The Hindu :: A Close Encounter

Self-defence techniques learnt in a dojo can prove useless in a street fight. This is the first thing Vicky Kapoor tells anyone flaunting his titles in martial arts. Street fights are not governed by rules. While you tackle two attackers, three other s may suddenly show up and rain blows on you.

Trained in many traditional martial arts and having seen many a dojo, Vicky, however, swears by Krav Maga to deal with trouble on the streets. Because, like street fights, this Israeli close combat system does not follow any rules. “It borrows from traditional martial arts, but is very different from them,” says Vicky, chief instructor and director of International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF), India.

Delhi-based Vicky also runs Ultimate Tactical and Combat Pvt. Ltd., (UTC) which supplies security gear such as bullet-proof vests and trains workers at big corporate houses in Krav Maga. Following the terror attacks on the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and the Oberoi-Trident in Mumbai, there was a surge in demand for UTC’s special programme on infrastructure security. A few police organisations have also shown interest in UTC’s programmes.

Despite an expanding business, Vicky strives to popularise IKMF-India’s activities. The organisation has chapters in all the major metropolitan cities and Vicky visits them frequently to oversee their functioning and also conducts workshops (he was in Chennai recently). IKMF requires him to do this. As a trained Krav Maga practitioner has the ability to kill with his bare hands, IKMF warns its subordinate organisations to take care the combat art does not fall into wrong hands.

Many years ago, when Vicky wanted to learn more about Krav Maga, he simply could not break through the IKMF’s glacial indifference. There were no replies to his numerous letters. Only when he met a friend, who had contacts in the Israeli chamber of business in Israel-India Chamber of Commerce, did Vicky realise that the organisation doesn’t entertain requests from people who don’t come with proper references.

When Vicky went through the proper channel, he heard from Iyal Yanilov, the Israel-based chief instructor of International Krav Maga Federation. From there, there was no looking back for him. Today, in India, Vicky Kapoor is synonymous with Krav Maga.

Given his robust frame, there could not have been a better icon for this combat system. But Vicky emphasises that Krav Maga is for anyone with average fitness. It is based more on techniques, and not on strength and flexibility. Vicky feels more good could be done if women’s colleges were more welcoming of Krav Maga. “The first thing they want to know is if there is a woman instructor. They forget that women face danger mostly from men. If women are trained by men, they will know how to handle situations involving male attackers.”

Men or women, Krav Maga teaches its students to avoid conflict. Students are instructed to keep themselves as far away from danger as possible and try not to escalate a tense situation by overreacting to it.

Krav Maga drills, which can also double as workouts, are patterned on chaotic situations where attackers come from all corners and often hide their intentions by keeping their weapons hidden.

“And a Krav Maga student is always ready for such surprises.”

PRINCE FREDERICK

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