@johnwhitman
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Re: Expert Level Vs. Master Level
I don’t usually post anymore, but I think I can help.
KMW doesn’t use terminology such as Expert or Master to describe someone’s level. There is a particular level of INSTRUCTOR TRAINING that is called “expert series” (hence the confusion). However, that describes the training program, not necessarily the individuals.
In a similar fashion, the initial section of INSTRUCTOR TRAINING is called “phase training.” Again, these are just names given to the training modules.
It wasn’t a \”Kardio Krav\” class. It was a mixed martial arts conditioning class, and I did it because it was fun and aggressive and a great way to prep for fighting. 😉 😉
There is a primary issue not yet discussed: recognition.
IMHO, you cannot start by asking what you would do if someone came at you with a knife, because you will most likely not see the knife. You have to begin by asking: if someone is some distance away, and starts to come toward me, what would I do first?
In this case, most of us would kick — either a defensive stop kick or an offensive, penetrating kick. That’s the kick we opt for as our knife defense.
You can mail a \”bail out\” round kick if you see the knife…and yes, you CAN do it also against a downward stab as well as a straight stab.
We used to teach three kick variations against various knife attacks. They are all logical…but they don’t acknowledge the basic issue that I may not see the knife at all. So we simplified it to what we would do if we didn’t know there was a knife…and then added emphasis on extending the hip to keep the knife farther away (if we know it’s there).
Regarding the issue of getting your femoral artery (in the leg) cut: I agree it’s a concern, but your choice is either to attack him before he arrives close enough to stab you or attack him before he gets there, when he may not be expecting to stab yet.
Agreed.
The defender cannot dictate the speed and strength of the attacker’s attack. If he commits with so much momentum that he flies by you, we wouldn’t penalize the defender for that. We WOULD look for the defender to find appropriate counterattacks.Psyops,
Yes, spin. But you might as well add the pluck because one’s hands are going to go there anyway. The pluck doesn’t delay or inhibit the turn at all.
Hard situations!
Two attackers, each with a gun, is a tactical question: redirection and deal with one gunman while moving to put that gunman in the fireline of the other. Very difficult and a high risk exercise…but the assumption is that you or someone else is about to get shot anyway.We sometimes play around with the \”two gun attacker\” scenario. Redirecting the two weapons is relatively easy (depending on how and where they are held) but the control and counterattacks are, to say the least, a challenge.
Hey dugfoot,
Sorry I missed this post over at the LE forum.No, to be honest, we don’t experience much resistance. We have a lot of experience explaining it, though, so perhaps that’s part of it.
In fact, most officers appreciate the need to redirect the weapon and then deal with the suspect.
Toward the end of this year/beginning of next.
Yes, it will include advanced material on knife attacks and threats (as well as gun and stick!).
You’re never a PITA!
Hey all,
Two-handed techniques can work. We do them in various situations, although we always send one hand earlier because the movement is less detectable. But even our two-handed techniques follow the principle of bursting forward and driving toward the gunman.
One of the main reasons for doing the one-handed technique from the front is that it is versatile. It works at a number of angles, high and low, and it works when the gunman’s other hand is grabbing your shirt, or shielding you, or otherwise in the way.
The one-handed technique also works at a greater distance because your body turns forward as you reach with one hand. When you reach with both hands your reach is shortened.
Again, that’s not to say there aren’t some good 2-handed techniques. We just opt for simplicity and versatility.
Ultimately, you have to consider the difference between a systemic approach and an individual approach.
The job of the SYSTEM is to deliver a coherent and cohesive set of movements to large groups of people. Especially in military and law enforcement units, these groups of people must often work together and have at least some sense of what their fellow operatives are doing (I guarantee you there are some LE guys reading this post who have either been injured or know a colleague who’s been injured while subduing a suspect because his partners weren’t on the same page). For this reason, the system (at least our system) applies a set of principles and tries to remain consistent to them so that the approach carries the same logic and allows the student to grasp new techniques easily
The job of the INDIVIDUAL is to learn a set of techniques that work for him or her, period. Now, if the system is good, it has already created a pathway for the student to learn those techniques quickly. But along the way, the student will find variations of his own that he likes.
If you read the book, I mention a discussion with some LEOs while developing weapon retention techniques that worked inside their other training. Darren was there, and we were playing around with various movements. At one point, someone said they liked a movement Darren was doing, but he shook his head and said, \”It works, but it’s random. I have complete confidence that I would keep the gun if someone grabbed it from me, but the question is how to present it as a system so people can learn it.\”
Does that make sense? From a teacher’s point of view, a self defense program isn’t just a list of techniques, its a system for delivering information to students in a clear and concise way.
That’s why, during the stick across the throat thing, I stick to the basic principles. It’s not about having slavish loyalty to a principle. If the principle is correct, it will be a factor in the fight, period. So I acknowledge it.
