June 14, 2008

At a Krav Maga class, Nandini Nairlearns that the best defence is attack

Beware! I might not be armed, but I’m dangerous. I’m just back from a Krav Maga class.

It is the official self-defence system of the Israeli Defence Forces. It emphasises instinctive movements, practical techniques, and realistic training scenarios. It might be the domain of bodyguards and elite military units, but it’s relevant for every person on the street. Vicky Kapoor, CEO, Ultimate Tactical and Combat Ltd and the pioneer of Krav Maga in India, looks me in the eye and asks, “Are you safe when you are walking, talking, sleeping, sitting?” I hear myself mumble “No”. “That’s why you need to know this form of self defence,” he retorts, removing the rings on his finger, with his teeth.

There can’t be a policeman for every person. So, it’s important to be one’s own leader, as Kapoor says. While Krav Maga is practised in groups, I get the honour of a personal class with him.

It starts with a warm-up session, “to lubricate the joints,” he explains. The exercises are not the usual sit-ups and push-ups as, “This training is not to be body builders. But to be fighters.”

USP

After some basic warm-up exercises like rotations and squats, Kapoor asks me, “What would you do if you suddenly realised that your auto driver was going the wrong way on purpose.” I reply proudly and almost smugly, “I’ve a pepper spray in my handbag.” Kapoor tries to suppress a giggle of scorn. “By the time you get your pepper spray out, he would’ve done what he wanted,” he tells me. I feel chastened. And stupid. “Krav Maga is about making smart fighters, not stupid fighters,” he asserts. He then elaborates that the first thing to do is to pull back the hair of the driver. This will force him to apply the brakes. And you run for your life. He tells me to supplement my pepper spray with a fistful of coins. Throw the coins in the attacker’s face and it will be like a canon of pebbles. Sizing me up, he adds, “Small and big is immaterial. It’s important what you project. Even if you are fus inside – you should walk with confidence.”

The USP of Krav Maga is how to deal with stress under pressure. “It doesn’t teach what’s not real,” says Kapoor. The benefits of it are both mental and physical. While physically it increases flexibility, coordination and speed, it also makes one mentally stronger. In a situation of threat it’s crucial not to freeze and to maintain eye contact. Engaging in a verbal dialogue helps to disengage the attacker from his intentions.

Believing that the best defence is attack, Krav Maga teaches how to adapt the situation to one’s advantage. Keys can slash and pens can jab. The chin, neck and groin are the most vulnerable points. The torso itself can take punches but an attack on the sensitive parts can debilitate an assailant. Kapoor demonstrates how to elbow the chin and to knee the groin.

After one class, I’m inspired to be my own leader.

(To know more – www.kravmagaindia.in. Or call Vicky Kapoor at 9810412442) ( nandini@thehindu.co.in)

Source: The Hindu

Q&A: Vicky Kapoor, Director, International Krav Maga Federation Aabhas Sharma / New Delhi April 19, 2008

Krav Maga, a martial arts form, has recently caught the fancy of fitness freaks – from Omar Abdullah to Shweta Nanda. Aabhas Sharma asks instructor Vicky Kapoor to demystify it.

How different is Krav Maga from other forms of martial arts?

Krav Maga is a martial art form with a simple, effective defence system that emphasises instinctive movements, practical techniques and realistic training scenarios. It not only improves your fitness but also trains you in self defence much better than any other form of martial art

Who are the kind of people taking up Krav Maga? Is it more for self defence or as a fitness booster?

A majority of people take it up for fitness as Krav Maga helps in toning muscles and it also improves body coordination.

While it does help in burning calories, people have realised that it is more suitable for self defence. Toning and losing weight is not the main goal but many women say they see these results too during training.

How exactly does it work? As in, are there any sets of rules that are applicable?

Unlike other self-defence and aerobic programmes, there are no required steps or rules in Krav Maga. Instead, here techniques are practised in simulated, ever-changing attack situations.

