HYDERABAD: Less of a martial art and more a system of hand-to-hand combat devised by the Israeli defence forces, Krav Maga isn’t for the weak-kneed. The system combines grappling and wrestling techniques with street fighting skills. You learn how to break the stranglehold of an attacker by going for his groin, face or knee. Unlike in martial arts where certain moves are not permissible, the focus of Krav Maga is crystal clear: beware of threats and deal with them as effectively as possible.

How is Krav-Maga different from conventional martial arts? “This is close combat, with no rules. It helps in real street fight, unlike judo or karate that do not allow an all-out fight against the opponent,” says Ajit N, city-based Krav Maga instructor. According to him, it is easy, effective and works in any situation. “You don’t have to be powerful. It just tunes your reflexes to down any opponent.”

“This form of martial art uses elements of physical fitness to tone muscles and help in coordination. You’re burning calories and we incorporate standard calisthenics, but the primary reason people come to us is for self-defence. Toning and losing weight is not the main goal but many women say they see results during the training,” says Ajit.

Krav Maga techniques are practised in simulated, ever-changing situations.

Krav Maga is very aggressive and dynamic in itself. Basically, you work up a huge sweat just doing the motions. You’re punching pads and being grabbed by people. “It’s as real as we can make it.This makes you more confident and capable of handling any situation that may require physical exertion and also helps in dealing with stress under pressure. It is mainly because you are trained to react beyond the normal,” Ajit explains.

The fitness advantages of programmes such as Krav Maga lie in the short, high-intensity explosiveness that occurs in muscle fibers.

“When you are building up kinetic force, you are developing really strong neurological pathways from your brain to your muscle, which helps instincts and reflexes. Any type of really short, intense workout helps elevate metabolic rate and burn more fat,” he says adding, that students practising Krav Maga expend 20 to 30 per cent more energy than during a less intensive activity such as step aerobics.

Source: http://expressbuzz.com/

“Krav Maga is a form of self-defence that deals with realistic scenarios where there are no rules. It deals with prevention from threat, psychological buildup to empowerment, verbal self-defence, soft and hard tactical defence against eve-teasing, groping, molestation and rape. It is an instant realisation and reaction to an action or attack,” says Frank J Wolf, instructor, Israeli Krav Maga Self-Defence in Richmond Town. Wolf is the only Krav Maga instructor in Bengaluru.

According to Wolf, this art of close combat was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld, a trained boxer and wrestler in Bratislava in order to help protect the local Jewish community during the German military invasion.

Krav Maga trains one to be ready for any lethal situation regardless of age, size, strength and fitness. “The common attack targets in Krav Maga are chin, groin, throat, eyes jaw and knee. If you are attacked from the back and choked, you will not waste time resisting, instead when pushed back you’ll raise your foot to attack his groin,” he continues.

Krav Maga is popular because there are no esoteric martial art techniques that are put to use. Instinctive punches and kicks used in natural self-defence are polished. Krav Maga is an excellent fitness routine and helps in building stamina, confidence and helps to burn those extra calories. Many law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies like the FBI have adopted it.

The Bengaluru chapter of Krav Maga has trained around 300 people —among them men, women and children. For Kunga Uuangyal, 28, who is a student at the Krav Maga Academy of Self Defence, this art of close combat has pushed him beyond his limits, both physical and psychological.

“Learning this art form for more than two and a half years has been a huge help in building confidence. I now know how to react to situations that need quick thinking and action,” says Kunga.

“The fitness routine followed in Krav Maga is very intense. The workouts and exercises could be strenuous for a girl but constant resistant practice has equipped me with techniques to defend myself and I’m not scared of walking alone on the roads,” says Urvashi Raizada, 18, another student.

Stephanie Steiger, mother of a five-year-old is amazed to see drastic changes in her daughter Sanara’s attitude. “She is confident, she enjoys it and is ready to startle all the big boys with her defence moves,” says Steiger.

Often I have come across this sarcastic query, “Do martial arts really work in a street fight! Is it worth training at all!?”

That may be asking like why maintain a fire brigade since it is idle most of the time. Any physical activity is beneficial in some manner.

It could be games, yoga, swimming, cycling, dance or anything. It could improve some element of total fitness – either cardio-vascular, muscular endurance, flexibility or atleast co-ordination and quick thinking; which help in a crisis. But, if you are in a job prone to confrontations like security, policing, hotel bouncer etc., learning fighting arts is definitely a plus.

Or if your life style makes you vulnerable, like living in a crime prone locality, commuting late or transporting valuables.

But a word of caution, look out for these inherent failures in any fighting art before signing up. These system weaknesses make you victim and at worst a casualty. So choose carefully. Your life depends on it.

