Why Krav?

[Ryan]

Night Robin, are you normally at RHEK Tuesday and Thursday nights? I am glad you are enjoying the training.

All the best,
Ryan

[Night Robin]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Night Robin, are you normally at RHEK Tuesday and Thursday nights? I am glad you are enjoying the training.

All the best,
Ryan

Yep. I rarely miss unless I'm sick or something. I go to the 6-6:45 Krav Intro class, and then the 6:45-7:45 Krav Level 1 class. Sometimes I can't believe how much my endurance has improved. I'm thinking about attending the Monday BJJ/Thai Boxing classes when I can.

[Farhan]

The first I heard of KM was on 'Human Weapon'. I was in DC at the time. The principles and the simplicity sparked my interest. I always wanted to learn some form of Martial Arts. But never got a chance. I had signed up my wife and myself for 'Personal Training Sessions' and had some base fitness knowledge. Later I moved to Charlotte NC and found RHEK.

And itís been one sweet ride ever since. I convinced my wife into joining. We take the Intro and Level 1 back to back. And like 'Night Robin' said I don't miss class. I actually came to class last week when I was sick (don't worry it wasn't contagious, it was an infection). I have been contemplating taking BJJ, despite a brimming schedule.

And while I am at the subject, I have to say that the facility 'RHEK' its self had a huge part in my wife's decision to join. She loved the family and homely feel of the facility. I love the kids running around all over the place in their outfits while we are taking class. Over all very pleased with my decision!

[Ryan]

I'll be teaching those classes at FTF in Charlotte tonight, if you guys want to head out there. Due to our inclement weather policy, which follows the respective public school systems, we'll have classes at FTF but not at RHEK.

All the best!

[Night Robin]

Originally Posted by Ryan

I'll be teaching those classes at FTF in Charlotte tonight, if you guys want to head out there. Due to our inclement weather policy, which follows the respective public school systems, we'll have classes at FTF but not at RHEK.

All the best!

Oh man. I would love to, but I have stuff I was gonna have to attend to immediately after my classes tonight.

[PDXVance42]

1. I'm sick of being so out of shape.
2. I wanted to study a practical Self Defense system.
3. I wanted my kids to study a practical Self Defense system.

Over the years I have played around with Tae Kwon Do, Wu Ying Tao (An American eclectic style), Wing Chun, Wushu Kung Fu and Arnis. Although there were things I enjoyed about each, I always became dissillusioned with either the style, the instructors or the school/org. itself (or all the above).

I've never been worked out as hard as at the Krav classes; and I've never been encouraged to go all out. The people and instructors are fantastic and the level of professionalism (and lack of ego) is refreshing.

[scourtien]

I spoke to some Marines that I know about take a martial arts class about a year ago and they all suggested Krav Maga. I don't like the gym I find it boring, other martial arts I looked into were dull or like others said focus on the art to much. From talking to many people about it I just liked fighting style (a mix of everything).

I basically took it to get back in shape, build confidence and defence.

[armitage]

I heard about KM while researching Self-Defense in 2003. I was going to College in London and being a "small town country boy" wanted to learn something to use to defend myself. I was also bullied a LOT at school and never fought back because I was always told it would "make things worse".

3 years of KM in London, supplemented by a few FAST Defense courses...I now work as a Hospital Security Supervisor in Colorado - and have used the techniques I've learnt in many, many violent encounters here. My confidence has grown immensely and I can definitively say that I would have had a hard time working in this field without the KM/FAST training!

[kvmorl]

Originally Posted by armitage

I heard about KM while researching Self-Defense in 2003. I was going to College in London and being a "small town country boy" wanted to learn something to use to defend myself. I was also bullied a LOT at school and never fought back because I was always told it would "make things worse".

3 years of KM in London, supplemented by a few FAST Defense courses...I now work as a Hospital Security Supervisor in Colorado - and have used the techniques I've learnt in many, many violent encounters here. My confidence has grown immensely and I can definitively say that I would have had a hard time working in this field without the KM/FAST training!

Very interesting, if you don't mind can you post an example or few examples how/when Krav came in handy in your position? I always like to read R/L applications of Krav, I think many here also do.