In the example GK brings up of choke against a wall, we don’t just opt for the rotational defense because it is \”better\” than the pluck. The rotational defense is ALWAYS a stronger defense than the pluck. We do the rotational defense because the pluck doesn’t work against the wall.
Remembering Marni (con’t)
A HEARTFELT THANK YOU
Jordyn, Brooke and I are all so deeply appreciative for all the love and support of so many people during Marniís extended illness and after her passing. To all of our dear friends and family, especially to the entire Krav Maga community of students, instructors, licensees, and law enforcement and military operators throughout the world, we will love and appreciate you forever for the tremendous effort and sacrifice you made to help make our lives easier during an extended time of need.
I feel I must confess something to all of you taking the time to read this messageÖI’m constantly worried, very concerned, whether I have said, \”thank you\” and \”I love you\” enough to the people who have been so kind, so supportive of my family this past year. So, if I haven’t said it as often as I should have, know that I love and appreciate all that you have done and I send you my heartfelt \”thank you\” for your many acts of support. Youíve been an amazing source of friendship and strength.
I will never forget the love we felt from so many peopleÖwhat a blessing we have known. We have received thousands of beautiful letters, cards, poems, drawings, art work and so many meals. To our Krav Maga family from Israel, Japan, Europe, Canada and the United States and throughout the worldÖ.and to martial artists from so many systems and stylesÖThank you, thank youÖ
A REQUESTÖ
Marni used to tell me that if her death led to a better understanding of breast cancer; that if her life changing experience will help save another woman with children afflicted with this horrific disease, then she would feel that her plight was for somethingÖher passing was for some greater purpose.
Marniís strength resonates in the Krav Maga Worldwide community and emboldens us to continue her fight to find a cure for breast cancer. Last year, we teamed up with the charitable organization STOP CANCER and raised more than $66,000 for cancer research. Through STOP CANCERís matching funds relationship with City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, just weeks after the money was raised, Dr. Melanie Palomares, a young, talented researcher at City of Hope, received a $100,000 research grant in Marniís name.
We know the fundraising success achieved last year was in large part due to breast cancerís pervasiveness; everyone knows a women who has passed away of breast cancer. Marni Levine is not the only woman that has been struck down at an early age by this disease. Nor is the KMW Family the first family to be so deeply touched by a loss.
So I would like to encourage you, to donate and help fight for life any way that you can. On October 6th, as many as 50 KMW Official Training Centers in the US and Canada will be hosting fundraising seminars benefiting the Marni Fund. Seminars will be scheduled in Europe and Japan as well. Please make time to attend and support a Krav Maga Fights Cancer Seminar in your area. Visit https://kravmaga.com/fightscancer/ for seminar locations and event details.
If you can not attend a seminar but would like to honor Marni or simply donate to breast cancer research, you can donate on-line as well at http://www.stopcancer.net/marniFund.php .
Fight for the lives of all the great women you know in your communityÖ for all the wives, lovers, mothers, daughters, sisters, cousins, aunts, friends, co-workers, mentors, teachers and comrades, we want to provide them the opportunity to share their strength, courage, love, friendship and determination with the rest of the world through a full and healthful life!
I am humbled by the loving, supportive and giving community Marni has been so instrumental in fostering among us. Please help in any way you can.
With great appreciation,
Darren
Amir is a very talented guy, and a good friend of ours. He’s a 4th degree black belt in KM. He started his own system out of respect for us, rather than to scam anyone. He wanted to show a few things that were different, and didn’t want to cause any trouble to Darren or to the organization. He is an extremely talented fighter and KM instructor, and a nice guy as well! He still teaches for us (he just did a military course for us) and is around quite a bit!
The instinct isn’t to cross your arms, IMHO. It’s to put your hands down, palms down, almost like you are trying to push at the kick, while your hips go back. This is the movement we try to improve on. In the technique, the hands move in the instinctive way, just farther…instead of stopping at the groin, one sweeps across and the other comes up to the face. The hips, instead of popping back, pivot so that you can go into a fit. Under stress, students still pop their hips back sometimes. This makes a successful defense, but doesn’t allow for the strongest counters.
Sorry I haven’t posted my opinion. I was on vacation. It’s a good topic.
The main thing I would add to GK’s initial suggestion is to turn your head/neck so that he’s not crushing your throat. If the bar is pushed against one of your carotids, it’s not going to be comfortable, but you should still be able to function. The DISADVANTAGE of the bar is that, unlike hands around your neck, the bar can’t stop your neck from turning.
My own initial reaction is to treat it a lot like headlock from behind (even though the attack is from the front). Pluck with both hands on one side of the bar, turn your chin, and slide out. You can use the outside shoulder to help lift the stick on that end, facilitating the escape.
If I had time to think in the moment, I might try to slide out laterally, rather than downward, to avoid scraping my ear off…but the truth is, under stress, I’d probably do a motion very similar to headlock/behind.