What are the signs that a martial art is NOT street-smart -

1) CHOREOGRAPHED MOVEMENTS – That is nice in dance. In the street it can make one look ridiculous. Because the most shocking realization in the street is the ‘unpredictability’. Choose a fighting method like KravMaga, which constantly exposes you to attacks from different directions, angles and timings, which makes one adaptable.

2) NO AGGRESSION TRAINING – Having an obliging partner who holds back his punches politely, stands still till the partner goes through all the movements makes one complacent. Choose a method which teaches you the basic skills, then escalates physical and mental stress. KravMaga classes have some energy sapping aggression training.

3) TRAINING IN A SINGLE METHOD LIKE STANDING STYLE OR GROUND STYLE The reality is, one could be standing, sitting or on the ground when attacked. Or it could be even an attack by more than one. Or it could be in a suffocating crowd. If you are training in a martial art which says punching & kicking will solve all problems, or just grappling will do, start praying in a street fight. Better still, choose KravMaga which trains one in kicking, punching, grappling, restraining with locks / holds. And to face street weapons like sticks and knives too.

4) COMPLICATED AND EXOTIC TECHNIQUES Looks great in movies. Or in a demo to school kids. On the street it’s quick and decisive movements which count. Fancy kicks and locks fail miserably in reality, unless you are facing a still dummy. And they take years of repeated practice to be effective. Leave that to the grey-haired masters.

5) PHILOSOPHICAL MUMBO-JUMBO IN CLASS Philosophical nuggets went along with the movie Karate Kid. A self-defense class is about facing a rapist, a mugger or a bunch of drunken goons. Learn that first before worrying about self-actualization.

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.

Krav Maga
Push-ups, squats, kicks and stretching, after an intense 30 minutes of cardio and fitness training, the students are already grunting in pain and lying listlessly on the ground. Welcome to the world of Krav Maga, the Israeli system of self-defence and fighting, which teaches you the art of street survival. The system which means “contact combat” in Hebrew has devout followers who want that added confidence in their stride. Sadashiv M, a Krav Maga senior instructor, Mumbai says, “What is unique about this system is that it uses the body’s own reflexes. It works on instinct and natural movements. The body’s centre line — the imaginary line running though the centre of the body is the focus for defence and attack.” Ajit Verma, an instructor says, “Krav maga is a total fitness solution in itself. You burn about 800 calories in an hour.”

Capoeira
Brazilians have become famous for more than just their football skills and samba. Capoeira, the national sport, a mixture of dance and martial arts, is quietly catching up with children and adults alike. The class resonates with thumps, loud singing and the sound of a pandeiro (tambourine) and a berimbau (percussion instrument). Capoeirists of all age groups learn the fast and tricky movements in these classes. Trainer Reza Massah says, “This is the only sport which combines the co-ordination of a dancer, the strength of a martial artist, the flexibility of a gymnast, the endurance of a marathon runner and the beat of a drummer in a friendly, non-violent manner.” With its origins in African slavery in Brazil, the deceptive defence moves are light, but precision based. They build strength and balance, evident in the fluid cartwheels, kicks and twirls. Model Rosa Catalano has been practising Capoeira for a while now. “While living in Switzerland, I saw Capoeirists perform acrobats on streets and ever since I have wanted to learn. Capoeira is about rhythm and hardcore exercise. It is not about hurting somebody,” she says.

Jeet Kune Do
Bruce Lee may have died but his legacy lives on. Jeet kune do or the way of the intercepting fist is a street fighting concept and works on evolving according to the needs of the individual. Dr Komal, an exponent of this art says, “JKD helps in physical fitness, stress management and dealing with life’s problems.” It has no set fighting technique. It builds speed, power and co-ordination and involves kicking, punching, knee-elbow or trapping and grappling. Anjali Bhimrajka, a student, says, “In one-and-a-half years, I have lost 15 kgs. I had a ruptured ligament in my knee so any type of weight loss was not possible. But this was the answer to my problem.” Ritesh Reddy, who has been practising for the past six years adds, “I lead a sedentary lifestyle and started these classes to manage stress. I wanted to do tai-chi but found JKD more to my liking.”

Kalaripayattu
“There are 18 secrets in kalaripayattu, of which the highest is hitting your opponent and moving away. At this level, you are assured of your skill and do not need to show off,” reveals Pradeesh Raj, who has been teaching since the past 20 years. Originating in Kerala, the 3,000-year old martial art has three styles to it — one which focuses on weapons training apart from empty hand combat; another which teaches empty hand combat; and the last, which is a mixture of both. The master in this art also needs to understand the pressure points in the body and healing. One learns to wield the mind as adeptly as the sword, as you begin with training your body, then move on to weaponry, and ultimately spiritual training. Actress Upasana Shukla says, “The level of discipline kalari inculcates in you is great. This has helped me in theatre as well and I really look forward to these sessions.”