[chigaroogarem]

Originally Posted by armitage

I heard about KM while researching Self-Defense in 2003. I was going to College in London and being a "small town country boy" wanted to learn something to use to defend myself. I was also bullied a LOT at school and never fought back because I was always told it would "make things worse".

3 years of KM in London, supplemented by a few FAST Defense courses...I now work as a Hospital Security Supervisor in Colorado - and have used the techniques I've learnt in many, many violent encounters here. My confidence has grown immensely and I can definitively say that I would have had a hard time working in this field without the KM/FAST training!

Are you still in the Denver area? I just relocated here for graduate school and I too am interested in learning Krav Maga for self-defense purposes; although an additional benefit would be getting in better shape.
Just wondering where you would recommend I train?

[TheAmBASSaDEER]

Well I was reading a book "Lone Suvior". I was reading the part about B.U.D.S. and I tried to do some pushups, couldnt do but 10.

Started training, did it based off Navy SEALS training.

Reading more into SEALS training I came across KM.

Readup on it, did the free trail, and have been hooked ever since.

it has been 13wks since I started and 4wks in KM I have went from 235lbs to 198lbs.

I feel good.

[Inky]

Aikido was a great foundation yet lacked real world defense, no one ever attacked my that slow... ever. after 7.5 years I just got bored with it.

Jeet kune do was fun but I never got my timing down and as a result found myself intercepting in ways I had not meant to. also the lack of a proper instructor in my area as well as the $ needed for minimum 1 year to achieve proficiency... Blarg.

Krav Maga, damn deadly, street smart tactics, real world situational training, explosive massive attacks, weapons defense and the ability to learn at a fast pace. Yes it's still cost $ but after the pro's/con's list I pony'd up for a year in advance.


~Cheers

[jaspthecat]

I wanted to supplement my Xing Yi Quan with a system that I could apply in a real life situation and a system that emphasised simultaneous attack and defence (something which is particular to Xing yi Quan).

Have since given up XYQ and now supplement my Krav with Muay Thai....

[Heyload]

I've wanted to take some sort of martial art class for quite a while. I'm finally in a position that I know I'll be able to make classes on a relatively stable schedule and started to seriously research what to learn. At nearly 42 I'm not interested in tournaments or MMA lead-in training. I just wanted something that is brutally effective when I need it; as someone else on this board has already said, "more martial, less art." After the research, I knew that Krav Maga is what I wanted to learn. I thouroughly enjoyed my first class and wasted no time in signing up. I have been learning for about 5 months and am as excited about classes now - maybe more so - as I was about the first one.

[mudge]

1. conditioning on par with a boxer's training.

2. direct no nonsense fight-for-your-life techniques designed for the real world.

3. no katas, belts, traditions, guru worship, or any other symptoms of the MacDojo.

4. decent, serious supportive classmates, some of whom are in law enforcement and have a vested interest in the real thing.

5. lucked out and found a great teacher. Non-pretentious, real world oriented.

[karlsmith]

Originally Posted by mudge

1. conditioning on par with a boxer's training.

2. direct no nonsense fight-for-your-life techniques designed for the real world.

3. no katas, belts, traditions, guru worship, or any other symptoms of the MacDojo.

4. decent, serious supportive classmates, some of whom are in law enforcement and have a vested interest in the real thing.

5. lucked out and found a great teacher. Non-pretentious, real world oriented.

nicely said, I admire KM mostly because it's real-time uses. I just begun my studies (1 month ago) and looking to be a master one day.

[J Millar]

I was a victim of an attack when I was 19 years old. Well, victim may not be the right word. He attacked, and I put him in the hospital. Everything was perfect in my favor, and after that, I spent a year or so going through all the "what ifs". I started on a quest to find a self defense system so I would feel more secure.

I went through several different systems. Most of them were wonderful, but not what I was looking for. I am a 5 foot tall woman. It is highly unlikely that someone will try to hit me over the head with a 2 x 4. And really, how threatening can I possibly look in a Bruce Lee stance?

