Krav Maga, Self-Defence, and Finding a Sense of Purpose in Life 9 Jan 11:54 PM (2 months ago)

Krav Maga, Self-Defence, and Finding a Sense of Purpose in Life

by Joe Ambrosino

Krav Maga is much more than just a self-defence system; for many practitioners, it becomes a journey of personal growth, empowerment, and self-discovery. Beyond the physical techniques and the adrenaline of sparring, Krav Maga often serves as a path toward a deeper sense of purpose in life. The journey of learning self-defence can transform not only how we see ourselves but also how we relate to the world around us. In this article, we’ll explore how Krav Maga and self-defence training can connect individuals to a more profound sense of purpose and meaning.

1. The Drive to Protect and Empower

At its core, Krav Maga is rooted in the instinct to protect ourselves and those we care about. This drive is a fundamental aspect of human nature, and learning self-defence techniques can often awaken a sense of duty and responsibility. For many people, this newfound capability leads to a shift in their mindset—from feeling vulnerable or passive to becoming active protectors in their communities.

When we train in Krav Maga, we develop the skills and confidence to stand up against threats. This empowerment often extends beyond the training room, influencing how we face challenges in our everyday lives. Knowing that we can take action when necessary gives us a sense of control, a sense that we are no longer victims of circumstance but active participants in shaping our reality.

2. Building Resilience and Overcoming Fear

Training in self-defence forces us to confront our fears head-on. Whether it’s the fear of physical confrontation, failure, or self-doubt, Krav Maga provides a structured environment to face these emotions and work through them. As we push through our mental and physical limits, we build resilience—not just on the mat but in life.

Resilience is a key component in finding purpose because it allows us to navigate through life’s difficulties with a sense of determination and confidence. When we learn to deal with fear in Krav Maga, we’re also preparing ourselves to tackle the fears that hold us back from pursuing our true passions or aspirations. The courage developed in the training room becomes a catalyst for living with greater intention and clarity.

3. Fostering a Growth Mindset

One of the most rewarding aspects of Krav Maga is that it encourages a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Every new technique learned, every sparring session, and every small victory reinforces the idea that progress is possible with persistence and practice.

This mindset doesn’t just stay within the boundaries of training; it seeps into other areas of our lives. When we approach challenges with a belief in our ability to grow, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and perspectives. This shift in mentality can lead to a more profound understanding of what truly drives us and what we want to achieve in life.

4. Building a Sense of Community and Belonging

Krav Maga training often fosters a strong sense of community among its practitioners. When we train together, we not only learn how to defend ourselves, but we also build trust, respect, and mutual support with those around us. This sense of belonging is a powerful force that helps shape our sense of purpose.

Being part of a community that values self-improvement and collective growth can motivate us to strive for our own goals while also contributing to the well-being of others. The camaraderie formed in Krav Maga training reminds us that our purpose is not just an individual journey but also about being part of something larger—a shared commitment to personal safety, empowerment, and mutual respect.

5. Self-Defence as a Tool for Social Change

For some, the journey in Krav Maga leads to a desire to use their skills to make a positive impact on society. This could be through teaching self-defence to vulnerable populations, advocating for safety and empowerment in communities, or simply setting an example for others to follow. Krav Maga becomes not just a personal skill but a way to inspire others to take control of their own lives.

Empowering others to defend themselves against aggression and injustice can become a deeply fulfilling mission. It aligns with a broader purpose of contributing to a safer and more resilient society. When our actions lead to a tangible improvement in the lives of others, it gives our own lives a sense of meaning and significance that goes beyond our individual goals.

6. Understanding Self-Worth and Identity

Krav Maga can also be a powerful tool for individuals seeking to reclaim their sense of self-worth. Through disciplined practice and the development of new skills, practitioners begin to see themselves in a new light—as capable, strong, and in control of their own destiny. This transformation in self-perception is a fundamental step toward understanding one’s identity and life purpose.

For those who have experienced trauma, bullying, or any form of disempowerment, Krav Maga offers a path to reclaim their voice and assert their right to exist confidently and securely in the world. This reclamation of self-worth often becomes the foundation upon which people build their life’s purpose, realising that they deserve to live a life free from fear and filled with possibilities.

7. A Lifelong Journey of Learning

The philosophy of Krav Maga teaches us that there is no end to learning. Even the most skilled practitioners continue to train, refine their techniques, and adapt to new challenges. This principle applies to life itself; our journey towards understanding our purpose is never static but constantly evolving.

