@cw4-ret-h
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Re: Krav maga getting bashed?
I just wanted to add my humble opinion to “CJ’s Dad” comment (and I do enjoy all of his posts as being concise and on-point).
I’ve trained in a variety of TMA’s over the years with very athletic instructors. I train at Chino Hills but have trained at other facilities while traveling in the U.S. What I like about Krav Maga’s focus is that the instructors uniformly teach the student what they can do, not what the instructor can do. I’ve seen too many instructors teaching the double-spinning axe kick of death because they can execute it at will — but few can. It’s unhelpful and discouraging for a student to try and learn what the instructor can do…the student must learn what they can do. Krav appears to follow this simple concept quite well. As I learned in the military (and has been repeated on this forum many times), you fight as you train.
Re: Hurt at work today – out of Phase B!
Glad to hear you’re alright and your Krav training helped you get through it.
All of you in LE that put it on the line every day have my utmost respect. I wish you a speedy recovery.
Re: Military Members
Spent 24 years on active duty with the Army. Been retired for 12 (but somehow working harder than ever). I was inolved in traditional MA as a child and while on active duty but got involved with Krav after retiring. Absolutely love it.
Re: Has anyone seen Krav Maga? I miss her!
Psyops:
I applaud your bringing up this topic on the public forum. As you said, a full and frank discussion in a public forum can only help the process. I would only add my two cents in that while I appreciate your comment about sparring not helping a self-defense scenario, in part of my misspent youth while on active duty, I have found self defense scenarios that turn into full fledged fights/brawls; where you’re initially defending against one but there are multiple fights and potential assailants (sometimes foreign nationals who do not like Americans) in the room. I think sparring assists in broadening a student’s intiial focus of one-on-one self-defense (and I know Krav has a number of other drills in addition to sparring to develop this wider focus) but it also assists them in initiating an attack, rather than defending — hit first, hit fast, hit often. I think some beginning and intermediate practitioners cannot initiate a attack as well as they might by having some experience sparring. I have found from personal experience that when you have stopped the initial assailant and are trying to escape to a safer environment (e.g., leaving the room/bar/etc.), you are forced to initiate — hit first/hit fast — to get you and others to safety. Sorry for the long post. My intent was to thank you for bringing controversial topics up for public discussion — and your being an instructor tends not to have the topic dismissed out of hand. Nice job.
Re: Where to buy Krav Maga shorts
I have purchased several pairs (in different styles) at the NTC. I’m fortunate enough to live and train close by. While I didn’t see them in the “Pro Shop” link on this site, maybe you can give them a call and they can help you out over the phone with a credit card purchase. I’ve found the people behind the counter very friendly and helpful. Good luck.
Re: Questions
Jimbo:
That’s great that you and your daughter are taking TKD together — I did the same thing many years ago with my son and it’s a great way to spend time.
Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in…by way of background, I have a 2d degree black belt in TKD (WTF); having trained with Korean TKD instructors in Germany & Korea. I stopped training in TKD when I left active duty (12 years ago). I started training in Krav about six years ago. From my own perspective, I had a lot of bad habits to unlearn, e.g., fighting sideways, more emphasis on kicks versus hands, elbows, and/or whatever works, etc., and it took awhile to drop these bad habits — but maybe I’m just a slow learner. I don’t think I would want to participate in both.
That being said, others have suggested you jump right in and start Krav (and do them both). I couldn’t agree more. Maybe you’ll find you can do them both simultaneously and keep them separate — I think, though, you’ll find out that TKD will hurt your advancing in Krav as quickly as you could by strictly focuing on it alone.
Good luck.
Re: Be grateful for KMWW’s high standards
In Reply to Beeker11 “Sorry, I think that’s BS. They should learn that stuff from their parents, not some “karate instructor”. I know, some kids come from a single parent home, but still…”
I couldn’t agree more; however, I found too many parents avoiding their responsibilities and trying to push these things off to teachers, coaches, etc.
To Steve Tuna: I didn’t think you were disrespecting TKD, merely reporting your observations on their lack of black belt level skills. I shudder, too, when young children are awarded black belts merely for putting in time (and their parents’ money). I knowthat when I trained in TKD, children under 16 were awarded “youth” black belts after a fairly rigorous test and when they turned 17, were adult red belts that had to test again for an adult black belt.