I had settled on Ju Jitsu. It seemed as close as I thought I was going to get to what I was looking for. My children also took traditional martial arts at the same studio. It was a wonderful family affair.

One day, many years into my martial arts life of mom and student, one of the karate instructors went to California to do Krav Maga? Pre-information superhighway (at least for me) I had no idea what it was, and didn't really think much about it.

One of my friends started the new class. Our kids were in the same Little Dragons class, which was going on at the same time as the Krav Maga. So, I went to the other room to check it out.

THIS WAS IT!!! The thing I had been looking for. I never looked back.I am so passionate about this. I not only do it, I live it. When a woman comes to class, when we do a seminar, when that one woman breaks down, you know the one I mean, I feel the same excitement and overwhelming emotion I did the first time I went to class.

I AM who Krav Maga was designed for. I AM the woman who walks onto YOUR training floor wanting to hide. If I have given even one person a piece of the confidence Krav Maga has given me, I have been successful.

[jack leeson]

alrite dude, u used to live in uk ??? who was you instructor, a guy called adrian ??? and what level did you proceed to after 3 years....thanks...
Jack

[jack leeson]

Originally Posted by Silas

I've always been interested in taking a martial art for defense purposes but never really followed up on it mostly because alot of it just seemed silly and useless and I wanted training that would compliment not impede my natural reflexes and instincts. I dont pretend to think I could walk into the UFC and walk away with a belt but I have always been able to hold my own even with people who had "supposed" training (it's like you can buy blackbelts in 12 packs at Wal-Mart or something). Anyway I thought I had been in fights before but i changed my mind after I was in a life or death battle 2 years ago. A friend of mine got in an argument with some gang-banger (guy 1) and his friend (guy 2) decided that if you disagree with my friends you need to die, and went to his car and got a metal bat. The scene I walked onto was guy 2 advancing on my friends blind side with what looked like every intention of bashing his head in. I charged the guy, he turned and swung at my head i ducked in and cut of his swing with my forearm and shoulder followed up imediatly with 2 elbows to the face which busted him wide open and then i took him down in a solid choke hold. I know there were flaws with this approach but it worked and the people I care about walked away safe. 3 things i walked away with are;

1. I never want to be the guy who loses, ever.
2. I need more control, i may have killed the guy if my friends hadnt pulled me off, i had a solid game ending choke hold and i was in a red haze of fury. Self defense or no that could very easily have ended with me in prison, and that was truelly scary.
3. What if i just got lucky?

These led me to redouble my efforts to find some training. I had never heard of Krav Maga but saw it on the sign of a defense school right near my house and went right home and looked it up. Watched some videos and knew without a doubt that was where i needed to be. I'm going to my third class on Sat. and loving it, the rest is history.

Well thats my story, sorry if it's massive wall of text but once i started it all kinda came out.

Dude, sweet story....how are your KM classes...i do kickboxing and even though it's good....the progression is too slow. I'm goin to start KM next month and hope it's as good ass it looks
Jack

[Silas]

Well it's been 16 months since i started and i'm still going and still loving it. I feel i've learned alot and gained alot of confidence and control. Not to mention i'm in far better shape. I can honestly say i hope im never in another situation like the one that led me to Krav, but i can also say that if i am i will handle it well thanks to having made the decision to train.

[Internet Ninja]

Had a nut job try to stab me with a knife while dropping my kids off @ school, listened to them scream and cry all the while, no gun on me that day. I never felt so helpless.tricked him by luck and gained the upper hand and survived. That helpless feeling haunts me all the time now, late at night I wonder alone " what if " and I won't be found that way again ever.

God Bless

[superhuman]

I've done a whole load of styles over the past 20 years or so from the practical like Muay Thai and shoot fighting to the highly impractical such as Bujinkan. I used to be very capable and super fit then I had kids and spent about 5 years turning to jelly sitting on front of the tv drinking beer and eating pizza. A while back I saw a news report about a lunatic killing some toddlers and I looked at my own little girls and realised that I needed to sort myself out if I was every going to be able to protect them. I took up training about a year ago and haven't looked back since - my fitness has returned and I reckon I'm back to being able to handle myself again. My only problem now is that I can only do KM twice per week so I'm looking for something else to supplement my KM. At the end of the day, Krav is my goal though and keeping my wife and kids safe is my motivation.

