Why Krav?

[mara_jade]

Welcome to the forum,

Best place is to check via this link. If you don't see any in your area, just keep checking back

http://www.kravmaga.com/locations/li...ocations-list/

[cs81953]

I am new to this blog. I am 57-years-old and a Krav Maga student. I am getting ready for my level 1 test .

I am the oldest person in my class, and my instructor says I am doing well, but I need to work on cardio. I feel good that I've made it this far in my class when most folks my age are beginning to have serious health problems.

I lost weight when I first starting taking Krav Maga, but that has leveled off now.I am not losing or gaining weight, but I do feel much better physically. When my weight loss stopped, I also lost motivation to push forward.

I go to Krav Maga class twice a week. Each class lasts about 60 minutes but is very intense.

Any suggestions in getting over the last hump so I can pass my test?

Thanks for your help,
Cathy

[unstpabl1]

Originally Posted by cs81953

I am new to this blog. I am 57-years-old and a Krav Maga student. I am getting ready for my level 1 test .

I am the oldest person in my class, and my instructor says I am doing well, but I need to work on cardio. I feel good that I've made it this far in my class when most folks my age are beginning to have serious health problems.

I lost weight when I first starting taking Krav Maga, but that has leveled off now.I am not losing or gaining weight, but I do feel much better physically. When my weight loss stopped, I also lost motivation to push forward.

I go to Krav Maga class twice a week. Each class lasts about 60 minutes but is very intense.

Any suggestions in getting over the last hump so I can pass my test?

Thanks for your help,
Cathy

Thats awesome. I'm one of the oldest in my Muay thai gym. I definately train more than any one within 20 years of me.

Weight loss is not really related to exercise as much as people think. It is about nutrition. When you start a new high intensity workout like krav you may see results until your body adapts to the work load. Its the same reason your workouts feel easier than on Day one

I gained weight doing MT and I workout pretty much everyday from an hour - 3 hours at a time. The moral is that you cannot out work a bad diet. i eat like crap. So that is where I'd look if the goal is weight loss.

i know some younger guys who lost a ton of weight that don't work as hard or worry about diet but metabolism and even medications can affect us in our 50's

cardio is a never ending battle for any fighter. The best thing to do is to condition thru the activity. Meaning by doing krav or marathon running will condition you best for THAT activity.

Of couse you can work outside Strength and Conditioning like Crossfit but plodding along for an hour on a treadmill isn't an answer. One of the best and cheapest things you can do is jumping rope. every fighter uses it.

You can start by jumping for a 3 minute round or 2 with 30 second rests. Don't sweat it everyone takes breaks within those 3 minutes for awhile. Or simple do 50-100 single unders ( 50-100 turns of the rope).

Good luck

[Rabid Dog]

Originally Posted by cs81953

I am new to this blog. I am 57-years-old and a Krav Maga student. I am getting ready for my level 1 test .

I am the oldest person in my class, and my instructor says I am doing well, but I need to work on cardio. I feel good that I've made it this far in my class when most folks my age are beginning to have serious health problems.

I lost weight when I first starting taking Krav Maga, but that has leveled off now.I am not losing or gaining weight, but I do feel much better physically. When my weight loss stopped, I also lost motivation to push forward.

I go to Krav Maga class twice a week. Each class lasts about 60 minutes but is very intense.

Any suggestions in getting over the last hump so I can pass my test?

Thanks for your help,
Cathy

I totally agree with the quote from unstpabl1, i only posted in my introduction earlier that i hope I'm not to old for KM at 37yrs and this post and the way you stick at it is superb so keep going, i know it's not the answer to your question but it's a great example to anyone who worries about how old you need to be and shows it's for all at all ages and all levels

[fennyq]

just want more information

[cs81953]

Well, thanks for the compliment! I am getting closer to passing my level 1 test. Mock test #3 is coming up soon. My problem is that I can't seem to find time to work out between classes. With a job, and a busy social life, I find it hard to get to the gym. I won a free gym membership when I sent in an answer to the question "how do you stay fit" to our local newspaper. It seems our city was designated the laziest city in the country by "Men's Health" magazine. The contest was to prove to this publication that some of our residents do exercise. I am saving my money for 4 sessions with a personal trainer whom I hope will help motivate me to get going.

