New Delhi, December 14, 2009

Abay Deol learning Krav Maga

Interestingly, Akshaye Khanna was to play the lead in the film initially, when director Navdeep Singh was to direct it for Nikhil Advani’s production company. But the two parted ways due to differences and Deol stepped in to back his director ofManorama Six Feet Under.

Deol is so fascinated by Krav Maga that whenever he got time off  between shots while filming Aisha with Sonam Kapoor, he’d practise it with his trainer. Basra, which sees Deol in the role of a RAW officer, has extensive action sequences. And Deol wants to ensure that he does his stunts perfectly. Singh is planning to start the film early next year with a schedule in Iraq.

Indiainfo.com

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 10:48 [IST]

Mumbai: The different Deol boy, Abhay, is going all out to prepare himself for his home production Basra that will see him do action for the first time in his career. After Hrs has learnt that the actor has started training in the Israeli hand-to-hand deadly combat tactics Krav Maga. By doing this he joins Akshay Kumar, the only hero in India who can perform the art and international faces like Angelina Jolie, Michelle Yeoh and Keanu Reeves.

This deadly skill will see Abhay hit a variety of fast crippling attacks to vulnerable body parts of his enemies. He has to go through a mixed aerobic and anaerobic workout and has to also use heavy pads to protect his body from damage while training.

“The film will see me fight like a street fighter and I’m learning really fast. It is fun and I have to learn many things if I have to convincingly play an action hero. Plus, it’s my home production, I cannot take any shortcuts,” Abhay told DNA.

Sources close to the film reveal that the young actor has also set up a training area where he would look to challenge his body reactions and defense skills through simulated attacks. This will make him faster and agile at offense and defense. Abhay has been called a perfectionist by many critics and this clearly shows his diligent approach to cinema.

“I always believe that you have to know something to perform it with ease and convince people. Nobody buys a fake and if you are not good at something you are doing, it always shows. I know I have to perfect myself in action because that’s never been my USP,” he says.

When not fighting in the arena, Abhay is traveling the world visiting film festivals in Venice, Toronto, Cannes, Tribeca where he has also lectured on cinema. The actor is ecstatic that even though he has not done the so-called Bollywood masala movies, he has managed to rub shoulders with Hollywood icons like Martin Scorsese, Robert de Niro, Jodie Foster, Matt Damon among others.

“Hollywood is very excited and appreciative of Indian cinema. Whenever I have met people who are greats in their own rights, they have been very inquisitive about our industry. This just shows that Indian cinema has a global presence and it is a huge achievement. There is scope for everyone to get the spotlight even if you are not a traditional Bollywood movie star. That’s a healthy change for our industry,” he ends.

Self Defense classes to stay safe.

It’s 10.30pm. You have just come out from a late show at the multiplex and you have no husband, brother or boyfriend as a chaperone. As you walk through the parking lot, you are a little nervous to see the group of boys lounging near your car…

A few self-defence skills couldn’t hurt anyone in this day and age. Enter, Krav Maga. A Hebrew word that means “contact combat”, the martial art is the latest fad to hit town.

Krav Maga was developed in Czechoslovakia in the 1930s by Imi Lichtenfeld. “In India, it was introduced by Vikram Kapoor four years ago after he trained in it himself. At present, Krav Maga is taught in Vikram’s Vicky’s School of Oriental Arts at Delhi and at workshops across India,” explains Komal Issar, responsible for bringing Krav Maga to Calcutta. Classes are now being held at Solace, the wellness centre in Sunny Park, twice a week and on Sundays for children.

“Krav Maga involves cardio, abs with strength and endurance training for total body conditioning. It firms and tones muscles even when you are in the learning stage. Plus, there are proper warm-up and cool-down sessions. You burn up to 800 calories in an hour of Krav Maga,” points out Komal. But it is not advisable for those with osteoporosis, she adds.

But while Krav Maga is a good way to burn calories and stay fit, exponents prefer to promote it for self-defence purposes.

Komal takes a personal interest in Krav Maga. “In Calcutta, all the martial arts centres are such holes… Then on a visit to Delhi, I got to know of Krav Maga and tried it out. After that I simply had to bring it to Calcutta,” she smiles.

Where Krav Maga differs from other martial arts is that it helps students tackle real-life situations. Krav Maga is built around natural human reflexes and uses everything possible for the purpose of self-defence. It is a hybrid of various martial arts techniques like boxing, karate, judo, ju-jitsu, Muay Thai and other lesser-known techniques. Because it is less formal, it is easier to learn, and students learn to be alert and on their guard from day one.

“Krav Maga contains techniques that enable the trainee to defend against armed and unarmed attackers in potentially dangerous situations. It is practiced in different situations as in the dark, outdoors and other situations that restrict the victim’s movement,” explains Komal. The sessions make one physically agile and aware of her surroundings.