One thing that Krav Maga does is it helps one be in control of situations even when one is unarmed. It uses simple techniques that are part of natural body movements and reflexes.

Where did you learn the art and how popular is it globally?

I learnt the art in Israel and realised that it is not a sport which has martial arts but it is actually serious business. I always tell my students that if you genuinely want to learn and are serious about it, you should take up this form. It is no child’s play.

Probably, this is a reason why it has been officially adopted for training armies in 25 countries including Australia and Sweden.

What is the USP?

Krav Maga training stresses the ability to react when one is surprised. Techniques and training methods here emphasise the ability of the individual to function from a poor state of readiness and to move from a passive to aggressive state immediately, in order to defend yourself. Students are taught to react effectively under stress and to move efficiently from a position of disadvantage to a position of advantage.

Source: Business Standard

4 Mar, 2007, 0000 hrs IST,Ranjeni A Singh, TNN

Sandra Bullock used it in ‘Miss Congeniality 2’, J Lo used it in the movie Enough. And it is a fad with thousands of Americans. And it’s also steadily gaining ground in India. We are talking about Krav Maga, a self-defence martial arts that has its roots in Israel. Krav Maga literally means ‘contact combat’ in Hebrew. The technique is the official self system of the Israeli Defence Forces, and has been taught to hundreds of law enforcement agencies and thousands of civilians around the world.

Originated by Imi Lichtenfeld, the system founder and chief hand-to-hand combat instructor for the Israeli Defence Forces, Krav Maga is truly battle tested and is continually evolving based on the collective experiences of military and law enforcement personnel and civilians around the world.

According to its practitioners, Krav Maga is a simple, effective self defence system that emphasises instinctive movements, practical techniques, and realistic training scenarios. And apparently it’s so effective, that it’s acquired some high-profile disciples. In India we have Sanjay Kapur, the Nandas, Sunil Shetty and Akshay Kumar adding star quotient to the martial art. Krav Maga is heavy on the Martial, light on the Art. Krav Maga, due to the way in which it is taught, gives people a very intense workout.

And the two star exponents of Krav Maga in India are Vicky Kapoor and Nirmala Bhanu. Kapoor as director of International Krav Maga Federation, India was instrumental in popularising Krav Maga in India. He was trained personally by Eyal Yanilov, the chairman of International Krav Maga Federation Israel.

Yanilov is considered a living legend of Krav Maga. He studied Krav Maga under the personal tutelage of its founder, Imi Sde-Or (Lichtenfeld). He is now the senior-most Krav Maga practitioner in the world and is the only individual who carries the highest grade ever given by Imi (Master level 3/Expert level 8). He holds the unique Founder’s Diploma of Excellence. “Knowledge of Krav Maga would benefit people from all walks of life, says Yanilov.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

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Aabhas Sharma / New Delhi February 25, 2007

Martial arts, like the corporate sector, has its own glass ceiling. Women martial arts instructors are few and far in between and I wasn’t sure what to expect when I set out to meet Nirmala Bhanu, who teaches Krav-Maga.

For those of you who have come in late, Krav-Maga is a martial art form with a simple, effective self-defence system that emphasises instinctive movements, practical techniques and realistic training scenarios. It not only improves your fitness but also trains you in self- defence much better than any other form of martial art. And she has the distinction of training the likes of Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty. These actors are about as macho as they come.

Having done Krav-Maga for a long time, Bhanu insists that it is one of fastest growing fitness form of martial arts. Krav-Maga helps in toning muscles and improves body coordination. While it does help in burning calories, most people who take up Krav-Maga do so for reasons of self-defence. Says Bhanu, “Toning and losing weight is not the main goal but many women say they see results during the training.”

Bhanu, who also has a second degree black belt in karate, feels that while people tend to join Krav-Maga classes for fitness but, after realising the importance of self-defence, get hooked on to it completely. Unlike other self-defence and aerobic programmes, there are no required steps or rules in Krav-Maga.

