Krav Maga

Bob Hubbard

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From the rec.martialarts FAQ

(Contributor: Peter Muldoon - [email protected])

Intro: The Israeli official Martial Art

Origin: Israel

History:

The Krav Maga was developed in Israel in the early forties when the
underground liberation organizations were fighting for the
independence of the State of Israel. At that time, it was illegal to
possess weapons. The inventor and developer of the Krav Maga was a
champion heavy weight boxer, a judo champion, and an expert in
jiu-jutsu. In addition, he was as a trapeze acrobat and a well known
dancer. The knowledge he thus obtained, contributed to the
development of the Israeli martial art of self defense. There is no
hidden meaning behind the name Krav Maga, and literarily means
"contact fight / battle".

The Krav Maga was put into practice originally by the fighters of the
liberation organizations that often went to battle armed with knives
or sticks and with the knowledge of Krav Maga, and they were very
successful. After the establishment of the State of Israel, Krav Maga
was adopted as the official martial art taught in the defense forces,
and especially in the elite police and army units. Krav Maga was
integrated into army training by Imi Lichenfield, a career IDF officer
and chief instructor at the armys physical training facility at the
Wingate Institute. Imi is still active involved in the Krav Maga
Association and maintains the role of president.

Over the years, the Krav Maga has turned into an integrated part of
training in many disciplines such as educational institutes. Krav
Maga is taught in many public schools in Isreal.

Description:

The Krav Maga is not an ecletic martial art system, rather, it was
developed with the perception that the classic martial arts were
lacking various elements. The defense needs in the eras that the
classic martial arts were developed were different than those of
today. New unique techniques for defense against pistols, guns and
hand grenades were considered needed, and therefore developed.

Krav Maga has no katas or specific sequences that must be followed.
Students use the basic moves in conjunction with any one of a number
of other moves to fend off an attack, the key idea being adaptability
to new situations through improvisation. Emphasis is put on speed,
endurance, strength, accuracy and co-ordination especially for

intensive Krav Maga training.

Training:

Since the Krav Maga by definition is for self defense, it does not
have any constitution and judicial rules and therefore there are no
contests and exhibitions. The training is for practical usage in the
every day reality. There is a colored belt system with a Black Belt
typically granted after 8 to 10 years of practice. Spiritual and
philosophical aspects are studied only at the Black Belt level.

Get information from this website:
http://www.bway.net/~muldoon/km.html and/or write to:

Krav Maga Academy
57 West 84 st.
New york, NY 10024
(212) 580-5335

Another website:
Brazilian Association of Krav Maga: http://www.kravmaga.com.br

Sub-Styles: None.
 
B

Battousai

Guest
I don't know about Krav Maga schools in general, but the one near where I live is just like a mix between bare minium karate and TKD. Nothing new there. They have video tapes they sell about gun self defense and such. They are the highest priced school in my area.
Why is it called Israeli if its just a combination of jujitsu and boxing? Nothing historically Israeli there. The only reason it could be called such is its present use in Israel. Should Japanese martial arts taught in America become historically American? I don't think so. Just my opinion though.
 

KumaSan

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They also claim to have taught UFC's Bas Rutten and Oleg Taktarov. Hmmmm... I thought that Bas was a Muay Thai/BJJ guy and Oleg was a Sambo/Judo guy....
 
K

Kirk

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Originally posted by Battousai

Why is it called Israeli if its just a combination of jujitsu and boxing? Nothing historically Israeli there. The only reason it could be called such is its present use in Israel. Should Japanese martial arts taught in America become historically American? I don't think so. Just my opinion though.

American Kenpo could potentially fall into your description. But
it's source was modified drastically, to match the honor, or lack
thereof, of American street fighting. In addition, the system was
designed to teach it's concepts in a fashion that 20th century
students can adhere to. Meaning, you can have a job, a family,
other hobbies, etc, and still study the art. Many feel that it was
optimized for quick learning of the art as well. Is that enough
of a modification to call it an American art?

JKD on a lot of websites is credited to China. Bruce Lee, was
American born, and raised in Hong Kong, which 100% of that
time was own by Great Britain. How did China get the credit
for this art? It was created on American soil
(using the Chinese and Japanes influences of course), by an
American, who's parents came from Hong Kong. You'd have to
go back 2 generations at least ( I don't know where Bruce's
grand daddy was from) to hit China.
 
