KravMaga

Jiu Jitsu - Krav Maga is not actually a martial art in the traditional sense.

Whereas martial arts like karate have spiritual and sporting elements, it has one real purpose: to save your life and neutralize your attacker as quickly as possible. There are no fancy spinning back-kicks that look great on television but will put you at risk in a real life fight, Krav Maga techniques are based on simple, instinctive movements that you will be able to carry out when you find yourself in the stressful situation of being physically attacked.

Also unlike in traditional martial arts, when you train in Krav Maga you spend your time learning how to defend realistic attacks and and how to counter attack and not on movements that are useless in the real world or on perfecting "forms" like the Kata in karate. Unfortunately, many martial art black belts have found that the skills they have spent years perfecting let them down when attacked by a common thug.

Techniques include strikes using the knees and elbows, kicks (usually to the groin or legs when standing), punches and even headbutts. It's not pretty, but it is brutally effective and may just save your life.

Training in Krav Maga also helps you prepare for the mental aspect of defending yourself against attack. Not only do you train to defend against multiple attackers, you will learn how to defend yourself in a number of everyday situations: how to defend against attacks when seated for example. You will also learn how to defend against various weapons including knives and firearms, and when necessary how to improvise weapons from ordinary items around you such as a chair, for example.

There are no off-limit techniques in Krav Maga, if you are being attacked it is vital you use whatever force necessary to defend your life, or that of your loved ones. However you will also learn how to avoid potentially dangerous situations and how to de-escalate a confrontation, only resorting to a physical level when it is clear your well being is threatened.

Originally developed by Imrich Lichtenfeld for the Israeli military, it's effectiveness in real life conflict has seen Krav Maga techniques adopted by agencies around the world who's members find themselves in dangerous situations on a regular basis. However, it is also growing in popularity with the civilian population, and today men, women and children train in Krav Maga in the knowledge that they are learning an effective, proven form of self defense.

Jiu Jitsu