The style has found favour with many Hollywood stars. Jennifer Lopez in Enough, Sandra Bullock and Regina King in Miss Congeniality, Angelina Jolie for Tomb Raider 2 and Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz for Charlies’s Angels are some of the celebs who have tried Krav Maga.

Depending on the interest level, Komal intends to open more centres to widen her reach. “Like every locality has its gym, I would want every area to have a Krav Maga training centre, because it is what women need today to protect themselves,” she signs off.

Business Today Magazine

Before you read on, a word of caution—this article contains fist-fighting, groin-kicking, arm-twisting and shoving. It might sound like an action sequence from a Quentin Tarantino flick, but it’s not—it’s a regular class of Krav Maga. And it’s rough stuff. A world away from jazzercise.

“Krav Maga (Hebrew for ‘contact combat’) is a battle-tested Israeli system of self-defence,” says Vicky Kapoor, Regional Director, Krav Maga, India.

It was first developed by Imi Lichtenfield, an Israeli soldier in the 1930s.” Tall and imposing at 43, Kapoor could pass for a gun-wielding General himself, when I meet him at his studio in South Extension, New Delhi. He was introduced to Krav Maga in 2003, when he was looking to further expand his knowledge of martial arts, and has been hooked since. Trained in Israel, by senior instructors like Eyal Yanilov and Avi Moyal, he now conducts classes for civilians, military and law enforcement units in the city. And the numbers are growing.

“From working women and call centre employees to politicians and school-going kids, I train them all,” he claims. “It’s considered one of the most practical and effective techniques

for combat and self-defence. Hundreds of law enforcement agencies and celebrities practise it the world over.” There’s no doubting the popularity of Krav Maga—Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie and Sandra Bullock are known to have practised it, and closer home, it has patrons like Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra and Omar Abdullah. But is what’s right for a young Israeli soldier, practical for the civilians?

“An attacker or a potential threat would not differentiate between a soldier and you. Why should your training be any different?” says Kapoor. “As instructors, we’re equipping students with a battle-tested martial art form of tactical manoeuvres, so that they walk in peace.” Hold on. Did he just say martial art? Isn’t that more of an eastern thing? Like kung fu or karate? And don’t they all claim to offer the same benefits and moves?

“The essential meaning of ‘martial’ is warlike,” says Kapoor. “Traditional martial art forms have moves adapted from animals, but Krav Maga works on identifying and improving natural human reflexes. Most martial art forms are not realistic self-defence systems. Their fancy and ritual-oriented moves would not hold up against those thugs on the street.” Kapoor would know. Prior to joining IKMF (the International Krav Maga Federation), he trained exhaustively in Judo, Aikido and Taekwondo, and at present heads about 12 martial arts federations in India. With so much emphasis on self-defence, and defensive tactics, it appears that it’s just about fighting all the way. The classes prove otherwise.

Kapoor’s class starts with basic warm-up exercises like rotations and squats, to lubricate the joints. Then comes a fastpaced, high-energy workout, designed to tone and strengthen your body. According to estimates, an hour of Krav Maga can burn 800 calories. There’s boxing, punching and striking to some very loud music. To the outsider, it looks dangerous and exhausting, but Kapoor assures that the classes are relatively safe and injury-free.

“Injuries are part and parcel of any workout, and could happen anytime and anywhere,” says Kapoor. “So, we have matted floors, and use gloves, gum shields and chest gears in our workouts. The classes are safe and suitable for all age groups and body types.”

Physical benefits aside, there’s an emphasis on mental agility. Using dummy guns and other props, students are familiarised with different assault scenarios. Each student has a padded “attacker” for a partner, who abuses them physically and verbally. The attacker allows the students to practise powerful, closecontact defence techniques. Decisionmaking under high-pressure situations is also taught in these workshops.

Krav Maga is far from pretty. It’s dangerous and painful, with occasional bruises thrown in. But it also means greater flexibility, mental agility and getting trained for some of life’s battles, which might stand you in good stead one day.

Contact: Vicky Kapoor: +919810412442, or check out: www.kravmagaindia.in

Source:Businesstoday.digitaltoday.in

Learning a self-defense tactic is always a good idea. Especially one that is also used by the Israeli military, Los Angeles Police Department, FBI,Krav Maga – Bengaluru Swedish SWAT Team, French Anti-terrorist group and Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie. We are talking about Krav Maga, the Israeli self-defense technique. Hebrew for ‘contact combat,’ Krav Maga is an effective practical defense technique that teaches you how to deal with and overcome all kinds of violence and attacks. The best part is that every aspect of the technique is explained in detail, so that trainees are prepared for any surprise element out there on the street. Introduced in Bengaluru about four months ago, Krav Maga is gaining in popularity here. , Krav Maga’s instructor in Bengaluru, has been practicing and teaching it for the past five years after training with Vicky Kapoor, of International Krav Maga Federation, India. He tells MetroMela why Krav Maga is a great self-defense technique to learn:

Krav Maga trains students to use the body’s natural weapons as well as ordinary objects that may be close at hand.