[Narv]

I’m new to this forum, and also to Krav Maga.
My whole life I have always been interested in Martial Arts. I have a background with 3 years of Karate and 1 year of Boxing. I then had a big pause from MA for a couple of years, but now want to do it again. I have looked/tried things like Muay Thai and MMA, both great styles, but just not the thing I’m looking for.

I’m a young man in his early twenties, so of course I go out with friends for having a good time at bars and clubs. And so does my girlfriend. She is a beautiful girl, no doubt, but that also means a lot of other men are hitting on her. That is okay by me – after all men are only men, right? – but what I can’t accept, are drunk assholes that can’t take no for a answer and starts to hold her against a wall, having hands all over her, even though she keeps saying no, pushes them or even slaps them.
I get so freaking pissed when she tells me these kinds of things has happened, and I can really feel how scared she must have been in the situation.

So, Krav is the perfect mix for me. I both get my “martial art sport”, AND the skills to protect myself and the persons I love.

[grizz8006]

I work diff types of Security and was working in a bar one night in a bad area. When I had 2 guys fighting when I walked over I notice he kept trying to go for something. He lifted up his shirt enough for me to realize it was a knife. I was able to disarm him and remove all the threats but really had me thinking about my line of work. I read about Krav Maga somewhere on line and was hooked! I can't imagine life without it mostly because it has saved me a few times. I also work for a law office when people are in the middle of getting divorced I can go on the womens behalf to collect her court ordered property. Its very scary because alot of the men and even few women were abusive in the relationship , and I am now alone in a house with them while they are angry!

[Paco]

I was taking Taekwondo and got to a point where my knees could not take the twisting and spinning, after I had surgery on both my knees and no actual cartilage as a result I decided (with the urging of my Dr., Mom and Wife) I had to stop TKD. My TKD instructors had started learning Krav Maga and were working towards becoming instructors and they said I would love it and there is no real "un-natural" twisting of the knees, etc.

I discussed it with my Dr. and he agreed that I should try it out, because he knows I can't just sit still so he might as well go along with it.

Since then I have loved it and enjoy every class, even the ones with the one guy who gets a little wild or the other guy who's grappling gloves don't secure all the way and I get Velcro burns.

I have since been asked, and am considering, going down the Instructor path; starting with Next Generation Krav Maga. I figure I'd start teaching kids and work my way up to adult instruction if I feel the calling.

[Kiddon]

Originally Posted by grizz8006

it was a knife. I was able to disarm him and remove all the threats

There are no real answers to defend a knife attack, there are many tecknics to defend a menace of a kinefe, very diferent, if an assailant has intent to stab you, you have no chance, never try dysarm a guy with a knife mainly if he is a safe distance and if he wants to attack you, you must run away if you dont want die...

[Kiddon]

Originally Posted by Narv

I’m new to this forum, and also to Krav Maga.
My whole life I have always been interested in Martial Arts. I have a background with 3 years of Karate and 1 year of Boxing. I then had a big pause from MA for a couple of years, but now want to do it again. I have looked/tried things like Muay Thai and MMA, both great styles, but just not the thing I’m looking for.

I’m a young man in his early twenties, so of course I go out with friends for having a good time at bars and clubs. And so does my girlfriend. She is a beautiful girl, no doubt, but that also means a lot of other men are hitting on her. That is okay by me – after all men are only men, right? – but what I can’t accept, are drunk assholes that can’t take no for a answer and starts to hold her against a wall, having hands all over her, even though she keeps saying no, pushes them or even slaps them.
I get so freaking pissed when she tells me these kinds of things has happened, and I can really feel how scared she must have been in the situation.

So, Krav is the perfect mix for me. I both get my “martial art sport”, AND the skills to protect myself and the persons I love.

Do you thinK you gonna training Krav Maga and you have no problems ? you are wrong, prevention is the best way, change the pub or girlfriend, I am joking, I understand the situation, be carefull, too much drinks not good for health, anyone have a pocket knife and is very danger, most of fights it is not just one person, more that one....sorry my english

[Kiddon]

Why Krav Magá ? no rules and the goal is survive, have a real response to all menaces, easy to learn and is a mix system , many tecknichs that works on streets...

[CelticKM]

A few reasons really:

I got to second brown in karate in my teens and I never felt I would win in an actual fight. Maybe I was rubbish but it didnt seem useful for the real world.

I wanted to get fit.

I wanted a hobbie.

KM sounded like the most useful for the possible situations I may get into.