[stevetuna]

Every now and then, when my instructor spirit is sagging a bit, I come to this thread and read why people come to learn Krav Maga. It brings back the reality and importance of transferring that knowledge. Tonight's class will be a butt-kicker! Thank you, Silas, Internet Ninja and Superhuman! Good luck with your training!

[MrJones]

When I started Krav Maga, I was merely curious. I could now say I do it because I am in the best physical shape in a long time. I could also say I do it because I've become more confident from the skills I've learned. If it were down to one thing, and someone asked me, "Why Krav", I'd say because after training a few months, an instructor looked at me and said "You look good."

[Blockcrat]

Why KM? It's because I believe it's one of the most practical that you can train for. It's also battle-tested so it's comforting to know that it will pull through whenever you need it.

[MDeaneUSCG]

Well, since this hasn't been posted in since August, I thought I would throw my reason in here.

I've been doing some form of martial arts for most of my life. I always asked myself the same question though; would this work for real? It seemed a lot of the 'self defense' I was learning were cookie cutter responses to very specific attacks. Not once were my techniques put in a pressure test to see if they would work under stress. The closest I ever got to a confrontation was sparring. I also never really got conditioning out of my classes, so I was just a skinny kid learning Karate.
I then joined the Coast Guard, and had to leave my old school behind. In search of something to fill the void, I stumbled upon my current Krav gym while shopping. I had heard of Krav Maga, and the combat proven system seemed to fill my needs. I came in for my intro class, and immediately fell in love. I got a great workout, learned some combatives and defenses, and then got to pressure test them in a stress/exhaustion drill. I knew it was exactly what I was looking for. To make it better, there are no complicated katas to learn in order to advance, so more time can be spent on learning practical skills that will save my life in a confrontation.

[SetOnKill]

After 8 Years Military, 3 in LE, and now doing security work I am very confident in my ability to perform with a gun in my hand. I have had great trianing and my tactics are very solid. With that said, you can't shoot everybody. So I Needed to improve my hand to hand skills.

I think I seen Krav for the first time on a fight science TV show. I was very impressed. I started researching Krav and found it was fairly simple to learn and did not take an intense amount of athletic ability like some other forms.
Then I found RHEK was a highly recomended school. Lucky for me I live only 15 mins down the road. I took a few trout classes and i was sold. I really enjoy the intensity of class. They are not all wrapped up in the tradition of the Art. They just get straight down into the butt kicking.

[Merkava2b]

Because I believe in the philosophy that created it. Because I respect its history. Because I have a tremendous amount of respect for the people who have a tremendous amount of respect for the system.

My earliest exposure to KM came while I was serving in the IDF. As a combat soldier in the armored corps, our training in hand to hand combat was minimal; but it was also direct, focused, and intense. As the years passed and I returned to the US, I watched as KM grew to be a more recognized and practiced form of self defense around the world. Finally it has come to where I live; and now, after about a month of training, I am glad to be studying it in depth at last. Sore as hell, but glad!

The Israeli mentality from which KM grew is simple, "What do I need to do and how do I do it in the simplest and most effective manner, in the shortest amount of time, with the best results possible?"

No BS. No qualms about where the techniques may have come from. No insistance on doint things THIS way rather than THAT way. No religion, mysticism, stale doctrine, scruples, or second guessing about what to do. End the situation that you find yourself in ASAP and make your assailant pay for putting you there.

[TomO]

Why Krav?

Well....I guess because I'm seeing myself age and not as confident as I used to be.
I strength train and have always been a strong guy. When I was younger (late teen early twenties) I would get into alot of fights, anywhere any time. I didn't care how many there was or if I got my butt handed to me...just as long as I got the chance to do some damage.
I'm not that guy anymore. Haven't been in a long time. One day I looked in the mirror (after getting a torn tendon sewn back together) and asked myself what would happen if I was jumped now? I have a wife & family to worry about now also. Hell, I haven't even been hit in about 15-20 years....could I take it like I used to?