Instead, Krav-Maga techniques are practiced in simulated, ever-changing attack situations. This form of martial arts has found favour with fitness freaks only in the last couple of years.

Vicky Kapoor, who has been training students for over two years, feels that it is one of the most effective forms of self-defence. It not only helps in improving physical fitness, but also covers aspects like tackling crime situations which might arise in an everyday setting.

“One thing that Krav-Maga does is that it helps one be in control of situations even if one is unarmed. It uses simple techniques that are part of natural body movements and reflexes,” explains Kapoor.

Kapoor, who has trained the likes of politician Omar Abdullah, actor Sanjay Kapoor, and Shewta Nanda, also conducts classes for the special security forces. Kapoor learnt the art in Israel and says that it is not a sport where you can have fun and is actually serious business. “People who genuinely want to learn and are serious about it should take up this form as it is no child’s play,” he cautions.

Well, it can’t really be given that this form of martial art has been officially adopted for training armies in 25 countries including Australia and Sweden. There is no doubt then that this sport has got to be serious business.

Krav-Maga training hones a person’s ability to react, even if caught by surprise. Techniques and training methods emphasise the ability to function from a poor state of readiness, and to move from a passive to aggressive state immediately in order to defend yourself. Students are taught to react effectively under stress and to move efficiently from a position of disadvantage to a position of advantage.

Not only in Delhi, cities like Mumbai and Chennai too are catching up with Krav-Maga. A martial arts training centre in Mumbai had a woman inquiring about the form which Jennifer Lopez showcased in the movie Enough. “Self defence is very necessary these days, be it for men or women,” says a fitness expert from Mumbai.

“And this being one of the most flexible forms of martial art, it helps in maintaining physical fitness much better than other forms,” he adds. “Because 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,” says Kapoor. Emphasis is put on speed, endurance, strength, accuracy and coordination, especially for those who undertake intensive Krav-Maga training. Although if you compare it with other fitness sports like kick-boxing or taekwondo, this improves a person’s flexibility.

And if you are wondering if you should sign up for a Krav-Maga class, keep in mind that this is more for those who want to learn self defence and improve overall fitness. It’s not for those who want to burn those ugly calories and shed excess flab. You can’t win it all, all the time.

Source: Business Standard

12 Apr 2004, 0009 hrs IST,TNN

NEW DELHI: The growing incidence of crimes against women have once again brought the spotlight back on their safety. About 70 women undertook a self-defence programme in a city school on Sunday.

The four-day training programme, spread over four weeks, is based on Krav Maga, an Israeli method of self-defence that can be effectively used by men and women of all ages.

Vickey Kapoor, Krav Maga expert who imparted the training, said: ‘‘This form relies on simple, instinctive movements. It can be practised by anyone with a will to learn. In a place like Delhi, where eve-teasing, molestation and other forms of crimes against women are commonplace, these techniques can come in handy.’’

And the response has been positive. Shivani Kochhar, a participant, said: ‘‘As a teenager, I have often encountered eve-teasing, lewd comments and even physical harassment. Now, as a lawyer working late at night and driving back home alone makes me vulnerable to various crimes. I never had the opportunity to learn any self-defence technique then. Today, I’m thankful to be undergoing this training.’’

Another participant, Sonal, a corporate executive, said: ‘‘My husband forced me to wake up to reality and take up this programme. He was constantly worried about me. The moment he heard of this, he sent me here. I’m sure it will help me in the long run.’’

Whether the workshop succeeds or not, it will surely boost the confidence of women to a great extent, said Kapoor. Keeping in mind the role of mental attitude in a physical training programme, a psychology session has been scheduled.

Arpita Anand, consultant psychologist said: ‘‘We are trying to highlight case histories — trauma underwent by victims, so that the participants can have a positive mental attitude.’’

Source: Times of India

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