Krav Maga

Helena will laugh at me for this post.  She thinks I am WAY too into this.

Maybe I am.

My principal, Karl, sent out an e-mail letting the faculty know that Krav Maga Utah would be offering a free four part workshop in self defense to all interested school employees.  I was interested, so decided to go check it out.

Krav Maga is a fighting technique developed by the Israeli Defense Force.  It is more like street fighting than martial arts.  There is more emphasis on overcoming the disadvantage of being on the defensive and ending the fight quickly and victoriously.

On the first day of the workshop, the instructors taught us fighting stance and how to punch and kick.  We partnered up and took turns being the attacker and the defender.  We used hand-held punching bags, called 'tombstones', holding them so we could actually punch and kick each other without any serious damage.

I came away from that first workshop with bruised and aching hands, but I felt really good about it.  I got lucky in my sparring partner.  She was young and willing to fight hard.  I found out at the second workshop just how lucky I had been in my partner on the first day.

At workshop no. 2, I initially partnered up with an older lady who did NOT want to put full energy into kicking and punching.  I was getting frustrated, because I wanted to really practice, not pantomime everything!  Thankfully, I managed to trade partners and got another young woman who wanted to go all out.

At workshop no. 2 we learned how to defend and counter attack against a knife wielding assailant.  After practicing the basics, the instructors handed us rubber knifes and had us take turns attacking each other with them.  The defense is simple and agressive and leaves bruises all over the arms if done properly. So, I am sporting a collection of colorful bruises all over my forearms.  The real key to defense seems to be in focusing your anger at being attacked into agressive action to bring down the assailant as quickly as possible by using every dirty trick you can muster.  Block the knife while bashing in the face, use the moment of surprise to pulse forward and shove the assailant's knife wielding arm behind his back in a very uncomfortable position while kneeing him violently and repeatedly in the crotch.  If all goes well, he'll be bleeding profusely from a broken nose, and doubled over to protect the family jewels... too busy trying to avoid your blows to remember he is even holding a knife.

I admit, I get some grim satisfaction out of that image.

The instructors showed us how to disarm your opponent and said that their rule is that the moment you are able to kill is the moment you should stop.  However, he also said that no one would blame a teacher for following through with the kill, if given the opportunity.

You have to remember, this training is not just so I can protect myself.  They are offering this defensive training to teachers for a reason.

Next week's workshop is about defending against an assailant armed with a gun.

I'm looking forward to it.