Re: Be grateful for KMWW’s high standards
In defense of many fine martial arts schools, I’d like to add my two cents. I’ve trained in TMA most of my life and attained a 2d degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I’m definitely a Krav fan and wouldn’t train in anything else — having seen the benefits of the “sport” versus “reality based self defense” way of training. I will say, though, that many martial arts schools I’ve attended provided much needed training for many children (and lots of adults) in such things as focus, dedication, and attention to detail. I wouldn’t denigrate their dedication, commitment, or passion to their particular martial art. I believe it provides a great venue for beginning their training and when (or, if) they transition to Krav, they are accustomed to listening to instructors, hard work, and, hopefully, using it truly in defense of themselves or others. While I’d love to strap on the pads and spar some of my Tae Kwon Do colleagues after having trained in Krav for many years, I’m glad to have the TMA underpinnings to my Krav training (despite having to break bad habits — like fighting in a mostly sideways stance). My hat is still off to those who dedicate their time and effort to any form of training. When I speak to others that train in TMA, especially Tae Kwon Do, I don’t belittle their training but try to show them the advantages of training in Krav. Sorry for the rant…I guess this was really my five cents worth.
Re: Best shoes for training
All good comments/advice on shoes. I would add a recommendation that you train in shoes that you customarily wear (and that are allowed on your school’s mats). So, if you wear a pair of Nike Shox running shoes, train in those a few days a week/month; like Reeboks, train in them; etc. As they tell you when you’re on active duty, train as you would fight. There’s nothing worse that training in super-grippy shoes, becoming accustomed to punching, kicking, and kneeing in those shoes, and then fighting in less grippy shoes and finding yourself slippin’ & slidin’ (or on your back).
Re: Switching KM Schools
I’ve had a great experience at the Chino Hills school (which is Krav and Japanese Karate). I think having two types of customers increases the likelihood they will stay in business. If its a new school, perhaps they will start offering separate classes for each level. When I started at CH, they had one Level 1 class and now offer a variety of classes at the different skill levels. Good luck.
Re: New Prospect in Chino Hills, CA
Jellin:
I started training at Mike’s Chino Hills school in 2000 and passed both the Level 1 and 2 tests. I was attending Level 3 classes before I took a break due to some non-Krav related injuries and my work schedule. However, I trained there very consistently for three+ years. Coincidentally, I went back last December and signed up and then cracked some ribs in a climbing accident so am still on hiatus. Like I said earlier, I attended regular classes and also took four or five private one-hour lessons with Mike. I can say, without a doubt, that he offers excellent training. His knowledge and teaching style are outstanding; and, he’s also a friendly guy with a great personality. I don’t think you would regret at all training at his studio. Definitely sign up!! His twin brother Mark also operates the Krav school in Palm Desert.
By way of background, I am a 2d degree BB in Tae Kwon Do (pre-Krav) and spent 24 years on active duty with the Army (also as a certified Army instructor spending 3 years teaching at an Army school — so I’ve seen lost of instructors and methods of instruction).
Re: Military KM vs Regular KM
The usual strategy is to disperse but if time doesn’t permit, I’ve always found it handy to throw the nearest Second Lieutenant onto the live grenade. 8^))
Re: What Art Did You Begin With?
Judo from 8 to 13 y/o; Aikido from 14-15 y/o; Shito Ryu Karate from 15-19 y/o; Tae Kwon Do from 24 – 44 y/o; Krav starting when I was 50…man, I feel so old…creak…creak…
Re: Favorite drills
Two of my favorites:
Sprint to end of room (where a stick is laying on the ground); pick it up; one end on ground, one end on forehead (you’re bent over almost at waist); and spin around stick five times; sprint back to other end where parther is holding tombstone or large pad — hit or kick for one minute.
The other involves glasses our instructor purchased that are used to simulate driving while intoxicated. It is very disorienting when you look through the lenses. Stand in center of room, eyes closed, put on glasses; open eyes and find people with pads to hit — must spring around room to find pad, avoid those without pads.
I like them because they teach me to hit and kick while extremely disoriented, dizzy, etc. (Not to mention watching the others staggering or running off-line around the room.)
