Krav Maga
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox martial art
Krav Maga (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; Template:Langx, Template:IPA; Template:Literal translation) is an Israeli self-defence system. Developed for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="auto1">Template:Cite book</ref> it uses techniques derived from aikido, boxing, judo, karate and wrestling.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is known for its focus on real-world situations.<ref name="kravmagaguild"/>
Krav Maga was originally developed by Hungarian-born Israeli martial artist Imi Lichtenfeld. Having grown up in Bratislava during a time of anti-Semitic unrest, Lichtenfeld used his training as a boxer and wrestler to defend Jewish neighborhoods against attackers in the mid-to-late 1930s, becoming an experienced street fighter.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After his immigration to Mandatory Palestine in the late 1940s, he began to provide lessons on combat training to Jewish paramilitary groups that would later form the IDF during the 1948 Palestine war. As an instructor, he compiled his knowledge and experience into the combat system that would later become known as Krav Maga. This system would continue to be taught long after he left the IDF.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
From the outset, the original concept of Krav Maga was to take the most effective and practical techniques of other fighting styles (originally European boxing, wrestling, and street fighting) and make them rapidly teachable to conscripted soldiers.<ref name="bb02">Inside Israel, Nov 2002, Vol. 40, No. 11, p. 68 Black Belt Magazine, Active Interest Media</ref> It has a philosophy emphasizing aggression<ref>Black Belt Magazine, July 2000, Vol. 38, No. 7, p. 37 Krav Maga’s Top 10, Active Interest Media</ref> and simultaneous defensive and offensive manoeuvres.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It has been used by Israeli special forces and regular infantry units alike.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Closely related variations have been developed and adopted by Israeli law enforcement and intelligence organizations, and there are several organizations teaching variations of Krav Maga internationally.<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite news</ref> There are two forms of Krav Maga, with one type adapted for Israeli security forces and the other type adapted for civilian use.<ref name="auto2"/>
Etymology
[edit]The term krav maga in Hebrew is literally translated as 'contact combat' – the three letter root of the first word is q-r-v (Template:Lang), and the noun derived from this root means either "combat" or "battle",<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="auto3">Template:Cite book</ref> while the second word is a participle form derived from the verb root m-g-‘ (Template:Lang), that literally means either "contact" or "touch".<ref name="auto3"/><ref name=":0" />
Basic principles
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Like most martial arts, Krav Maga encourages students to avoid physical confrontation.<ref name="kravmagaguild">Template:Cite news</ref> If this is impossible or unsafe, it promotes finishing a fight as quickly and aggressively as possible. Attacks are aimed at the most vulnerable parts of the body, and training is not limited to techniques that avoid severe injury; some even permanently injure or kill the opponent.
Students learn to defend against all variety of attacks and are taught to counter in the quickest and most efficient way.
Ideas in Krav Maga include:<ref name="telegraph">Template:Cite news</ref>
- Simultaneous defense and attack.
- Developing physical aggression (not to be confused with emotional aggression or anger), with the view that physical aggression is the most important component in a fight<ref>Black Belt, July 2000, Vol. 38, No. 7, p. 37 Krav Maga’s Top 10, Active interest Media</ref>
- Continuing to strike the opponent until they are completely incapacitated<ref>Black Belt, July 2000, Vol. 38, No. 7, p. 35</ref>
- Attacking preemptively or counterattacking as soon as possible
- Using any objects at hand that could be used to hit an opponent<ref name="auto">Black Belt, July 2000, Vol. 38, No. 7, p. 37</ref>
- Targeting attacks to the body's most vulnerable points, such as the eyes, neck or throat, face, solar plexus, groin, ribs, knee, foot, fingers, liver, etc.
- Using simple and easily repeatable strikes<ref name="auto"/>
- Maintaining awareness of surroundings while dealing with the threat in order to look for escape routes, further attackers, or objects that could be used to strike an opponent
- Developing muscle memory for quicker fighting reaction
- Recognizing the importance of and expanding on instinctive response under stress<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Training can also cover the study and development of situational awareness to develop an understanding of one's surroundings, learning to understand the psychology of a street confrontation, and identifying potential threats before an attack occurs. It may also cover physical and verbal methods to avoid violence whenever possible. It also teaches mental toughness, using controlled scenarios to strengthen mental fortitude in order for students to control the impulse and not do something rash, but instead attack only when necessary and as a last resort.