Israeli self-defence

The setting is somewhat similar at Ultimate Tactical and Combat studio in Saket. It offers Krav Maga – an Israeli form of self-defence and combat tactics – training, engaging young women, clad in black, in hand-to-hand combats.

In Saket, portraits of the famed Israeli Krav Maga trainers and a poster that reads ‘personal protection is not an option, it’s a responsibility’, serve as sources of inspiration.

Another poster, of Jennifer Lopez in Enough – a film in which Lopez learns Krav Maga to take on her abusive husband – is also another motivator.

“Recently, we trained a woman who was struggling to tackle her abusive live-in partner,” says Vicky Kapoor, director, Ultimate Tactical, and the best known trainer of Krav Maga in the country.

“She finally managed to drive him out with the help of Krav Maga. We have trained 200 women as per their requirements in the last two years.”

Unsafe city

Not surprising, considering the level of danger a woman faces in the national capital. Among 35 major cities in India, Delhi accounted for 31.2 per cent of total rape cases and 34.7 per cent cases of kidnapping and abduction of women in 2007.

Numbers don’t lie. Most women who practice at these studios have stories to share.

“Last year at a bus-stand near Gargi College, I was groped by a middle-aged man,” says Minakshi Bhardwaj, 22, a student of St Stephen’s College. “I cried for help, but no one came to my rescue. Today, I feel more confident on the streets.”

Mary Kurkalang, 31, who works in a publishing firm said, “Men have grabbed me from behind so many times on the streets. The training has really helped,” she says.

Street fights

The studio lessons are also practiced on the streets. “The idea is to give practical lessons in dealing with various situations that they might face in real life,” says Kapoor, who normally receives 10 inquiries in a day from women who want to know how Krav Maga can help them defend themselves.

Women also get tips on how to use things like mobile phones, hand bags, pens, and even duppttas as weapons.

“Physical drill teaches women to use quick reflexes to attack assailants’ soft spots like throat, groin and nose,” says Shihan Nawal Datta, a martial arts trainer. This new breed of laptop-wielding trainers say many parents are encouraging daughters to join classes.

“My daughters are learning martial arts. One is even building muscles. Martial arts training has instilled discipline and confidence in them,” says Manjari Sharma, a teacher.

I have been doing Krav Maga in Mumbai for a year now. I train under Sensei Sadashiv Mogaveera who is a legend according to me.

I got to know about Krav Maga when I was surfing the net and trying for some new physical activity to be taken up. I & my twin brother have always been doing some physical activity be it body building gym or swimming. A year back we heard about Krav Maga and decided to give it a try. We have no martial arts or self defense background and to be honest we never were interested in martial arts & self defense from childhood because we thought that it was all about hoo–haa voices been made by some martial artists.

I regret the foolish notion that I had about martial arts and Self defense and really feel that I should have taken this up long back.

Krav-Maga initially looks like a dirty street fight but there is more to it. You can hold your own on the street using Krav Maga. Krav Maga has no hard & fast rules. It focuses on training us for real life scenarios. It has attack and defence maneuvers to neutralize the bad guy/s and safely escape.

Various vulnerable points like groin, eyes etc are the key targets.The very basic approach of this martial art appealed to me.

I, now walk the streets with confidence and I’m always alert to any threats. I have given key points to my wife too about how to neutralize an attacker. I was the dummy attacker for her training and I know how painful it can be.

I have suggested this martial arts (self defense) to some of my friends and relatives and hope they come too and learn this beautiful art so that “one may walk in peace”.. — Imi Lichtenfeld’s greatest quote!!

Kida, Thanks you, Sensei Sadashiv Mogaveera & our Chief Instructor Vicky Kapoor

April 5th, 2008

Krav Maga, the official self defense technique of the Israeli Defense Forces is gaining popularity in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and other metro across India.

“Have you ever been in a street fight yourself”? questioned my colleague Poornima, of , Frank the Krav Maga trainer who heads the South India chapter and has been personally training his students since Mid-December.

Before could print his cards. he had 30 enrollments from the IT sector, business and the advertising fraternity. “No, never”, Frank said , his eyes never leaving his students fighting dirty on the terrace floor overlooking a picturesque graveyard in Richmond Town (Location credits – coincidental), “for I know I can do serious damage. I have seen pain, I have broken my ribs, I had painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines…(eyes now pinning his newest enrollment, Namath, a techie). I would do it only as a last resort.” Deadly! We like you already, ,” we chorused as he explained how we women can learn to defense ourselves! trained under Vicky Kapoor who heads the Krav Maga scene in India, in Delhi.

Frank quickly demonstrated a skillful manoeuvre to victimize an eve teaser in a jiffy. All one has to do is to hold the fellow’s wrist, twist his arm, exert one’s full body weight inflicting pain in his helpless offending appendage to set the violator scampering away. Sounds simple but have yet to take a class. What we saw was serious street fighting amongst the males.