I'll be honest about this last one, I thought it sounded quite cool compared to MA's.

[Kiddon]

Originally Posted by CelticKM

A few reasons really:

I got to second brown in karate in my teens and I never felt I would win in an actual fight. Maybe I was rubbish but it didnt seem useful for the real world.

I wanted to get fit.

I wanted a hobbie.

KM sounded like the most useful for the possible situations I may get into.

I'll be honest about this last one, I thought it sounded quite cool compared to MA's.

Hi Celtic, our team are with Krav Maga Global too...facebook, krav maga global portugal (KMG-PT), last February we have a stage with Eyal Yanilov about disarm gun fire...

[CelticKM]

Thats cool Kiddon and I am joined the KMG group on Facebook too and my UK club is called the Institute of Krav Maga.

I do find it really interesting to come on here and to hear about other codes of Krav Maga as I would guess it's not massively different to ours.

One day I will hopefully train with Eyal himself...

I am Celtic KM (with a space) on Facebook if you or anybody wants to add as friend.

[Kiddon]

Originally Posted by CelticKM

Thats cool Kiddon and I am joined the KMG group on Facebook too and my UK club is called the Institute of Krav Maga.

I do find it really interesting to come on here and to hear about other codes of Krav Maga as I would guess it's not massively different to ours.

One day I will hopefully train with Eyal himself...

I am Celtic KM (with a space) on Facebook if you or anybody wants to add as friend.

Hi Celtic , our official site are under construction but you can see www.kravmagaglobalportugal.com , I am gonna find you on facebook,
big hug

[StanMc]

Why Krav?

I'm 47 and not getting any younger. I had been thinking for years about learning some type of self defense. I heard about Krav Maga a few weeks ago and decided now is the time. I have no interest in doing flying kicks or breaking boards. If attacked I want to be able to quickly and effectively neutralize the attacker and get away. That's it for me.

[Kiddon]

Originally Posted by StanMc

Why Krav?

I'm 47 and not getting any younger. I had been thinking for years about learning some type of self defense. I heard about Krav Maga a few weeks ago and decided now is the time. I have no interest in doing flying kicks or breaking boards. If attacked I want to be able to quickly and effectively neutralize the attacker and get away. That's it for me.

Hi StanMc
Krav Magá is for all people and for all ages, as ImI Lichtenfeld said “ Do what you can but do it well”.I am 45 years old and is not a problema at all, when you are talking about high kicks, forget that, in self defense dont exist high kicks, it is a myth, dont work on the street, when you are training with a large pants if you have some gymnastic of course you can beat with a high kick, but when you are on street you wear a tight pants, like jeans, and you can not strike above the belt, because of that and because most of the street fight it is in a close distance and most of the time end on the ground…

[Kiddon]

Originally Posted by grizz8006

I work diff types of Security and was working in a bar one night in a bad area. When I had 2 guys fighting when I walked over I notice he kept trying to go for something. He lifted up his shirt enough for me to realize it was a knife. I was able to disarm him and remove all the threats but really had me thinking about my line of work. I read about Krav Maga somewhere on line and was hooked! I can't imagine life without it mostly because it has saved me a few times. I also work for a law office when people are in the middle of getting divorced I can go on the womens behalf to collect her court ordered property. Its very scary because alot of the men and even few women were abusive in the relationship , and I am now alone in a house with them while they are angry!

Hi Grizz8006

I am just gonna make a comment about the knife, if you are an ordinary citizen and if someone pull a knife to you, you would better run if you don’t want to die.
There are no answer to knife attack, most of them happens rapidly and sometimes you don’t see the knife, if you see a knife in a hand of a thug, run, is the first rule, if you are a law officer, policeman, the thug pull a knife and it would better you shot him down imediatly, if not, you are dead.
There are some videos on youtube that police were stab by a thug because they didn’t shot suddenly, if the guy runs to you completely crazy with a knife in his hand, if the distance was close, you have great difficulty shot him down until you gonna hurt first, I have no doubt ,for me is the scariest weapon, more than a fire gun, most of the people think that is easy disarm a knife, try to pull out the knife on you and run but never try to disarm the knife, just in ultimate case and when there is no alternative, and prepare to many cuts. My opinion.