Krav Maga encourages us to embrace this journey, to remain curious, and to continue seeking knowledge and growth. It teaches that every challenge is an opportunity to learn and every failure is a stepping stone toward mastery. Understanding that our purpose is fluid and can grow with us as we develop as individuals is a powerful lesson that transcends the training room.

Conclusion: Finding Purpose Through Krav Maga

Krav Maga is more than just a self-defence system—it’s a way to connect with our deeper selves, to understand our strengths, face our fears, and cultivate resilience. For many, it becomes a journey of self-discovery that leads to a stronger sense of purpose in life. Whether it’s the drive to protect, the will to empower others, or the desire to be part of a supportive community, Krav Maga offers a pathway to uncovering what truly matters to us.

By embracing the principles of Krav Maga, we open ourselves to a life that is not only more secure but also more meaningful, driven by a clear sense of purpose and the courage to pursue it.

Feeling inspired to take control of your own story? Why not take the next step and join the Institute of Krav Maga UK for a trial class? This is your chance to experience firsthand how Krav Maga can transform not just your self-defence skills, but your mindset and approach to life’s challenges. Step onto the mat, challenge your limits, and discover a community that’s ready to support you on this journey. Sign up for a trial class today and see where Krav Maga can take you!

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Why I’m a Law Enforcement Officer and Krav Maga Student 13 May 2015 5:38 AM (9 years ago)

I have been with the Institute of Krav Maga for around 7 years now. When I started I was employed as a baker and had to walk the mean streets of London during the early hours of the morning to get to work. I would regularly see people fighting or looking for a fight and I realised I kept asking myself the same question “What am I going to do if they try to attack me?”

I found the start of the answer to my question one Saturday Morning in Marylebone all those years ago standing in front of an extremely dangerous, but equally friendly man called Joe…

At the time all I really wanted from Krav Maga was to gain the confidence and ability to have the chance to really ruin the day for any potential attacker. About a year later a change in career made me look at Krav Maga in a completely different angle. I had joined the police and I now needed Krav Maga for more than just “Smash and go”. My Krav Maga had become a very important bit of kit whilst out on patrol. I found myself using its basic principles to keep me safe like “three heads in a row” when stopping people, scanning for threats, watching body language and when necessary the aggressive side of Krav Maga came out and it works!

Joe has asked me to write a blog on Krav Maga from the view of a law enforcer. Unlike 99% of the Krav Maga Law Enforcers you may have been trained by, talked to, read about or watched their dubious Youtube videos I am not part of an elite unit. I have no special forces back ground and my “war” stories usually involve rolling around on the ground trying to get an uncooperative drunk in to hand cuffs, not taking down a bunch of gate crashing terrorists in Nakatomi Plaza.

Since becoming a police officer I have become acutely aware that I am accountable whenever I have had to use force on another person. I have to prove that everything I did was proportionate to the situation, legal, accountable and necessary. When talking to fellow students I often get asked hypothetical questions about being attacked. The two top questions are “when can I hit them” and “Can I use a weapon” short answer to both is “it depends”. You have to be able to justify everything you do.

The law in England and Wales states, in short, a person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances for the purposes of self defence, defence of another, defence of property, prevention of crime and lawful arrest.

If you have ever found yourself in the situation of being attacked or even just the feeling that you are about to be attacked your adrenaline starts to flow, your heart rate is going through the roof and tunnel vision is setting in and the last thing on your mind is statutory definition of Common Law Self Defence and putting that in to practice. The saner persons amongst us are thinking fight or flight!

The basic principle of self defence was set out from case law “It is both good law and good sense that a man who is attacked may defend himself. It is both good law and good sense that he may do, but only do, what is reasonably necessary.” A person can defend themselves from being attacked but they can only use as much force as they honestly believed was necessary in that particular situation. If you are attacked by a drug fuelled psychopath with a weapon then you would justified using a lot of force to defend yourself and to stop the attack if the opportunity to escape was not there but the same use of force to stop an old lady attacking you with her handbag would not be justifiable.

Every violent confrontation will most likely have dozens of variables to the next which why it can be hard to give someone a straight answer to their questions of what they can or cannot do in a violent situation (size/age/health difference, the environment, being unable to escape, having to protect vulnerable people with you, threats they have made to you…. The list goes on and on). You have to be able to justify what you did and why you did it. Here are a few pointers to consider;

You do not have to wait to be attacked. If you honestly feel that a person is going to attack you there and then you can strike first. For instance if someone threatening you is making motion to pull something from a pocket and you honestly believe they are going to pull a weapon or something that can be used as a weapon out to use to attack you you could justify striking them first.