B

Battousai

Guest
Well I think it comes from who taught who the art, and what art was taught to the originator of the new style. Bruce Lee was taught Gung Fu by a chinese master. His influence was primarily chinese.
Now American Kempo didn't change the name "kempo." They didn't call it something like "Krav Killer Do" and say it originated in America.

Do people teach American Kempo outside America? (I don't know)

But the origin of American Kempo is not America, its originally kempo from Japan. Yet here is Krav Maga claiming an origin of Israel, yet historically their is no Krav Maga in Israel, historically the background of Krav Maga is in Japan, and all the places around the world that box. What influences the creator had, these are the origins of the art, not were that art is practiced.
 
C

Chiduce

Guest
I see that the system leans more toward weapons defenses! There will be a seminar in marylandin june i think. Yet this sensei spelled Karv Magen. This seminar will be hosted by Sensei Guy Dar; former isreali soldier and 4th Dan, Karv Magen (Kimi Method). For info, the contact is Beverly Sotile Dragon Kenpo Karate Academy, Rochester N.Y., or [email protected] ! Sincerely, In Humility; Chiduce!
 
K

Kirk

Guest
There's quite a bit of negativity associated with Krav Maga schools
in this country. Enough to make McDojos look good.
 

Damian Mavis

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Whats the reason behind the negativity? I know all about the mcdojos but what about krav maga?

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD
 

Cthulhu

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I think the source of negativity is due to the way a lot of people get their Krav Maga 'certification', which is basically by attending a seminar or two. After only a few hours of training, suddenly they've 'mastered' the system and market themselves as such.

In essence, it's the same issue as with McDojos: it's not a bad system, it's bad people exploiting the system.

Cthulhu
 
C

Chiduce

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Originally posted by arnisador

Is Karv Magen (Kimi Method) a substyle of Krav maga?
I don't think that it is a substyle; i think it is Karv Maga, just a different spelling. Bev has a Dragon kenpo Site at http://www.bevsotiledkka.homestead.com/index.html She has a state of the art studio, check out the photos as well as the seminar info. She wiil be able to answer your question on whether it is a sub style or not! Sincerely, In Humility; Chiduce!
 
B

Battousai

Guest
Originally posted by Cthulhu

I think the source of negativity is due to the way a lot of people get their Krav Maga 'certification', which is basically by attending a seminar or two. After only a few hours of training, suddenly they've 'mastered' the system and market themselves as such.

In essence, it's the same issue as with McDojos: it's not a bad system, it's bad people exploiting the system.

Cthulhu

This may be the case with Krav Maga, that a group of people malign an entire system. But what should be taken into account is that Krav Maga gives these certificates out in the first place, what are they? What do they say? Are people lying or do the certificates really give the impression of "mastery?"

The thing is, if a system is being hyjacked by fakes with certificates calling themselves masters, why doesn't the system do something about it? Should they still be giving out these certificates, holding seminars for anyone everywere for the money?
Its that they do nothing about such things that destroy the credibility of the system.
I know that my local Krav Maga school is mcdojo fodder, I would not recommend it to anyone, do people have to go to Israel to get good Krav Maga training?
 

Cthulhu

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I've seen ads in magazines advertizing Krav Maga teaching certification in what amounts to a weekend of training.

That just smells wrong.

Cthulhu
 
T

Ty K. Doe

Guest
After the establishment of the State of Israel, Krav Maga
was adopted as the official martial art taught in the defense forces,
and especially in the elite police and army units. Krav Maga was
integrated into army training

I don't know anything about this style so I can't claim knowledge on anything about it, but I had heard that this is not true. It's great if it is true, but has anyone else heard this? If it is true why would certain people claim this? Would it have to do with the certification issues?
 

arnisador

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It's subtantially accurate--I don't know if it's accurate in every respect. The founder of Krav Maga was in the Israeli military service, as head of HTH combat training, at the time, and it did become their official training system.
 
R

Rainman

Guest
I saw an interview with the founder... I believe it's origins began in europe with wresting as part of its foundation. I've seen it take on the appearance of muy tai and most recently locking and breaking for anti terrorist police training. The techniques really are starting to take a kenpo flavor from what I have seen.

:asian:
 

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