[StanMc]

Originally Posted by Kiddon

Hi StanMc
Krav Magá is for all people and for all ages, as ImI Lichtenfeld said “ Do what you can but do it well”.I am 45 years old and is not a problema at all, when you are talking about high kicks, forget that, in self defense dont exist high kicks, it is a myth, dont work on the street, when you are training with a large pants if you have some gymnastic of course you can beat with a high kick, but when you are on street you wear a tight pants, like jeans, and you can not strike above the belt, because of that and because most of the street fight it is in a close distance and most of the time end on the ground…

Kiddon,
Thanks for the encouragement! Now my body (and mind) must adapt to the physical demands of training.

[letsgetit]

does every crossfit class take almost the whole class to start the work out?

there should be individual fundamental classes that new members must complete before going to an actual crossfit class.

going over every moment for new members is time consuming and takes away from the time spent working out.

[just_hilts]

For many of the reasons already posted. I've long been interested in martial arts but life gets in the way and I end up not training. I've tried judo, karate, kung fu and boxing and never stuck with any beyond a few years. I'm 40 and would like to actually become proficient in something.

Also, I want the spillover confidence that comes from training in something physicial. In my short krav maga career, I've found that work or other problems seem less serious after spending time trying to escape from a choke.

It's inspiring to see so many older students on this board. At 40, I often feel like the oldest person in my school.

[LAsecurityofficer]

i work crowd mangement and regular security and was wondering k we have to remove all type of drunk and violent people from events and also at my regular post and was wonder if krav maga would work in keeping my partners and myself safe?

[Pranit]

I am Pranit 24 yrs old.For me..its walking with confidence when i have no friends around me.In college we had a gang and we used to protect each other.Now after college its a lonely alone life.No one around to protect you.A defense system which teaches you methods quick enough to disarm any1 anywhere.it develops a confidence in you

[Darian]

There are no response to blade strike, most of them happens quickly and sometimes you do not see the blade, if you see a blade in a side of a criminal, run, is the first concept, if you are a law official, cop, the criminal take a blade and it would better you taken him down immediately, if not, you are deceased.

[SplatCat]

Why Krav?? (Geez, how am I going to keep this SHORT??!?)

Little bit of history - I've always loved the martial arts, Dad taught me a little bit of judo, had one high-school friend who was a Tae Kwon Do instructor so I learned some of that, another guy taught me a little bit of Pa Kua kung fu (which was really cool, since it was so different from anything else I'd done!), & had another good friend/roommate for a couple years who was a Kenpo instructor, so I made some decent progress with that art as well (R.I.P. Nick!). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it through my 20s without getting into a serious fight, where I learned the hard way that all of the stuff I'd been doing was pretty much just "playing around". I was perhaps a little bit lucky, I merely got beat up - but I had to take someone I loved to the hospital when it was all over. :(

Fast-forward (WAY too fast!) about 20 years, & went through a 2-yr stretch where Dad had several heart attacks. About that same time, my doc started telling me that I needed to get more active, or else I was going to be in the same situation. Tried all kinds of other exercises, walking, biking, gyms, etc, but ALL of it just BORED THE CRAP out of me. I'd told the wife for years that I wanted to get back into martial arts, & I knew that I didn't want to "screw around" any more like I had when I was a kid. Since I'd been a martial arts nut, I was vaguely familiar with KM. So, when I discovered a school just a few miles from me, I figured that since it came from Israel (& since the Israelis simply can't afford to screw around!) that checking it out would be a worthwhile use of my time. Freakin' LOVED EVERY SECOND of it! Been training with James & Shannon Hiromasa for roughly 2-1/2 years now, & if I have anything to say about it, I'll be doing Krav until I can't get a ride to/from the nursing home...

So much for keeping it short, huh?

[PinkGloves]

Originally Posted by SplatCat

Been training with James & Shannon Hiromasa for roughly 2-1/2 years now, & if I have anything to say about it, I'll be doing Krav until I can't get a ride to/from the nursing home...

James is fantastic! He was one of the instructors who came and did my Phase A testing. I loved every minute of training we had with him. You are definitely in good hands.

[ThePeanutMaster]

Great reading the stories here. Why Krav? The reason for me would be because I missed it. After training Aikido for a year or so I trained in Krav Maga for two years. At two different schools simultaneously I LOVED it. Walked out the class feeling at ease, confident and happy. Only problem was it was a long journey to get there from where I lived. Finances were not great at the time...

