Krav Maga Self-Defense Seminar

​Krav Maga Self-Defense Seminar -blog post by Karen Wright
 
On Sunday, February 20, a group of folks that attend the HUB, attended a self-defense course at the Krav Maga Worldwide center here in Fishers, Indiana. For those of you unfamiliar with Krav Maga, it is the hand to hand defense training that the Israeli Defense Force use in Israel today. Krav Maga is an aggressive form of self defense that is easy to learn yet highly effective. Krav Maga emphasizes instinctive movement, practical techniques and realistic training scenarios. The goal is for people to get in shape and Go Home Safe!

I think I can speak for most that we all had a great time! After doing some warm up exercises, the first thing we learned was how to strike with our fists, side fist strikes and strikes with the base of your palm. If you're in cold weather it's better to strike with the palm. It's easier on the knuckles. It's important to have the proper stance when facing an attacker and the leverage it can create. Kicks to the groin are a very effective method against either male or female. In the event of an attacker approaching you and a loved one, we learned how to effectively step between shielding them. It is also very important to place yourself closest to or in the direction of the nearest escape route. Bear hugs, choke holds and how to flip over someone on top of you were other techniques taught that had very effective methods of protection. Lastly, we were shown how to disarm someone with a knife or gun. The instructor shared that he would much rather disarm someone with a gun than a knife. He explained that many times in the intense situation of an attack you can be struck with a knife so quickly and repeatedly and not even know you were stabbed. One more thing, in the event of an attack, many times the bystander/s don't know who is being attacked and/or defending themselves. It is a good idea to be yelling, "call 911" repeatedly. Speaking to or at the attacker also tends to throw them off. Many victims are silent because of fear. Trying to verbally calm the attacker or yelling call 911 can be very effective in the situation.

As we progressed through our 3 hour class, Jeff, the owner and our instructor, shared many stories and strategies and a personal testimony of defending a woman being physically abused by her husband in public. The outcome for this man...he spent four days recovering in the hospital. Obviously, Jeff is highly skilled in self-defense and didn't go into this situation without contemplating the responsibility to it. Our reactions to any situation have consequences as well. Sometimes there are bystanders that get hurt in the process of defending ourselves. To a degree in the heat of a situation as much as possible our actions cannot be purposely careless as we can be held accountable should it be found that our actions were reckless.
 
Krav is a very realistic, effective form of self-defense. And one 3 hour class does not in any way make you a pro. I think each of us took away something different and maybe feel a tad empowered to defend ourselves in some way. Krav, along with all other self-defense programs, works best to join and practice regularly to create a muscle memory or instinctive reaction to a real life attack.
 
The facility here in Indy is the only official Krav Maga Worldwide training center in all of Indiana. Not only do they teach the Krav Maga self-defense classes, they offer fitness classes, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Weapon and Fight classes. If you live in the area, I highly recommend considering signing up for classes to strengthen your skills and confidence in self protective as well as getting more physically fit. If there is no Krav Maga center near you, check into other types of ​self-defense training and learn ways to GO HOME SAFE!