Krav Maga

Scarecrow28 · 02-03-2008, 16:48

I know that this would generally fall under the Martial Arts forum's catagory, but I doubt that I would get a response their. Recently I purchased David Kahn's Essential Guide To Krav Maga. I'll admit that I'm not the most muscular person on the planet and was just looking for a form of self-defense that doesn't require you to be Superman to use the techniques effectively. First of all, would you consider this books information to be of any quality and, second, is their any tips or techniques you can offer me? I studied Tang Soo Do for 6 or 7 years and some Judo, so I have a basic handle on self-defense.

***WayaX*** · 02-03-2008, 17:23

I would never try to learn martial arts from only "a book". I don't know anything about your particular book, but a lot of Krav Maga in this country (like TKD) is taught by people who take a 6 month course and are then considered "masters".
If you've studied Martial Arts for 6-7 years from a good teacher, you should probably understand this.

I helped teach martial arts for a while and had experience with most of the "in" martial arts. None of the students were anything close to what the martial arts claimed to be. My advice is get a GOOD instructor and make sure his credentials are legit. A good forum to look around on is www.martialtalk.com

***plasticgunz*** · 02-03-2008, 17:33

If you're concerned about your lack of strength, I suggest Aikido, Hapkido and Jiu-Jitsu. Also, a book will never do it for you. I'm also interested in Krav Maga, but have yet to find a quality instructor.

GLOCK30JOHN · 02-03-2008, 18:35

The book you mentioned is very good;however it is not the best one out there IMO. That honor goes to "Complete Krav Maga" by Darren Levine and John Whitman. It is very well written with excellent photography. I highly recommend this book as I have learned a great deal from it and refer to it often BUT as others as said, you can only go so far with a book(in this case really far)then you need to find a GOOD instructor and take some courses.I have taken Krav Maga for several years and it is by far better for everyday use by the average person.

***G33*** · 02-03-2008, 18:39

Hands on training.
Once you are very proficient, you can adapt from books, video, etc.
Still need to practice moves real-time.
KM is good stuff.

PeterJasonMN · 02-03-2008, 18:39

I was actually looking for schools after I graduate as a way to get in shape/learn/and blow off steam. I was looking at Krav Maga Houston for when that day comes.

Butcher · 03-01-2008, 08:15

plenty of videos online to see krav moves demonstrated... but still i think you need an instructor to teach you in person. in 2 months, going 2-3 times a week, i've learned a hell of a lot of cool maneuvers. every class is a great workout. if you think you're in shape, you'll still come out of an hour-long class drenched in sweat, heaving and weakened by your workout.

Scarecrow28 · 03-01-2008, 12:40

Thats the only problem. I can't find any Krav Maga places near me.

mike253 · 03-01-2008, 14:25

I practice the age old art of Glock-fu, as long as I possess the strenth required for the 5.5lb trigger pull, I'm golden

As others have stated, the book will do nothing for you until AFTER you've gotten some "hands on" training.

If strength is an issue for you where self defense is concerned, learn about leverage and how to apply it in those situations. Also, learn about chokes and pain compliance. Biggest, baddest man on the planet can't put up much of a fight if he can't breathe.

Ffolkes · 03-01-2008, 15:06

As a child I once asked my local Librarian what book I should take out of the library for self defense. She said, "any of the hard covers".

Years later I recognize that was actually really good advice.

chongfa · 03-01-2008, 15:10

You can't always have a gun with you. You also can't use your gun in every situation. I have no doubt that y'all Glock-Fu is strong, but Glock-Fu plus a solid hand to hand combat to back it up is even stronger!!!

I would recommend getting a good instructor, it is the best way to go.

Altaris · 03-01-2008, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by plasticgunz

If you're concerned about your lack of strength, I suggest Aikido, Hapkido and Jiu-Jitsu. Also, a book will never do it for you. I'm also interested in Krav Maga, but have yet to find a quality instructor.

+1
I started a Ju-jitsu class recently
I am pretty strong, and there is no way in hell I could take my instructor. He has about 20 options of hurting me for every position I try to get him in. It scares me to think about what would happen if I fought him for real.

Steel Talon · 03-01-2008, 15:20

With 6 or 7 years of Tang so do under your belt you should have a good understanding of body mechanics, flow and targeting. So I say sure in theory a book will help when other options are not available tp you.. However you truly need someone to work with and guide you.

