Saturday morning and the fight club is in full swing at Evolution Martial Arts in West Vancouver - the official training centre for the combat form known as Krav Maga.

Krav Maga is a simple but highly effective system of self-defence.

Originally developed for military use, Krav Maga was brought into the mainstream in 1964. It has been taught to hundreds of different law enforcement agencies and is the official self-defence system of the Israeli Defence Forces.

Imi Lechtenfeld, who is regarded as the father of the combat form, had been taught basic self-defence techniques by his father - a long serving police chief detective inspector - and as a young man growing up in Czechoslovakia he used those skills protecting himself and his Jewish neighbours from local thugs.

When the State of Israel was created, Lechtenfeld, who was a soldier in their army, was asked to develop a system of self-defence and fighting. During his 20 years in the army he refined the Krav Maga system for the military, and after retiring he adapted the techniques so they could be taught to men, women and children.

For Straith and James Zinck, owners of Evolution Martial Arts, Krav Maga was just what they were looking for.

"We wanted an advanced self-defence program that we could offer our students and Krav Maga seemed the best choice," said Straith.

The two instructors went to Los Angeles for three separate week-long training sessions of 75 hours each at the Krav Maga National Training Centre there. That was in 2003; today Straith and Zinck have more than 75 students learning the techniques of Krav Maga.

Last year Straith was invited back to Los Angeles to be trained as an expert instructor, which involved four separate week-long training sessions and then testing. He was then selected to be a member of a five-person advisory panel.

As a result of Straith's additional training, his school is the only one in Canada certified to train instructors. They have already had inquiries from instructors at other martial arts schools interested in studying with them, and their goal is to establish a provincial training centre in Vancouver.

"Already our website is busier than we thought it could be. We had 30,000 hits on it last month" said Zinck.

"We have students as young as 18 and all the way up to 50 plus with a mix of men and women," says Straith. "The program offers students the opportunity to learn how to defend themselves and their loved ones, (improve their) physical fitness and self-confidence and (allow) the ability to see and avoid a potentially dangerous situation."

A typical workout will begin with a 10 minute warm-up, followed by a series of stretches, and then participants will practice strikes using the various parts of the body. This leads into the self-defence techniques.

The actions are demonstrated from several different angles then broken down into segments and practised. Students move from learning the basics of how to punch, kick, elbow and knee effectively to how to defend against those same attacks. Next comes the defence against grabs and chokes and what happens when an attack ends up on the ground. More advanced students will also receive defence training against an attack by different weapons.

"One of the key differences of Krav Maga over other forms of self-defence is that it is based on what your body does instinctively," explained Straith. "People feel empowered after their first class."

Both Zinck and Straith have studied a variety of martial arts styles. Zinck recently received his fifth-degree black belt in mixed martial arts while Straith has a third-degree black belt.

Evolution Martial Arts offers classes in mixed martial arts, Krav Maga and cardio kickboxing workouts.

For more info call 604-921-2446 or see www.evolutionma.com

Krav Maga Worldwide recently conducted a successful 2-day seminar in Warsaw, Poland. The seminar was covered by a Polish magazine. For those of you who read Polish, here is a copy of the article!
 

Wow……What a weekend sailing in Annapolis as “Team Krav Maga”. The boat arrived on late Tuesday afternoon on a freighter from the Netherlands and we fought to get the boat pushed through customs. That was an experience that I hope never to have to deal with again. On Wednesday of last week, we finally got the boat to Annapolis where we had to put things together, replace parts, logo the boat and try to get it prepared for practice on Thursday. That proved to be quite a challenge and as Thursday came we had to register, weigh in and finish all repairs. By late Thursday afternoon, we finally had an opportunity to practice for about 90 minutes. It was a far cry from the 6 hours we had hoped for, but the boat was ready and looking good.

Friday morning was a cool 45 degrees when we left the dock to head out to the race course….It was blowing 12 to 15 knots from the Northwest which sent chills through our bones. We knew we fleet was very competitive with the best boats in the US participating and therefore there would be little room for error. Three races later and the end of day one, “Team Krav Maga” sat atop the leader board with solid finishes. We knew at that point that we had a target on our backs for the rest of the event.

Saturday morning was a bit warmer at 50 degrees when we headed out to the course…It was less breezy as well and the winds speeds of 9 to 12 knots would test the team again….The current in Chesapeake Bay was very strong and affected all of the boats at one time or another pushing us into marks and each other at times. It was tough. With three more races scheduled we knew we had to be smart, fast and sail aggressively to maintain the lead. After two races we did just that and after 5 races “Team Krav Maga” was still leading the event. The start of the third race was setting up well for us….In the pre start maneuvers we looked like we had the perfect opening and as we stuck the boat there found the current pushing us into the mark….It caused us to have to restart the race while watching the other competitors sail away…..We fought our way back to 12th in the sixth race, but dropped to 3rd place with one race to go. The worst part was that we mistimed the start by no more than 2 seconds. It was tough on the team because knew with one race left, we needed to sail perfectly and have some things go our way to win.

