Krav Maga

DonPendergraft

Google Moti Horenstein! Heh. It's decent and I'm sure it's great exercise. Just don't buy the hype. If it were the bee's knees, everyone in MMA would be training in it. They aren't. But go for it! Have fun and burn some calories!

My chief instructor is an MMA fighter. MMA do not train for it because of what it is- krav is street fighting for self defense- a lot of groin strkes, gouges, and other attacks that are not MMA approved and can get you quickly DQed. Even MMA has rules which dont apply to a street fight. Our instructor does use some krav techniques but even he said not many when in the octagon as KM is not meant to be used for that style of fighting.

Those rules were not in place when Mr. Horenstein got thrashed in the UFC. That's just a dodge. It was true of all the stand up only fighters in the early UFC's. Hair pulling, groin shots, etc were all legal. They all got taken down and thrashed or submitted. The rules argument is what people who believe the mythology of the Shaolin monks say as well. "The vibrating palm would kill the person, so they can't fight in the ring". "They can rip the heart out of a charging bull, but since that would kill the opponent, they can't compete in MMA." Sorry, no sale. A wrestler just dog tackles you and beats the crap out of you if you don't know ground fighting. Everyone cross trains these days. Grapplers who don't know standup will likewise get taken apart. When I first trained in BJJ over 13 years ago, hardly anyone knew ground stuff. It was like magic. Not any more. You have to be well rounded. Times, they are a changin'. )

Once last point: if you are a small person and your goal is to survive an attack against a far larger and stronger opponent, your best bet would be to spend some time getting properly trained and certified in armed self defense. My wife has packed heat for about the last 14 years (Glock 27!). I don't want her to have to worry about her ability to go mano a mano against a larger mugger. Double tap to center mass instead!

Some people are philosophically opposed to the use of lethal force, and that's cool. Different strokes. Maybe pepper spray can be something to consider. I use it on my runs when I'm in the country. Too many crazy dogs! There aren't any martial arts that can adequately prepare you in a short time. A girl I used to train with was a black belt kick boxer and since has earned her black belt in BJJ. I KNOW she can defend herself. But it took many years. That is not practical at all for most people.

I think if it's to relieve stress, burn calories, etc, then rock on. But go into it with both eyes open.

Good luck!

Barelmy

Once last point: if you are a small person and your goal is to survive an attack against a far larger and stronger opponent, your best bet would be to spend some time getting properly trained and certified in armed self defense. My wife has packed heat for about the last 14 years (Glock 27!). I don't want her to have to worry about her ability to go mano a mano against a larger mugger. Double tap to center mass instead!

Bear in mind that this thread was started by a brit. We really don't do guns over here.

DonPendergraft

Once last point: if you are a small person and your goal is to survive an attack against a far larger and stronger opponent, your best bet would be to spend some time getting properly trained and certified in armed self defense. My wife has packed heat for about the last 14 years (Glock 27!). I don't want her to have to worry about her ability to go mano a mano against a larger mugger. Double tap to center mass instead!

Bear in mind that this thread was started by a brit. We really don't do guns over here.

Great point!

I've been thinking about my post and now I regret even saying anything. A martial art as exercise seems appropriate for this forum, but for me to try to get deep in the weeds about other topics like self-defense, MMA, etc was inappropriate. I apologize if I've offended anyone with anything I've said. I will not hit the "eject" button out of this thread! God bless.

carolynhaywood

You're fine. Don't worry. You had some interesting info to offer.

JE55Y

So has anyone else taken up Krav Maga?

I've been doing it for approx three months now. It's brilliant, a lot of fun and really gets your in the mind frame that you could actually use it if needed.

It does depend on who you practise with in the class as to how well each lesson goes. Some of the guys don't think to pull punches and not throw punches so aggressively when they are partnered with a smaller framed woman.

Last week during my class I was partnered with a man who for some reason thought it was ok to kick me very hard in the groin. It's supposed to be non-contact but the realism of training in Krav Maga is... You are going to get a few bruises now and then.

I'm female. It hurt and I shouted out with both shock and paid. Bent over holding myself just like a man would, lol. I was wearing a groin guard under my trousers (pants to you Americans) but the guy wouldn't have known this.I was shocked that this guy thought everything was fine, and he'd done nothing wrong. I was a little bit... Annoyed! Most guys ask you if you are ok, take it a little easier on women and take extra care not to hurt you.

Once I'd composed myself, it was my turn to attack him. He told me to go for it, told me to get my revenge. I actually told him that wasn't a good idea. He laughed and told me to go for it, really try my hardest.

I looked over at my instructor, who shrugged and told me the guy had given me permission so to go for it.
I warned the guy once more, but the smirk on his face meant he saw a weak woman in front of him.

So I went for it.... He asked for it!

Really hard kick to the groin (he was wearing a groin guard on the outside of his trousers, but it must gave hurt), and before I could stop myself.... I punched him in the face. His head went back with the power of it. Oh my gosh.... I was so horrified at what I'd done. He was shocked! The rest of the class were laughing... And I could see my instructor struggling to hide his grin.