I've got a CCW and do carry but you can't always get to the gun in time. There are other times that it's just not practicle to use a weapon of this magnitude. What? You gonna shoot your drunk buddy because he's seriously pissed and wants to lay you out?

After some research I decided Krav was the answer. So far so good.

[lions2011]

The system excells at many things but is lacking is other areas. This is a good system but far from great.

Strength- wide variety of strikes. Only real system to address standing chokes and holds. Best weapon defense and deals with multiple attackers.

Weakness- greatly lacking in ground fighting!!! Also very little work in the stand up clinch.

Overall a B+ system

I think KRAV is the best system outside MMA trainning. My opinion. Krav is below MMA trainning but far better than Judo, Kar, Kung, TKD, Akido etc..

[hicklinc]

Originally Posted by TomO

Well....I guess because I'm seeing myself age and not as confident as I used to be.
I strength train and have always been a strong guy. When I was younger (late teen early twenties) I would get into alot of fights, anywhere any time. I didn't care how many there was or if I got my butt handed to me...just as long as I got the chance to do some damage.
I'm not that guy anymore. Haven't been in a long time. One day I looked in the mirror (after getting a torn tendon sewn back together) and asked myself what would happen if I was jumped now? I have a wife & family to worry about now also. Hell, I haven't even been hit in about 15-20 years....could I take it like I used to?

I've got a CCW and do carry but you can't always get to the gun in time. There are other times that it's just not practicle to use a weapon of this magnitude. What? You gonna shoot your drunk buddy because he's seriously pissed and wants to lay you out?

After some research I decided Krav was the answer. So far so good.

well put

[KMKY]

Originally Posted by lions2011

The system excells at many things but is lacking is other areas. This is a good system but far from great.

Strength- wide variety of strikes. Only real system to address standing chokes and holds. Best weapon defense and deals with multiple attackers.

Weakness- greatly lacking in ground fighting!!! Also very little work in the stand up clinch.

Overall a B+ system

I think KRAV is the best system outside MMA trainning. My opinion. Krav is below MMA trainning but far better than Judo, Kar, Kung, TKD, Akido etc..

I've never seen an MMA defense for a Knife, Gun or Baseball Bat Attack or for multiple attackers - the focus for Krav & MMA are different. I've had the pleasure of sparring with MMA guys and they are very good at what they do, but they are in awe when I take a knife away from them.

[hicklinc]

theres no end all self defense system/martial arts but i believe krav maga is a good base and then you can add other systems always keep learning

[MDeaneUSCG]

KM, at least in the base levels, is designed to give 99% of people the capability to defend themselves from 99% of the attacks they are likely to face. As my instructor put it "Would a BJJ expert be able to protect his groin while keeping you in guard? Maybe, but what are the chances you'll be assaulted by a BJJ expert? More likely, the guy assaulting you will be some moron that watched a little too much UFC".

So, in that regard, KM does exactly what it sets out to do, which is give real people a real defensive system, against real attacks. KM isn't trying to win an episode of Ultimate Warrior, and be the fighting system to beat all fighting systems.

Also, I don't know about your gym, but we have side courses that are tailored toward increasing your ground fighting abilities, with it's own curriculum. This ability to cross train, and to incorporate other styles into KM where it works, is what makes the system effective in an ever-evolving world of self defense.

[mara_jade]

Originally Posted by lions2011

The system excells at many things but is lacking is other areas. This is a good system but far from great.

Strength- wide variety of strikes. Only real system to address standing chokes and holds. Best weapon defense and deals with multiple attackers.

Weakness- greatly lacking in ground fighting!!! Also very little work in the stand up clinch.

Overall a B+ system

I think KRAV is the best system outside MMA trainning. My opinion. Krav is below MMA trainning but far better than Judo, Kar, Kung, TKD, Akido etc..

Interesting you should say this considering you haven't been in KM very long. MMA are Krav are mixing apples and oranges to me. MMA has it's good points but in reality based self defense, comparing them doesn't make sense.