A Wing Chun school was much closer to me and more for financial / travel reasons I joined it. The people there were great and I stuck at the system stubbornly for 4 years! And never returned to Krav. I believed wingchun being a Traditional Martial art was better for me than Krav Maga so I stuck at it (i was wrong) All the while missing the more realistic and grounded Krav.

Then the last few months of my Wing Chin I started losing the love for it. Making excuses not to go. Questioning a little bit what we were doing. The techniques, bear in mind my Wing Chun teacher was really really good. It wasn't him it was me. lol

I was a very dedicated student, never missing a lesson. Stubbornly pushing myself to stick at something. There was just a missing connection with what I was learning and what I thought would actually work in an uncontrolled quick response situation. Krav may have been a bit more unpolished and less clean, but this is the nature of the street fight right? Wing Chun looks pretty, particularly chi sau but I just felt after all that time it wasn't for me. I missed Krav.

Very hard to leave, especially when you almost enter into a kind of Pseudo religious bond with your martial art. It just so happened I moved to another area of the country recently, so this served as a convenient reason for me to say goodbye to my Wing Chun. Was also the kick I needed.

My new location when looking for Krav, what do you know, ten minutes down the road. A Krav Maga class...

I start again tonight

[levihdevanny]

I love how Krav can be a means of self defense and a way for me to lose weight.

[Adrian]

I learned about Krav Maga while watching a UFC fight with some friends 3.5 years ago. At the time, one of my friends began discussing the differences between sports based martial arts/fighting (i.e., the various applications of MMA in sport) and violence in the street (i.e. unregulated violent altercations, surprise attacks). He proceeded to talk about fighting in close quarters, addressing attacks with weapons, basic self defense, etc. Much of what he said made sense, but it was difficult to grasp because I really had no practical experience. To help my understanding (lol) I was given a wooden knife and my friend asked me to stab him. I tried with great effort to stab him, but FAILED every time.

I knew my friend was a career self-defense instructor/martial artist in some hard to pronounce system, but I never cared to learn the name. That night, I decided that I wanted to learn more about the martial art (Krav Maga). I was invited to train at Krav Maga MD, but deferred due to a lack of motivation.

I decided to consider training in Krav Maga a little over a year later, following a few incidents out in public with my wife (i.e., people making racist comments, drunk guys getting a lil' too friendly). I felt somewhat confident in my willingness to fight/defend myself or her if necessary, because I've been in fights before. That said, I knew that I needed more...to train to defend myself and the one(s) I love.

I began training in April 2011 and Krav Maga has since become my primary hobby and a great passion.

[NTNG]

I'm 55 and decided I had enough of being called the "old guy" or " Pops" About a year ago, There was a Krav class taught at the military base I work at < I'm retired military > So i started going to the class. It was taught by a friend of mine, and I loved it. After 8 months, he had to transfer out of the area. I also went to Krav Maga of Maryland. Krav has become a part of our lives < my wife started training as well > We both enjoy it a great deal. The increase in endurance, and self confidence are great. We've also met some great folks, and made some friends.

[LennyKravist]

Greetings everyone! Let’s see if I can keep this brief. I’ve always been interested in Martial Arts since I was a kid but was always afraid to get hit, so never took up the offer to sign up when I was younger. Fast forward to my adult years, and well frankly, I don’t know the first thing about how to defend myself. At my age (38) I feel my pickings may be slim in that I’m not sure I have the time to dedicate to a true Martial “Art.” Make no mistake, I respect traditional Martial Arts IMMENSELY. I just don’t feel I have the time to learn how to spin-kick someone in the face (just a quick non-specific example). So after much research, I found Krav to be as practical, effective and brutal as I need. I need something quick and ugly, because the fights I’ve witnessed always devolve into that. Plus, I’ve got a woman in my life now. Took my lifetime to find her, and now that we’ve found each other, I’ll guard her with everything I got! She’s tough and can take care of herself. But the extra Krav knowledge doesn’t hurt. To further elaborate, I saw a youtube video of a recovering couple who were jumped, but she got the brunt of the attack and has been rehabbing for a few years. She’s in good shape but still recovering (you could see the scars from her head surgery) and that hit home for me. So that’s why I picked Krav. To learn to defend not just myself, but those most dear to me. I’m now 7 weeks in, but I’m in for the long haul. I’m loving it more and more and eager to take it as far as I can take! I definitely want to go as high as the belts allow, and hopefully, with enough training and discipline, be able to test into black belt!

Thanks for reading!