Sunday morning was cool again but the breeze was up in the 10 to 13 knot range and the current was again going to play a factor. The team was very quite on the way to the starting line because we knew that we had our work cut out for us. We found that to be true even before the start when we were sailing in our pre start maneuvers and the block that trims the mainsail pulled out of the deck…..With 6 minutes to go we tried to get it put back together in a way that would allow us to race. With 3 minutes to the start, the sails went back up and we tried aggressively to win the start…..We were not positioned well and pushed over the starting line early which meant we had to restart again. Not a great place to be for a second time in the regatta.

This team did what it does so well…We fought through adversity and focused on passing one boat at a time…..The race was 5 legs and each leg was 1.75 miles long. In sailboat racing, that is a long race and that gave us the time we needed to work our way through the fleet….We had a solid finish and ended up finishing the event in 2nd place, which was a great result for the new team and boat.

The sailors aboard “Team Krav Maga” would like to thank Krav Maga Worldwide for its support and also Dave, Matt and everyone from Krav Maga MD., for their support.

The next event will be in Toronto……If we can win this event, we will be in the driver’s seat to win the US Circuit Championship.

Regards,

Dan Cheresh
USA 6555
“Team Krav Maga”

James & Shannon –
I wanted to take a moment to thank you both for offering the women’s self defense seminar. What an invaluable, empowering experience! The Krav Maga training and conditioning classes I attend are fantastic. This seminar, however, was like the icing on the cake. It was the first opportunity for me to implement what I’ve been learning in class in as close to a real situation as I ever hope to get!

To shed a bit light on where my mindset is and to gain a better understanding of why this training is so important to me - it was ten years ago that I became the victim of a drunk driving crime that forever changed my life and body. I miraculously survived, but not without the loss of my lower left leg. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I imagine I’d be run into by a drunk driver. Never did I imagine having to fight for my life as a result of the injuries I endured. Never did I imagine ultimately becoming an amputee. This was the type of story I heard about pertaining to other people – not me – that couldn’t happen to me! Despite my thoughts, this is now my reality.

However, because of this experience I know all too well that anything can happen to anyone at anytime. With that truth, I could very easily live in fear, but that’s not living. Rather, I choose to do all I can to be as safe as I can be and give myself the best possible chance given a threatening assault situation.

There was no way for me to prepare for the events of the drunk-driving crime that forever changed my world in numerous ways. There is, however, a way for me to arm myself with the knowledge and skills to give myself one heck of a fighting chance should I ever be physically/verbally threatened/attacked. It is with thanks to the both of you, as well as John, Michelle and Shane, that I continue to gain this confidence.

Thank you!
Susan Wang
 

If you've been waiting for a chance to visit Israel and train in Krav Maga, now's your chance!

Krav Maga Worldwide, Inc. announces an Israel trip scheduled for 2006.
Flights leave from Flights leave from Baltimore-Washington, International Airport. Visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and more! Train in Krav Maga in Haifa and receive expert firearms training as well. Train with Israeli instructors as well as some of the top instructors from Krav Maga Worldwide in the United States.

Israel Trip scheduled for August 5 to August 13. Don't miss this opportunity!
The price includes:

• Airline tickets
• Hotel (7 nights)
• Guided tours
• Transportation
• All entrance fees
• Firearms training
• Farewell dinner

Special Price for Krav Maga Students and Instructors: $3,500.
Deadline: non-refundable deposit of $250 due by Feb. 25. (Remainder due by July 1.) Join Krav Maga Worldwide in Israel this August! Register by calling
310.477-9977 or e-mail israeltrip@kravmaga.com

Click here for our Israel Event Flyer

Click here to read the entire list...

Click here to read the entire list...

Punching always provides great satisfaction,
if nothing else
Julie Slack, Mountain
(Jan 20, 2006)

Can you believe it has been a whole year of Krav Maga? I sure can't. I love it as much today as I did when I joined last February.

For those who forget what Krav Maga is, it's self-defense, hand-to-hand combat, originating in Israel, it's the official defense system of the Israel defense forces and has been taught to hundreds of law enforcement agencies. It's simple to learn, emphasizes instinctive movements and practical techniques. It's what Jennifer Lopez used in her movie Enough to stop her abusive husband.

For me, it's aggressive and fun - a great way to work out any frustrations you might have in a learning environment. I have been taught at Wood's Martial Arts in Ancaster, mostly by Gord Wood, and sometimes by TJ.

Here, they make classes fun - hard and gruelling, but fun. For me, I'm fortunate to be able to attend lunch-hour classes, otherwise it's nearly impossible for me to fit in any organized workout, without getting a babysitter for son Luke.

So here are some of the things I have learned: punching, kicking, choke releases, and more. Punching, itself has been the most rewarding. Now, I'd like to think, anyway, I don't punch like a girl. Gord has taught me how to punch so it actually has some affect. But punching isn't always the best choice anyway, and as he has said time and again, elbows really prove effective.

Believe me, if you saw my elbows you'd agree. Knees are another method of attack and believe me, if you felt some of the knee blows on the shields we hold for practise, you would understand.

