The art of Krav Maga
An effective self-defense tool that is genuinely Hebrew
We cannot end this special report dedicated to Israel’s light weapons without talking about an authentically Hebrew martial art. Krav Maga, or contact combat in the Hebrew language, is the most important self-defense weapon of the IDF and Israeli society in general. Developed during the 1930s by the Czech Imi Lichtenfeld, the main objective of this martial art is to know how to defend oneself and to be able to repel any personal attack. Krav Maga has currently reached an enormous popularity, both among the forces of law and order, as well as among the civilian population itself. In this sense, it is important to differentiate between the Krav Maga that is taught to public or private security professionals (preferably escorts), and that which is taught to any citizen who wishes to learn this Hebrew martial art. One of the strong points of Krav Maga is that, unlike
of other self-defense disciplines such as Karate, its creation and improvement is very current, being also subject to a society where violence and confrontations are part of everyday life. These conditions force Krav Maga to use techniques based on simplicity and effectiveness, since it must be an art of quick learning and easy execution. In the training courses for security professionals that the company Guardian Homeland Security S.A. gives in Spain and Israel, Krav Maga is of vital importance. As Ilan Arzooan, one of Guardian’s top managers, confessed in an interview with this newspaper, “Krav Maga is based on hand-to-hand combat and knowing how to act in an empty-handed confrontation against an opponent armed with a knife (knife, knife, baton…)”. For Arzooan, “this technique enjoys great acceptance in Spain, as it responds very well to the Spanish legislation, which penalizes the professional who uses a firearm against an opponent armed with a knife. In this way, through Krav Maga, the professional learns to repel an aggression without the need to use his firearm”. From Guardian, they also warn us of the need to differentiate the two modalities of Krav Maga that are currently taught in Spain. Thus, on the one hand, there is the part oriented exclusively towards self-defense; and on the other hand, the part that is more focused on hand-to-hand combat. In the first case, all the techniques taught are aimed at the student knowing how to defend himself against an attack or hostile aggression in order to escape unharmed.
No rules, no limits
In the second case, that of hand-to-hand combat, the work methodology is oriented towards learning how to neutralize an aggressor quickly and effectively. This is, in general, the part that is taught to the public and private security forces that participate in the various training courses. Krav Maga, understood as hand-to-hand combat, always seeks to use the most logical, simple and natural way to win the fight, since combat is a reign of uncertainty and surprise. In this sense, Krav Maga instructors teach their students to use very simple and natural defense movements, so that learning is quick and easy. What is intended at all times is to seek maximum efficiency in combat, and therefore Krav Maga has no rules or limits (hence, unlike other martial arts, can not be understood as a sport or a competition between fighters). Since they are designed to be applied in real combat situations, Krav Maga techniques are varied and forceful, always with the aim of saving life and neutralizing the opponent.
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Another important aspect of this powerful Israeli defense tool is its strong psychological component. In this sense, in the same way that the physical skills of the professional are enhanced, the Krav Maga instructor also seeks to enable his student to develop mentally. This is essential to behave skillfully in situations where there are violent confrontations and in which a high level of stress is generated. That is to say, what is intended is that the agent, military, or escort who learns Krav Maga be able to not block and act diligently when involved in a violent and real scenario. Krav Maga allows the use of all types of empty hand techniques, using if necessary fists, elbows, knees, head, dislocations… in short, any part of the body with which you can hit and repel an aggression. Even the use of any utensil that can serve as a weapon is also trained, since the mission is to reduce the opponent as quickly as possible, without giving him the opportunity to attack again. Considering that Krav Maga accepts and sees as lawful a retreat in the face of aggression, it is also worth noting that its techniques can be applied without too many complications in enclosed spaces, such as the interior of a car, an airplane, or an elevator.
The objective of Krav Maga is to repel the aggression to the end without allowing the threat to reappear, in no way is it legitimate or acceptable to retreat in the face of aggression. Given its character as a modern martial art, Krav Maga currently has many followers around the world. Every day there are more and more courses and seminars in which the techniques that are part of this system of self-defense and hand-to-hand combat are taught. In short, and like the firearms we have analyzed, it is another successful tool at the service of the soldiers and policemen of Israel.