Frank can make you love yourself, for he can teach you to tackle an armed six and half foot man single handedly. Game?

Four assailants attacking you on the floor as you fend their punching bag blows with your kicks. Round and round you go like a turntable elbows prancing above your face, shielding it from their padded stick, with mock-real intentions to hurt you, they keep at it. (Props: www.ultimategears.com)

Finally, they get you on your feet only to strangle you from behind and thrust a dummy knife in your back. You are half dead and barely able to stand or see. Now, learn to come out of that corner, fighting with the Krav Maga moves. Don’t bother with heroism, for the attack will be simulated live for you in the three hour sessions, every weekend morning.

Also simulated will be real gory road rage happenings from the newspaper or hearsay. The will to come back (almost from death) and fight against all odds is what will look for in you.

Meet Venkatesh, also a techie, who interest made him search the net for Krav Maga in India and made him excited enough to hasten and chase the commencement of this class. He wanted to learn Krav Maga for his safety and to be prepared for a real life situation.

“We learn the moves and practice them repeatedly till they are written down in our muscle memory”. Does that mean they become almost mechanical? “Yes”. He also worships the warm-up, the cardio and the strength training they do at the class. “It’s made me lose a lot of weight since I enrolled two month ago, as we burn up to 800 calories an hour. Another IT youngster, Anoop realized that it was too late at his age to pick up martial arts. “Krav Maga is comparatively easy, it borrows from all other forms of martial arts and teaches you the practical approach. We take out the week’s frustrations in this class, on our classmates and on the punching bags.”

Major Vijay from the Indian Army is learning to achieve his self-goal. He was searching for a Krav Maga class for few years. You can see compassion in his eyes, for one learns to conquer and harness anger and rage during the lessons. “The para-training I undergo at work is tough too but Krav Maga is more realistic. We disarm a person and reverse the attack.

Abinanth, an Art Director with a leading ad agency wanted to learn for sheer self-defense. “We acquire mental strength too. I had researched about Krav Maga, it interested me enough to keep track of it in India. I lost weight and in inches.” Says Smith, an Operational Manager in Bengaluru , “When you go out with your girlfriend knowing Krav Maga makes you feel more protective. Yes, It is aggressive and dangerous.”

Express India

Karate and kalaripayattu are passe. A Delhi woman has kick-started the craze for Krav-Maga, the martial art practised by Israeli soldiers

Namita Kohli

New Delhi, February 22, 2007: She can kick butt like Jennifer Lopez in the 2002 film Enough. Or throw a punch like Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality. While these glam dolls may have given Krav-Maga — the self-defence system that has been battle-tested by Israelis — a celeb quotient, Delhi-based instructor Nirmala Bhanu hardly has glamour on her mind. “It is not a sport,” she says. “My mission is to train as many women in this technique as possible. They need to come out and know how to defend themselves, especially in this city.”

The 29-year-old, arguably the first woman Krav-Maga instructor in India, has been teaching at her studio in Saket for a year. She is also a black belt in karate and has taught action heroes Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Vinod Khanna a kick or two. “They are all masters. But it was great fun teaching them. I learnt from them as well,” she says with an impish smile.

How is Krav-Maga different from conventional martial arts? “This is close combat, with no rules. It helps in real street fight, unlike judo or karate that does not allow an all-out fight against the opponent.” Also, says Bhanu, it is easy, effective and works in any situation. “You don’t have to be powerful. It just tunes your reflexes to defend against an opponent.”

Krav maga was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld in the 1930s to help Jews defend themselves against the Nazis. It was adopted by the Israeli army and it eventually evolved into a highly specialised defence technique. What is taught to the civilians is, however, a simpler and easier version. “Students are taught to defend themselves against an attacker wielding a knife or a gun,” says Bhanu. A blow on the nose, a kick below the belt and the job is done. “You just have to look for the weak spots like the nose, eyes.”

A system that works on human reflexes rather than brutal attack, krav maga, says Bhanu, is custom-made for women. A one-hour workout can even burn 800 calories. “That is like killing two birds with one stone,” says Bhanu. Other than the 20-odd women who have enrolled at her Saket studio, Bhanu also teaches at the Army Wives Welfare Association.

Are women eager to join the Krav-Maga club? “Initially they were shy to try this out. Many do it to lose weight rather than for self-defence,” she says. A native of Manali, Himachal Pradesh, she has fought her way through various karate championships while her father wondered yeh kya thod-phod karti rehti ho (what’s this business of breaking things?).

Is action-packed Bollywood on her mind? “Yes, I would like to do that. Right now, they are using special effects, not the real thing.” Perhaps it is time for an action heroine.
Contact: 41764597 Fee: Rs 2,100 a month

Source: Express India