Techniques
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Some of the key focuses of techniques<ref name="List of Krav Maga Techniques (Beginner & Advanced)">Template:Cite web</ref> in Krav Maga are—as described above—effectiveness and instinctive response under stress. To that end, Krav Maga is an eclectic system that has not sought to replace existing effective techniques, taking what is useful from available systems, for example:<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Strikes – as per karate and boxing
- Takedowns and throws – as per judo, aikido and wrestling
- Ground work – as per judo and wrestling
- Escapes from chokes and holds – as per judo, aikido and wrestling
- Empty-hand weapon defenses – as per aikido
Since the early 21st century, a number of Krav Maga schools have introduced technical influences from other arts as well. These include Brazilian jiu-jitsu,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Arnis/Kali/Escrima and Silat. This reflects Krav Maga's attitude, across a multitude of lineages, as an ever-evolving style, which continues to borrow ideas and methods from other martial arts.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
History
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Imre "Imi" Lichtenfeld (also known as Imi S'de-Or) was born in 1910 in Budapest, Austro-Hungary to a Jewish family and grew up in Pozsony, today's Bratislava (Slovakia). Lichtenfeld became active in a wide range of sports, including gymnastics, wrestling, and boxing.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1928, Lichtenfeld won the Slovak Youth Wrestling Championship, and in 1929 the adult championship (light and middle weight divisions).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, he also won the national boxing championship and an international gymnastics championship. During the ensuing decade, Lichtenfeld's athletic activities focused mainly on wrestling, both as a contestant and a trainer.Template:Citation needed
In the mid-1930s, anti-Semitic riots began to threaten the Jews of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. Lichtenfeld became the leader of a group of Jewish boxers and wrestlers who took to the streets to defend Jewish neighborhoods against the growing numbers of anti-Semitic Nazis.<ref>Krav Maga Luxembourg</ref> Lichtenfeld quickly discovered, however, that actual fighting was very different from competition fighting, and although boxing and wrestling were good sports, they were not always practical for the aggressive and brutal nature of street combat. It was then that he started to re-evaluate his ideas about fighting and started developing the skills and techniques that would eventually become Krav Maga. Having become a thorn in the side of the equally anti-Semitic local authorities, in 1940 Lichtenfeld left his home with his family and friends on the last refugee ship to escape Europe.Template:Citation needed
After making his way to Mandatory Palestine, Lichtenfeld joined the Haganah paramilitary organization.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1944 Lichtenfeld began training fighters in his areas of expertise: physical fitness, swimming, wrestling, use of the knife, and defense against knife attacks. During this period, Lichtenfeld trained several elite units of the Haganah, including the Palmach (striking force of the Haganah and forerunner of the special units of the Israel Defense Forces) and the Palyam, as well as groups of police officers.Template:Citation needed
In 1948, when the State of Israel was founded and the IDF was formed, Lichtenfeld became Chief Instructor for Physical Fitness and Krav Maga at the IDF School of Combat Fitness.<ref>International Krav Maga Federation</ref> He served in the IDF for about 20 years, during which time he developed and refined his unique method for self-defense and hand-to-hand combat.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Self-defense was not a new concept, since nearly all martial arts had developed some form of defensive techniques in their quest for tournament or sport dominance. However, self-defense was based strictly upon the scientific and dynamic principles of the human body. In 1965 judo training was added as part of the Krav Maga training. Until 1968 there were no grades in Krav Maga. Then a trainee's grades were determined largely by his knowledge in judo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="traditionalkravmaga_154">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1968, Eli Avikzar, one of Lichtenfeld's principal students and first black belt,<ref name="what-is-k-a-m-i">Template:Cite web</ref> began learning aikido. In 1971 Eli left for France, where he received a black belt in aikido.<ref name="The Krav Maga Expert">Template:Cite book</ref> Upon his return, Avikzar started working as an instructor alongside Imi to integrate more traditional martial arts into Krav Maga.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Then in 1974 Imre retired and gave Eli Avikzar control over the Krav Maga training center in Netanya.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Shortly after, in 1976, Avikzar joined the permanent force of IDF, as head of the Krav Maga section. The role of Krav Maga in the army advanced greatly after Eli's appointment. More courses were given, and every P.E. instructor was obliged to learn Krav Maga. Avikzar continued to develop Krav Maga within the IDF until his retirement in 1987. Up to this date, Eli had trained 80,000 male soldiers and 12,000 female soldiers.<ref name="what-is-k-a-m-i"/>
Further pursuing excellence as a student of martial arts, Eli went to Germany in 1977 and received a black belt in aikido from the European Federation.<ref name="wincol.ac.il"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1978 the Krav Maga association was established, and in 1989, as an active member of the judo association, Eli Avikzar helped to contribute to the general development of professional and rank committees within the larger Krav Maga community by founding the Israeli Krav Magen Association (KAMI).<ref name="wincol.ac.il"/><ref> Template:Cite web</ref> KAMI is a parallel discipline to the original Krav Maga. Eli retired as the Chief Krav Maga instructor in 1987 and Boaz Aviram became the third person to hold the position, being the last head instructor to have studied directly with both Lichtenfeld and Avikzar.<ref name="traditionalkravmaga_154"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Israel Defense Forces
[edit]The IDF offers a five-week Krav Maga instructor course.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It has held an annual Krav Maga competition since May 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Civilian use
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Upon Imi Lichtenfeld's retirement from the IDF, he decided to open a school and teach Krav Maga to civilians.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The first Krav Maga course took place at the Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel, in 1971, under his direct supervision.<ref>Krav Maga Practical Instructors Course May 2014 23 January 2014 Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Grading system
[edit]Most of the Krav Maga organizations in Israel use Imi Lichtenfeld's colored belt grading system which is based upon the Judo ranking system. It starts with white belt, and then yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black belts. Black belt students can move up the ranks from 1st to 9th Dan. The time and requirements for advancing have some differences between the organizations.
Other organizations that teach Krav Maga in and outside of Israel use similar grading systems.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
A patch system was developed by Eyal Yanilov in the late 1980s. The grades are divided into three main categories: Practitioner, Graduate and Expert. Each of the categories, which are often abbreviated to their initials, has five ranks. Grades P1 through to P5 are the student levels and make up the majority of the Krav Maga community.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After P5 are G1–G5, and in order to achieve Graduate level the student has to demonstrate a proficiency in all of the P level techniques before advancing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Although there are some subtle differences, the various organizations teach the same core techniques and principles.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some other organizations have less formal grading ranks without belts or patches but do have levels by which students can monitor their progress.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sparring
[edit]In some organizations, sparring is slow and light until the student reaches G2 level. This takes approximately four to six years because rising one level in the Practitioner and Graduate categories takes at minimum half a year of consistent training. It is, however, more common to observe regular trainees grading only once a year from P3 and up.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Once in G2, students also practice simulated "real" fighting with protective gear.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
[edit]- Close-quarters combat
- Combatives
- Defendu
- Jieitaikakutōjutsu
- Marine Corps Martial Arts Program
- Sambo (martial art)