Saw them before some of our workouts that is - man they take a beating when we're learning the six different elbows.

Then there's the 360* defenses, teaching you to use your instinctive reaction to ward off danger, whether it be a knife, a broken bottle, or a punch. For this, we attack each other, either with a shield or with our arms (we hate it when it's arms, especially the women, boney arms can seriously hurt). So we walk away with bruises all over our arms and wrists, and wonder why we are doing this. Oh yeah, it's fun.

Wrist releases are another of the many techniques we are taught. Believe it or not, tiny women can get away from big guys (or vice-versa, I suppose) with simple techniques that even I was able to learn. You don't have to be an athlete to get the basics of Krav Maga, just an individual with an open mind.

Besides, nobody at work will dare to provoke you after they find out you take Krav Maga. I beg people to choke me around the office, but nobody ever does - I know, there are plenty of readers who might like to choke me! I don't recommend you follow through!

Seriously, though, Krav Maga has certainly increased my confidence, at least I know in my mind what I should do if I ever faced an attacker, which, of course, I never want to. Just the same, it's nice to have a back-up plan in place.

Trust me, you wouldn't want a Krav Maga attack, regardless of how small the individual may look, it's aggressive and explosive. And it works. Who would ever believe I would have the potential to explode into punching, kicking and elbowing? And of course, that's part of the concept - surprise.

I think more people should take Krav Maga. Why not get a great workout and benefit from learning a new skill that could potentially save your life. With all the violence, street gangs and issues on the street these days, it certainly can't hurt to arm yourself with simple defenses. Plus, I'm getting stronger arms, which is always a bonus for me.
 

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What did you do this weekend?

Click here for a photo of Steve with his Championship Belt
 

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Chicago Tribune Writes About KM!
(June 22, 2004)

To read the article, which features our own Bert Witte from the Chicago area, click here.

Krav Maga was recently featured in the show "9 on the Town." The segment discussed the coolest places to go in Los Angeles. The show features a brief discussion of the system, interviews with sudents, and training in class. Note: This is an 11 megabyte file. To play it, Click Hereor to dowload it, (PC right click), (Mac shift-click), click here.

The Washington Times wrote an extensive article on Krav Maga, which is being taught to civilians in Washington D.C. and at the Baltimore Police Academy. (click image to enlarge)

The Krav Maga program run by Steve Woolridge in the Kansas City area was recently featured in the Kansas City Sport Page. To view the article in PDF format, click here.

If you'd like to view it's html web page instead, click here.

The Japanese issue of Playboy magazine featured a story on Krav Maga and Scott Reitz, the tactical firearms instructor for LAPD SWAT and Metro. Reitz is a good friend of ours at Krav Maga Worldwide. The Krav Maga section features Kokushi Matsumoto, an excellent instructor who coordinates Krav Maga training in Japan. Click on an image below to see a bigger image.

Black Belt and KMNTC instructor Vivian Cannon was featured on the National Public Radio program "The Unger Report." To listen to the program, click here.

Several Krav Maga Official Training Centers were recently featured in the Chicago Jewish News. For a link to the article, click here.

Read about it here

Terminator 3 star Kristanna Loken trained with Krav Maga Worldwide instructor Wade Allen to prep for her part. Read about her interview in "Maxim at the Movies." For a look at part of the article, click on the images. For the a complete version of the interview, check out Maxim magazine's website here.

The Los Angeles Times wrote an article on Krav Maga U.S. Chief Instructor Darren Levine for his success as a deputy district attorney and in Krav Maga. The article points to Darren's history in Krav Maga, and his record in court, where he has tried over 75 cases without a loss. Darren serves on an elite unit for Los Angeles county where he prosecutes violent crimes against police officers. For a link to the L.A. Times archive, click here.

To read the interview, click here.

The Krav Maga program in Philadelphia was featured as part of the evenings activities in a recent episode of the show "Blind Date." A local newspaper picked up the story and included a photo of some of the instructors and students (at bottom). Click here to view the article.

Writer Beth Sonnenburg visited the Krav Maga National Training Center to check out our fighting classes. You can read the article in the January 2003 issue of Muscle & Fitness. Please click an image below to enlarge.

MA Success magazine did a cover story on Krav Maga in it's January 2003 issue. The story focused on Krav Maga's ability to attract adult members with its practical, reality-based training system.

Krav Maga was featured in the Winter issue of Bally's Total Fitness.

In the September issue, pg. 136, Ms. Liu answers a question about movie fight scenes and says:
"...I prefer working with knives and chains and sticks, because it's challenging. And just hand-to-hand fighting. Like Krav Maga, the one used by the Israeli military, where you just beat the shit out of each other, like street fighting."

Go get your September issue of Maxim (and this time don't just look at the pictures).

Read an article about Paul Garcia and Krav Maga in Attleboro, Mass. Click here

Our system has been featured in Black Belt's new magazine "Self Defense For Women." Check it out!

Read the article on Chris Liska's KM program here!

Click here to read more!