Lol.... Who needs guns! Don't mess with us girls

miovlb6

I've done Krav Maga sporadically over the past few months. I love, love, love it, but it's too pricey for me to do consistently. I've found 2 places nearby that do it and I've tried them both. One place was fabulous, but it's $150 a month for two sessions a week and they want a 1 year contract. That's out of my price range, so I just go when they have special drop-in classes. The other place was $100 a month with no contract, but it was just an awful waste of time--lots of talk, not much action.

It's funny, most of the time I'm the only girl in a class full of guys. At the beginning, they're always very careful with me and they apologize constantly if they inadvertently get a solid hit in. I have to tell them over and over again that I'm a big girl (even if I'm only 5 feet tall) and that I can handle it. By the end of the class, they usually loosen up a little bit, but in general I think I make them a little uncomfortable.

JE55Y

I've done Krav Maga sporadically over the past few months. I love, love, love it, but it's too pricey for me to do consistently. I've found 2 places nearby that do it and I've tried them both. One place was fabulous, but it's $150 a month for two sessions a week and they want a 1 year contract. That's out of my price range, so I just go when they have special drop-in classes. The other place was $100 a month with no contract, but it was just an awful waste of time--lots of talk, not much action.

It's funny, most of the time I'm the only girl in a class full of guys. At the beginning, they're always very careful with me and they apologize constantly if they inadvertently get a solid hit in. I have to tell them over and over again that I'm a big girl (even if I'm only 5 feet tall) and that I can handle it. By the end of the class, they usually loosen up a little bit, but in general I think I make them a little uncomfortable.

That seems very expensive. About £80 a month! Wow! I pay £35 a month for one session a week. It's £42 for two sessions. I wouldn't want to pay the amount they were charging you, especially if all they were doing was talking.

There are definitely more men that women who do Krav maga. They are the same here.. The men apologising for even the slightest touch. You tell them it's ok, but they think you are delicate.

I'm 5' 2". I found that it was very difficult sparring with men who were over 6'. Just impossible to punch to the face or practise strangle moves. Lol

swordsmith

My krav partner is female and we pound the hell out of each other. She has given me a bloody lip, fractured nose, bruises everywhere and more then enough groin shots that have made me stumble even through cup. I in turn have got her on the side of the head, bruised her up, etc. In class my partner is now known as The Tigress as all 5' 3" of her gets really combative especially during exhaustion drills and she-wont-stop-ever on the attack.

New guys learn real quick not to baby her or actually any of the women in my classes- ALL of them want to be hit/kicked/choked/etc as hard as possible so the shock of an actual hit out in the street is lessened. The women are some of the best at this as they have no macho impediment like a lot of guys do.

And yes that price seems excessive. My school is $85/month with no contract and you can go to every class (4 classes per week). I consider my instructors some of the best.

JE55Y

My krav partner is female and we pound the hell out of each other. She has given me a bloody lip, fractured nose, bruises everywhere and more then enough groin shots that have made me stumble even through cup. I in turn have got her on the side of the head, bruised her up, etc. In class my partner is now known as The Tigress as all 5' 3" of her gets really combative especially during exhaustion drills and she-wont-stop-ever on the attack.

New guys learn real quick not to baby her or actually any of the women in my classes- ALL of them want to be hit/kicked/choked/etc as hard as possible so the shock of an actual hit out in the street is lessened. The women are some of the best at this as they have no macho impediment like a lot of guys do.

And yes that price seems excessive. My school is $85/month with no contract and you can go to every class (4 classes per week). I consider my instructors some of the best.

Wow! I feel like such a wimp. I'm quite tough for my 5'2" and can show a lot of aggression but recently I've been worrying about being hurt.

The new guy in the class bruised my shoulders and wrists, and at one point I thought he wAs close to dislocating my shoulder. I'm not going to the class so that guys can kick the crap out of me, but I know that guys shouldn't go easy on me as it won't or are me for real situations.

Your classes sound great, guys actually wanting to spar with women. In one of the classes I went to most of the guys wouldn't voluntarily spar with women.

Going to train harder, not complain so much about how tender my arms feel and kick butt!

swordsmith

Well if you are hurt tell them and then modify the drills accordingly. Tonight I got a full force elbow to the face that fractured my nose- blood everywhere- but it was my fault really. SO the rest of the night I made sure to modify any drill that came near my face after I got back on the floor.

For bruises I use Dit Da Jow (the bruise variety) which can be picked up via the internet. I get mine from Plum Dragon Herbs- rub it in once in the morning and once at night. It really does make even deep bruises heal faster.

I would say that in my class the guys definitely do not kick the crap out of the women. They tend to treat new female students rather "light" and will ask how hard they should hit, choke, etc. As the women get more comfy with the system they invariably ask for more power to the exercises. As our instructor has said you want to make it as real as possible without injuring yourself because on the street the bad guy will not ask if he hit you too hard!

Plus being hit even through the pads, choked hard, etc provides another benefit in that you will be better prepared to take the shock of an actual on the street encounter. In any fight you will be hit/cut/shot and if you train for it you wont be staggered by the real thing as much. And as a female an attacker for you will most likely be male and possibly more then one.

So I dont consider you a wimp- you are out there learning the system which unlike most other martial arts has you hitting and being hit from Day One.