Jerusalem training

[Metta World Krav Maga]

Question. My cousin will be spending the year in Jerusalem (female, early 30's, Krav/martial arts newbie) and wants to start training while she's there and asked me for recommendations.

I know that wasn't a question. My question is does anyone have any recommendations? She would prefer not to commute to Netanya or Tel Aviv. I looked on the interwebs and couldn't find much save for Itay Gil's Protect which I believe trains bodyguards and the orgs IKI/ICCS, neither of which I'd ever heard of. Anyway, any information would be very helpful and most appreciated. Thanks!

[KevinMack]

I cant read hebrew but it on there somewhere http://www.kami.org.il/new/home_heb.asp

[KevinMack]

http://kravmaga-ikmf.com/locations.asp?loc=11

[Metta World Krav Maga]

Thanks Kevin, you rock. Hadn't even thought of Krav Magen, but will send her the info, as I'm sure at the initial stages the system differences are somewhat negligible/irrelevant to her purposes. Also, right after I posted this yesterday I actually found and sent her the IKMF info, though it's unclear if they offer ongoing civilian classes in Jerusalem or just host events/seminars there a few times a year. But I sent her the phone number and told her to either call it or email a guy named Shlomi Moyal (who I assume would be related to Avi Moyal), who it says is the head of women's training. She'll be crazy busy over there, but also in some dicey areas, so whether it's a women's self-defense seminar or just regular civilian classes, I at least want her to have options.

The other thing I sent her is the ICCS (Israeli Contact Combat System) info, which upon further investigation seems affiliated with Itay Gil, as head instructor Sharir Richman is or was somehow involved with Protect. Do you (or anyone else reading this thread) know anything about them? Specifically if the group is appropriate for a total newbie (as I imagine Itay Gil's classes are probably not), and teaches what we can generally agree is Krav Maga (or if not, if it's still a simple/practical/effective self-defense system with roots in Krav Maga. Obviously I know Contact Combat means Krav Maga, but I've never heard of them and just want to make sure they're legit. No disrespect intended.)

Thanks again.

[bear34]

Originally Posted by Metta World Krav Maga

Thanks Kevin, you rock. Hadn't even thought of Krav Magen, but will send her the info, as I'm sure at the initial stages the system differences are somewhat negligible/irrelevant to her purposes. Also, right after I posted this yesterday I actually found and sent her the IKMF info, though it's unclear if they offer ongoing civilian classes in Jerusalem or just host events/seminars there a few times a year. But I sent her the phone number and told her to either call it or email a guy named Shlomi Moyal (who I assume would be related to Avi Moyal), who it says is the head of women's training. She'll be crazy busy over there, but also in some dicey areas, so whether it's a women's self-defense seminar or just regular civilian classes, I at least want her to have options.

The other thing I sent her is the ICCS (Israeli Contact Combat System) info, which upon further investigation seems affiliated with Itay Gil, as head instructor Sharir Richman is or was somehow involved with Protect. Do you (or anyone else reading this thread) know anything about them? Specifically if the group is appropriate for a total newbie (as I imagine Itay Gil's classes are probably not), and teaches what we can generally agree is Krav Maga (or if not, if it's still a simple/practical/effective self-defense system with roots in Krav Maga. Obviously I know Contact Combat means Krav Maga, but I've never heard of them and just want to make sure they're legit. No disrespect intended.)

Thanks again.

Shlomi is Avi's brother. Great guy and fantastic instructor. I have been lucky to train with him on a few occasions.

[Metta World Krav Maga]

Good to know. Outside of KMW, I have a lot of respect for the IKM/IKMF groups, and told her that if it were feasible, that would be my top choice for where to start (but that of course she should go with what's best for her.)

[KevinMack]

Itay Gil has a great military,police and martial arts resume and is well respected in Israel. But what he does is not Krav Maga as we know it. He uses the very loose definition of KM to describe his blend of Gadi Kenpojitsu,muay thai and military combatives. You might see some stuff that looks like our KM but for the most part it will be different.
That being said..if I was in Jerusalem I wouldnt miss the chance to train with him.Sharir is one of his top guys. The only one related to him I would stay away from is Moshe Katz.
In regards to Krav Magen...dont be misled by the name. Krav Magen is really just an organizational name...Eli Avikzar the founder never called what he did Krav Magen he always called it Krav Maga. His students consider what they do to be Krav Maga nad not something different.

[Metta World Krav Maga]

Exactly the answer I was looking for; confirms much of what I'd suspected (except for the Krav Magen info, which not only did I not know, but I'd imagine there's a lot of confusion over what exactly "defensive combat" is...)

Cheers.

[Eli]

Full disclosure: as most of you know Sharir is my madrich, I got my instructor trainer cert under him, and I'm an instructor with ICCS here in Brooklyn, but I've been around the krav world and have a good idea of what are generally best practices in other organizations.

Sharir does certain things differently, notably gun disarms, but all the essential elements of krav are there, and the principles are followed to the tee. He's also fond of updating techniques on a semi-yearly basis or throwing them out and replacing them if one of his "boys" (usually the golani qrf and duvdevan guys he works with) tries them "in real life" and finds issue with them.

Sharir is extremely reality focused, and has little patience for flowery techniques etc. He's close personal friends Moishe Katz, who runs IKI, and I'm well acquainted with some of Moishe's guys, like Tim Hillis down in Arizona, who's a solid dude, but there's a significant technique gap between katz, who does, in my opinion, some truly controversial techniques, and Sharir , who tends to be linear and to the point.

Of course you can't go wrong with Eli Avikzar either. I'd love to train with him.

Hope this helps, and if any of you ever find yourself in the northeast, feel free to drop in and chat or train!

Best,
-Eli

[Metta World Krav Maga]

Eli, definitely helps, and thanks for jumping in. From what I'm gathering, the ICCS/Itay/Sharir approach seems like a very cool, legit, different side of the same coin.

[Eilson]

Good information. Its a well and superb idea and above from my expectation. I learnt lot of things so thanks everyone for sharing your ideas and comments.

[Jru]

Hi there,
I know this is an old post, but if your cousin is still in Jerusalem, she can get get in touch with me if she wants- I'm also living in Jerusalem, female, late 20's. I just starting doing private KM lessons in the Old City. If your cousin still wants to train, my instructor is really great, and there is nothing quite like fighting on the rooftops of the ancient walled city! All the best.

[Metta World Krav Maga]

Hey, thanks for replying! She's actually working in India right now, and for whatever reason did not train while in Jerusalem. I'm going to personally see to it that this NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

Good luck with your training (which sounds AWESOME btw...) Who do you train with and where?

[johnson33]

Excellent post thanks for sharing with us it will helps me in my future very good information