Before you ask, it'll be 7 years for hubby and I since we joined Pete's Place. I would be the last to say I've learned all there is

[hicklinc]

Originally Posted by MDeaneUSCG

KM, at least in the base levels, is designed to give 99% of people the capability to defend themselves from 99% of the attacks they are likely to face. As my instructor put it "Would a BJJ expert be able to protect his groin while keeping you in guard? Maybe, but what are the chances you'll be assaulted by a BJJ expert? More likely, the guy assaulting you will be some moron that watched a little too much UFC".

So, in that regard, KM does exactly what it sets out to do, which is give real people a real defensive system, against real attacks. KM isn't trying to win an episode of Ultimate Warrior, and be the fighting system to beat all fighting systems.

Also, I don't know about your gym, but we have side courses that are tailored toward increasing your ground fighting abilities, with it's own curriculum. This ability to cross train, and to incorporate other styles into KM where it works, is what makes the system effective in an ever-evolving world of self defense.

nicely put

[Humble Student]

I agree with Lions2011 that Krav is probably not perfect. I also agree that the Krav World Wide schools offer supplemental courses to help develope ground fighting skills. We are tought to stay off the ground - but if on the ground - Krav has a number of techniques designed to help you get off the ground and to defend while down. I am only a yellow belt, having taken Krav for about a year - but like it a lot.

Why Krav? - Fitness

good techniques
stress drills
good contact drills - the Hapkido and JKD I take doesn't have nearly as much pad hitting as Krav

[uberwensch]

I'm a 5'6 female with a spirited mouth. I moved from my fairly laid-back hometown to Australia's biggest city and found myself either getting into situations I potentially couldn't handle, or dropping my eyes and letting distasteful stuff happen to other people because I was too scared to get involved.

The latter is what caused me to start thinking about self defense. Which is not to say I was looking for fights, not at all. But I never want to sit silently in a peak hour train carriage and listen to some asshole spit racial slur after racial slur at a quiet Indian guy in the corner ever again. It was one of the most degrading experiences I have ever had--not just for the guy being victimised, but for myself. I lost a lot of respect for myself that day, and for everyone else who sat silently with me. It felt like I was doing myself a disservice by not having the courage to stand up and say what I was thinking because I was scared it would escalate.

On top of that, there are just the things that happen generally in this city. Once it gets dark the place can become a free-for-all. I just wanted to round out my life so I could feel confident in my ability to ensure I was safe at all times. I'm confident at work, I'm confident in personal exchanges and it bugged me that there was an area of existence where I had nothing to fall back on.

I started looking, and then started researching this Krav/Kapap/Street Edge guy that I was supposed to interview for work (I am a journalist) and just knew that Krav was what I had been looking for.

Signed up for an induction that day and have been training for a little over a month now.

[Blaine24]

Im new to Krav Maga, only been doing for 3 weeks now, but, the reason I chose is was after 3 years of Wing Chun, I just felt I couldn't defend myself at all.

Don't get me wrong, Wing Chun is an amazing system, however, for me, it wasn't what I was looking for, there's a lot of theory behind the moves, their very precise and take (for me anyway) a long time to get down, and I didn't feel we were doing enough pressure testing or reality training.

Now after 3 weeks of Krav Maga, my confidence has started to come back, as its constant pressure, getting hit, plus knife and ground work, its exactly what I have been looking for, and one thing I have realised is that a certian amount of fitness is required to survive a fight that lasts longer than it should, after say, 30 seconds of constant punching, its surprising how it wears you down.

But the good thing is, the principles arn't so different from Wing Chun, like relaxation, deflection rather than hard blocking, both attack and defence at same time, just different the way their applied, rather than 'traditional' martial art methods.

So yeah, loving Krav Maga, hope I can stick at it and explore it deeper in time.

[becca63]

Hello, I am looking for Krav Maga School/Classes in Galveston County or Harris County. My son is Krav Maga Instructor and Love It. My son, DC, is now living in LasVegas, Nv (were he is a Krav Maga Instructor) & would like to relocate back to Galveston or Harris County. Thanks for any help in this matter. :)