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In the
late 1940's, following his emigration to Israel, he began to provide
hand-to-hand combat training to what was to become the IDF, developing the
techniques that became known as Krav Maga. It has since been refined for
both civilian and military applications. Unlike most martial arts, Krav Maga
training is essentially a tactical defense skill. Its philosophy emphasizes threat
neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive manouvres, and
aggressive endurance in a 'him-or-me' context. Krav Maga is still used by
the Israel Defense Forces and several closely related variations have been
developed and adopted by law enforcement, Mossad, FBI, US military, Irish
and British Special Forces.
There are no rules for Krav Maga fighting, and no built-in distinctions in
training between men and women.It has no sporting federation, and there are
no official uniforms or attire, although some organizations, internally, do
recognize progress through training with rank badges and different levels.
Techniques generally focus on training combatants in conditions
approximating real-life scenarios. Krav Maga trains combatants for
situations where losing would be potentially fatal. Its attack and defense
maneuvers aim to neutralize the threat and facilitate rapid and safe escape.
These include a variety of fast and fluid, crippling attacks to vulnerable
body parts through various efficient and often brutal strikes. The
improvised use of any available aids is encouraged - maximizing personal
safety in a fight is emphasized.
Krav Maga training programs involve rapid learning, with offensive and
defensive techniques introduced from the first lesson and retzev (pronounced
ret-zef and meaning "continuous motion or momentum") playing an important
part in both training and maneuvers.[8]
While no limits are placed on techniques to be used in life-threatening
situations, during training the legal need to minimize damage is generally
stressed (at least in civilian contexts, and instructors are required to
demonstrate how to moderate the techniques to suit the seriousness of the
circumstances.
Krav Maga basic training emphasizes the following:
Do not get hurt
Employ pre-emptive defensive techniques
Change quickly from defensive into offensive techniques ie respond to an
attack with overwhelming force, in the quickest time possible
Use the most natural, quickest, reflexes of the body
Exploit the opponent's vulnerabilities to their extreme
Employ the aid of any available objects
Krav Maga trainees learn to deal first with the immediate threat and then
prevent further attacks, if necessary by neutralizing the attacker. Training
is conducted in a methodical manner whilst taking account of the
practitioners strengths and weaknesses |