Krav Maga mainly incorporates drills that take advantage of the body’s natural reflexes. While in a boxing ring, there will be rules and ample time to fight, on the street the attacker will not give you time. In fact, if there is a sudden attack the mind can shut down. The idea of Krav Maga is to teach people to defend such attacks in the minimum time required. This is also why each and every aspect of the drill is explained.

Some of the defense techniques students are taught include how to defend against a knife attack from the back, how to release an armbar choke (a choke from the back), prevent sexual assault etc.

Krav Maga teaches you quick thinking and quick moves. We train our students to be smarter and explain every action, why we are doing a particular move, using a particular muscle etc. Once they understand the core concept of self-defense, they can create their own solutions.

How does Krav Maga help women? The attacker knows his strength. To counteract the attack, we teach women to use the same tools he’s using in a different way. For example, if the attacker is trying to squeeze their neck, they can give it back to the attacker with a groin kick. Women can also use their muscle strength to counteract attacks. If the attacker is choking her from the back, instead of arms, she can use her full back muscles to push him back. It’s a surprise element and if used timely, she will be able to counteract and gain time. Keep in mind that you not only need to learn a combat technique for this but also consistently practice it well.

The best part of Krav Maga is that you have to constantly think about which move you are going to use. It helps in gaining confidence and changes your attitude. Its biggest strength is that it teaches you to think of solutions immediately.

’s self-defense tips for women

Be smart on the street. If the assault is verbal, ignore it. Being easily provoked by verbal abuse shows that you are low in confidence. Never challenge the attacker.

Women have the best instincts. Learn to trust your instinct, for example, when you feel you shouldn’t take a particular road.

If there is a bad situation, do not panic and think rationally. There’s a solution for everything.

Women have many tools in their purse like pen, keys, deodorant spray, mobile. You can use all of those as weapons. If in a room, you can use a chair to defend yourself.

When you are running, don’t scream ‘Help’. Scream ‘Fire’. It attracts a lot more attention than ‘help’!

Even if you know self-defense techniques, don’t try to attack immediately. Be smart and figure out the situation first.

In Bengaluru, you can learn Krav Maga at -

Doodle Den Rooftop, No.3, Curley Street,
Richmond Town, Bengaluru 560025.
Tel – 09886769281

Source: http://www.metromela.com/

MYCATPRESS

By HT Sunday September 10, 10:42 AM

Remember Bob Marley’s famous song “Get up, stand up, Stand up for your rights, Get up, stand up, Don’t give up the fight?” Well, if you know Krav Maga you will really never have to give up. So quite a few Delhiites are taking up this form of martial art for self defence. Krav Maga was developed by Czechoslovakia-born Imi Lichtenfeld after the Israeli state (established in 1948) asked him to develop a system of fighting and self-defence for the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). He refined the art during his career as chief instructor of hand-to-hand combat for the IDF. Krav Maga is a comprehensive system that relies on simple and instinctive moves rather than rigid techniques that usually require years of training. Vicky Kapoor, a trainer at Krav Maga India, says, “Krav Maga is a reflex-based martial art. Unlike other martial arts that use animal characteristics to fight, Krav Maga uses the human potential for combat. It is easy to perform, natural and features simple movements and reflexive behaviour.” Adding further, Kapoor states, “Anybody above 18 years of age can learn Krav Maga. We have special training for women as well as senior citizens,” says Vicky. Krav Maga branches are spread across 31 countries. Among the celebrity practitioners we have Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie while some techniques of this martial art have been used in Silence of the Lambs and the X-Men series.

Source: Yahoo News

New Delhi, April, 2007

Krav-Maga, a system of self-defence and combat tactics, is practiced by people around the world, including numerous prominent personalities such as Hollywood actresses Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie and Indian politician Omar Abdullah.

Krav-Maga, which was developed by the Israeli army, is about enhancing one’s spontaneous reflexes and natural body movements for both self-defence and fitness. “This holistic fitness method is extremely practical and effective besides being simple and easy to learn,” says Vicky Kapoor, regional director and chief instructor at the International Krav-Maga Foundation (India) based in Delhi.

“Krav-Maga increases your flexibility, concentration and presence of mind, body language, muscular as well as cardiovascular stamina, mental endurance, confidence and healthy aggression,” he says. “Since physical fitness is closely interwoven into the system, the workout includes a number of cardiovascular and strength-building exercises, as well as stretching to increase flexibility.