Peace
Steel Talon

SilenceDoGood · 03-01-2008, 15:28

I highly suggest Krav Maga, but only from a book to supplement training from a competent instructor. I was taking it three times a week. I was in great shape after 3 months, but had to quit because of I was having to write like 10 page research essays over how things made me feel and how i should feel like every-other day (college can be rediculous somtimes), but i plan on getting back into it. We had a range day one saturday a month where we would learn the fundementals of krav maga's hand gun retention and deployment techniques. Take it. do it do it.
You need to be in some sort of physical shape to even call yourself a respectable human being. Sorry thats just how i feel. Don't tell me you don't have 15 min a day to jump rump do situps/push ups and lift somthing heavy over your head. Notice how none of that was an hour at the gym, or running miles. 15 min a day is all it takes if you work hard. See anarobic excercise/ circit training.

ltgibson2001 · 03-01-2008, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarecrow28

Thats the only problem. I can't find any Krav Maga places near me.

Where do you live?

***TRMN8R*** · 03-05-2008, 16:58

Krav Maga schools are tough to find in a lot of places, but have you considered looking into Kajukenbo?

Scarecrow28 · 03-06-2008, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltgibson2001

Where do you live?

I already checked for any Krav Maga schools and the closest one was nearly an hour away.

Scarecrow28 · 03-06-2008, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilenceDoGood

You need to be in some sort of physical shape to even call yourself a respectable human being. Sorry thats just how i feel. Don't tell me you don't have 15 min a day to jump rump do situps/push ups and lift somthing heavy over your head. Notice how none of that was an hour at the gym, or running miles. 15 min a day is all it takes if you work hard. See anarobic excercise/ circit training.

I'm by no means overweight or in terrible shape. I'm a great runner (around 6 min. mile) and have good core strength, but my upper body is lacking somewhat. I've been doing some weight training several days a week to fix this.

ltgibson2001 · 03-08-2008, 17:40

I have to travel 45 minutes to get to mine...there is only one in SC and its at the other end of the state and the one i attend is the only one on this side of NC.

bigjim · 03-11-2008, 23:02

I took Krav Maga for about a year and a half in Dearborn, Michigan. I enjoyed it and found their teaching to be useful and practical.

I have studied other styles (Tang Soo Do, Isshin-Ryu, Northern Shaolin Kung Fu) and I have found that the moves don't vary that much between styles. There is some variation, obviously, but the human body only moves in so many ways. The teacher really makes the difference.

Krav should serve you well for self defense, as would many other styles. What you need to do is just get out there and get started. If you can't find a Krav Maga school, try something else. I wouldn't try to learn just from a book.

Deputydave · 03-12-2008, 17:34

As with any art or system, great care needs to be taken when selecting a school. Krav Maga is no exception. As the 'flavor-of-the-month', it has many knock offs preying on those who are gullable.

I became a Hisardut Krav Maga instructor about 8 years ago give or take. Very solid, straight forward system of defense. But then so is the Mu Shin Kwan Taekwondo that I've learned and now teach. Although one would think them quite different, they are actually very similar. But then, Mu Shin Kwan Taekwondo isn't the typical 'olympic' sport art one thinks of when the word Taekwondo is mentioned.

Travelling a hour for a GOOD school is NOTHING and you would be well to consider yourself lucky. 95% of what is out there is complete crap. In reality, most of the martial arts these days are the watered down remnant of Anko Itosu's Karate. Itosu's karate was very effective...and complete. Now Karate, Taekwondo, Hapkido, Jujutsu etc are mostly the block/kick/punch childrens version. But that is another topic entirely.

My advice is if the instructor is legite, drive the hour.

ltgibson2001 · 03-13-2008, 12:08

DeputyDave I looked at your website which was pretty informative. It didn't say where you were located though. I'm assuming somewhere in the Southern US though. A lot of what I read sounds similar to Krav and Spears principles and terminology.

Deputydave · 05-10-2008, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltgibson2001

DeputyDave I looked at your website which was pretty informative. It didn't say where you were located though. I'm assuming somewhere in the Southern US though. A lot of what I read sounds similar to Krav and Spears principles and terminology.

Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you. I'm down here in Florida. In addition to the Hisardut KM, I've also taken S.P.E.A.R., Physical Conflict Resolution (Ken Good) and Boatman's edged weapon defense instructor course through S.E.P.S.I.

I'm an FDLE firearm and DT instructor which helped get me into the instructor only courses above. Great stuff!

Scarecrow28 · 05-13-2008, 15:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deputydave

Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you. I'm down here in Florida. In addition to the Hisardut KM, I've also taken S.P.E.A.R., Physical Conflict Resolution (Ken Good) and Boatman's edged weapon defense instructor course through S.E.P.S.I.

I'm an FDLE firearm and DT instructor which helped get me into the instructor only courses above. Great stuff!

Very cool. Sounds like a lot of fun!