[mangadooza]

I've been wanting to learn Krav Maga for some time now, the highly practical martial art used by Israeli Special Forces and the rest of their military. I think I've been foolish to travel to some very dangerous third world countries in the past without this type of knowledge.

I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with it, and if they can recommend the best way to learn it. I've done a little research already, and it seems like all the books are ineffective insofar as your technique and execution won't be all that refined without a instructor.

Unfortunately, all the nearby academies/classes around me in the US seem like they're just pussy footing around, filled with fat, middle-aged bureaucrats that would faint at the first sight of blood.

I'm definitely considering a long-term trip to Tel Aviv where presumably there are established Krav Maga academies there open to foreigners, all while sampling the local women, in the name of productivity

Suggestions much appreciated.

[YoungGunner]

I'm level 2 Green Belt. Best way to learn it is to train with an in structor and a diverse group of training partners so you have experience fighting people of different shapes, sizes, reaches, hand speeds, hand accuracy, and strength. I understand your gripes about the middle-aged instructors, but I've had some of those visit my school and you can't really judge them on appearance alone. If you give me some insight on where your located I might be able to find a good school for you. Hell some people who come to my school have to drive an hour but they suck it up because they want to learn. A lot of Krav Maga schools teach basic self defense, but try to look for schools with instructors or owners with law-enforcement or military experience, as they can give you an even more depth experience and education. As for the long term-trip to Israel, that's good for learning the material but unless you find a place to practice it here in the U.S. or wherever you are afterwards with training partners and instructors, you'll get rusty, and you don't want that to happen with a skill like this that your life could depend on.

As for the traveling to third world countries, its important to have the knowledge but just know that while you should always be prepared to fight and go from 0 to 100/ lethal force, some situations are much better handled with complacency, especially if you are abroad. E.g, a guy who gets in your face, in a dangerous country, in a bar where the guy who looks like he might possibly be acquainted with other patrons or the staff, isn't worth getting into a fight with. (You should watch your surroundings and move with your back facing the wall around the perimeter of the room until you can leave safely. If someone already throws a strike at you put your hands up immediately and get into a fighting stance, and judge who/how many attacker are coming, and decide whether to fight or flee, but the important thing is to have your hands up for an immediate defense or counterattack.)

There are 3 other pieces of advice that slightly extend outside of Krav Maga training I would give to a student:

-Always carry a weapon with you whether it be a knife, taser, gun, or steel toed shoes, it's always good to have an ace in the hole (so long as you're not in a foreign country that's legally inhospitable for visitors, then it gets fuzzy)
-Learn how to fight with random objects in your surrounding; "Krav Maga vs. Someone with a bottle" might give you good odds, but "Krav Maga with a Pool stick or Krava Maga with a Cigerette Ashtray vs. Someone with a bottle" I like better.
-If you need to run away from danger learn to sprint fast and learn parkour. Unless you are in a wide open area when attacked, learning how to traverse and climb different objects to reach locations your pursuers cannot is invaluable.

If you have other questions you should be able to find them here: http://www.kravmaga.com/forum/

[speakeasy]

Hey Mangadooza,

I took it from 2005 through about 2010. I got up to level 4 though I knew enough to pass the level 5 test. I just got lazy and disinterested at the end and didn't bother. What city do you reside? Check out this map and then find an OFFICIAL KM training center. Make sure that sparring is a part of training, which should be no problem if you're at one of the official training centers. My philosophy is that if you're not sparring, you're not learning the timing and how to put combatives together in a real situation with an opponent that's fighting back. If you ain't doing that, you're wasting your time and money. Also try to cross-train in at least the basics of Brazilian Jujitsu. My KM center here in L.A. offered a BJJ class which I took for about half a year. It won't be as good as dedicating yourself full-time to it, but some guys got really proficient. You'll walk away with at least a good understanding of ground game and enough to easily overwhelm someone in a street fight with no knowledge of grappling.

I think KM is worth the time. You don't need to train for years on end. Even 6 solid months of going several times a week will put you far ahead of most guys on the street throwing haymakers. I mainly did because I enjoyed it, kept me in shape and I had friends there so it was partly social for me too. It's almost 2 years now since I've trained and I'm pretty out of shape as far as fight conditioning. It takes about a month of training just to get through KM class without wanting to puke from exhaustion. I don't know if I remember the more complicated moves and I'm sure I'd be hella rusty if I had to hit the mat right now and spar. Nonetheless, I think I learned enough to handle myself fine in a street confrontation.

Hit us back if you have anymore questions.

[travolta]

Good stuff. I'm also looking to learn Krav Maga. Anyone know of any good, reasonably priced Krav Maga schools in NYC or NJ?

[MrM27]

I second speakeasy's statement about cross training with BJJ. I'm using KM as a stepping stone. It is a great intro, but often feels like glorified street fighting. I do want to learn more grapling techniques. That is OK with me as I truly consider it self defense training. The disarming techniques have been great to learn as all it takes is one well placed stab wound and you're dead. YoungGunner's point on a handy weapon is dead on, as I have a mini-mag light attached to my keys.

A dose of humility might help as a middle aged guy might whoop your ass. Best sparring partner at the place I go to is a 5 foot 8 fire hydrant looking guy in his mid-40s.