Emphasis is put on speed, endurance, strength, accuracy and coordination, especially for intensive Krav-Maga training,” explains Kapoor.

Further, there are no rigid rules in Krav-Maga. It is not a sport, and there are no competitions. The techniques simply focus on maximizing efficiency in real-life conditions. Krav-Maga in Hebrew means “close combat”; literally, “Krav” means “Combat” and “Maga” means “contact”.

The beginning of the system that we know today as Krav-Maga was developed as “hand-to-hand-combat system” in Hungary and Czechoslovakia in the 1930s to help protect the Jewish community from Nazi militias. This technique was later taught to the Haganah, the Jewish underground army, in the British Mandate of Palestine prior to the establishment of the Jewish state.

After the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Krav-Maga was taught to the Israel defence Forces (IDF) School of Combat Fitness.

In 1980, Israeli Krav-Maga experts and interested students in the US came in contact. The following year, a group of six Krav-Maga instructors traveled to the U.S. for demonstrations, mainly at Jewish community centres. However, a demonstration was also held at the New York Field Office of the FBI and its Main Training Center.

Following this, 22 people from the US went to Israel to take a basic Krav-Maga instructor’s course. When they returned to their country, they began to establish training facilities in their areas. The exchanges of experts between the two countries continued and the Krav-Maga training of Law Enforcement personnel in the US began in 1985.

Today, Krav-Maga is practiced by military and law enforcement personnel as well as civilians in more than 45 countries around the world. And it is catching on in India as well.

Source: Sify News

Friday, Apr 21, 2006

It is far more than just a self-defence system. And now “Krav-Maga”, which is popular among Israel’s elite forces and is practised in 45 countries across the world, is making a foray into the Capital through a seminar on “Safety and Krav-Maga” at India International Centre this coming Saturday.

With branches in 31 countries across Europe, Asia and North America, Krav-Maga involves instinctive movement, practical training and realistic training scenario.

Interestingly, some of the practitioners of Krav-Maga include celebrated Hollywood personalities like singer-cum-actress Jennifer Lopez and Hollywood’s leading actress Angelina Jolie. Also the world’s elite military, para-military and law enforcement units undergo training in this self-defence system, that is all about mental and physical fitness which is so important in today’s hectic and fast-paced lifestyle.

Commander Avi Moyal, senior instructor at the International Krav-Maga Federation, along with its India Director and Chief Instructor Vicky Kapoor is working towards development of this self-defence system in India. One of the four leading Krav-Maga authorities in the world, Avi Moyal has experience in instructing civilians, army personnel and security organisations worldwide.

On April 22 there will be presentations on “Psychological, Legal and Social Aspects of Self-Defence” by the Director of Saarthak and psychiatrist at Apollo Hospitals, Achal Bhagat, and senior Supreme Court lawyer and women’s rights activist Aparna Bhat.

Source: The Hindu

Nitya Rao
Mumbai, Monday , December 26, 2005

He’s been a platoon commander in an Israeli terror demolition unit. Even worked as a private bodyguard to Madonna and Michael Jackson. So when Israeli self-defence trainer Avi Moyal starts to demonstrate what he calls the ‘‘bear hug’’ you know it can’t be friendly. He’s in the city to talk about Krav-Maga—an Israeli self defence technique developed by their armed forces. Moyal also taught a clutch of students at Vicky’s School of Oriental Arts in Saket, Delhi, how to use their reflexes to sense and counter an attack. Advertisement ‘‘What’s different about Krav-Maga is that it helps you understand the psychology of a criminal,’’ says Moyal, who worked in the Israeli Prime Minister’s office to train workers in this field. ‘‘It’s especially imperative for young girls to learn and understand the intricacies of body language, to read danger signs when they lurk,’’ explains the trainer, who’s demonstrated the art in Delhi and Chandigarh earlier this month. So popular is this relatively new martial art (it was developed in the early 1950’s) that Hollywood has embraced it eagerly with stars like Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez performing their own stunts using the new fangled close quarter combat technique. Closer home, Vicky Kapoor, who manages the school at Saket acts as a personal Krav-Maga trainer to former MP Omar Abdullah and his wife Payal. ‘‘They’re both excellent students,’’ says Kapoor. ‘‘Very disciplined and no tantrums despite the VIP tag.’’ While there isn’t any age bar (Kapoor’s oldest student is 65), you don’t have to spend a bundle on the classes either. Monthly charges for the three-times-a-week package is Rs 2,100. Moyal will host a seminar and demonstration today at the National Sports Club of India, Haji Ali, 5 pm to 7 pm

Source: Express India