You cannot purposefully carry a weapon with the intention to use it for defending yourself. There are no such things as “Self defence” weapons/tools/gadgets they are weapons. You will be arrested for having/using them. There is however “Instant Arming” this is when you find something immediately next to you or about your person (as long as it is not an actual weapon) and you use it to defend yourself.

If you know you have the opportunity to safely escape the situation you have to take it. If the attacker has been knocked to the floor, you’ve defeated them and they’ve given up you cannot keep striking them. Once you’ve got out of the situation you cannot willingly put yourself back in it.Iif the attacker comes back then obviously you can still defend yourself and you’d be justified to use more force as the attacker is proving they are not willing to give up.

I know this may not have answered a multitude of “what if..” questions but I hope it has made things a bit clearer.

Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon demonstrated one of the best pieces of self defence ever. “The art of fighting without fighting” He basically tricks a bully in to getting in to a small boat so he gets himself out of the situation of fighting the guy. If you can avoid the situation by doing something then do it, pride may be a bitter pill to swallow but it tastes better than hospital/prison food.

Trust in your training. Krav Maga works and if you do have to put it in to practice you will be thanking for all the stress training you once cursed your instructor for putting you through!

Take care of yourselves

Officer F

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Joe Ambrosino Speaks To The Telegraph 5 Feb 2015 3:30 AM (10 years ago)

telegraph

Joe Ambrosino contacted by the Telegraph, read more to see what he had to say…

Bite their ear, thumb in the eye and hair pulling: The best ways to fight off a sex attacker

A young mother helped police convict her sex attacker after she bit off his tongue. Radhika Sanghani finds out the other ways women can fight off unwanted advances – and nab some crucial DNA

“A young woman who was sexually assaulted managed to bit off part of her attacker’s tongue before she escaped.

This meant that she had strong DNA evidence to use against him, and when he committed further offences two months later, it meant he could be convicted of three sexual assaults.

Adele Barber, 29, told ITV’s This Morning that she’d been attacked before, 10 years earlier, and had learnt from her experience.

“After the first assault I was absolutely a mess, I was young and naive and didn’t go to the police straight away and a as a result there wasn’t enough evidence to convict them.

“Again it made me even more determined this time to get the evidence, to show it wasn’t consensual to the police as quick as I can. I was determined this time that no one was going to do this to me again, to make sure that this person gets the treatment that they need.

“The most important thing is to get as much evidence as you can. Obviously in that situation you can’t control what your body does, you can freeze. But you can fight back as much as you can and get to the police as quickly as you can.”

The police commended her for her quick-thinking actions, because what Barber did was amazing considering the horrific situation she was in.

It’s also something that some self-defence experts actually recommend as part of their teaching to women. I’ve spoken to experts who teach different types of self-defence to find out what other tips they recommend for women who are attacked.

1) Stick your fingers in their eyes

Joe Ambrofino, who runs Krav Maga self-defence classes, says that if you’re being attacked at close distance, a useful technique is to stick your fingers in your attacker’s eyes.

He suggests using your thumbs and shoving them straight into the attacker’s eyeballs.

2) Bite their ear off

A self-defence instructor once told me that if you get the opportunity, you can bite down on your attacker’s ear. He then said you can “bite down as hard as possible and shake your head like a dog.”

As with Barber, it could result in you biting off a part of crucial evidence – and it’s guaranteed to cause maximum pain.

3) Scratch as much as you can

David Morrison, head instructor of Reading Women’s Self-Defencegroup, says that he doesn’t actually recommend biting off body parts because it could have an HIV risk.

Instead he says: “We normally advise scratching because you can get the skin under your fingernails, which can be used for DNA, and leave marks.”

Another option is to try and grab their hair. Pulling out chunks of it would also suffice for DNA purposes.

4) Disorientate the attacker

“You want to destroy their will to continue attacking you,” says Morrison. “You can do it just by making the person aware you’re not a vulnerable target.”

To do this he advises fighting back as much as possible. Even if you don’t think you’re physically stronger than your attacker, kicking, punching and scratching could be enough to put them off.

“That will destroy their will. They’ll probably just run away,” says Morrison.

He also says it helps to walk around as confidently as possible. If you look up, and seem alert, it’s less likely an attacker will go for you. But if your head is down, and you look like you won’t kick up a fuss, that makes you more of an attractive target for an attacker.

5) Jab them with a pen

If you’re carrying a phone, or keys, these can all be used as weapons. But Ambrofino also suggests carrying a pen in your hand if you’re nervous walking alone at night.

“Stick it in the side of their neck and face,” he says. “Also now it’s winter time and you’re wearing more clothes, you can use those. If you have a belt, you can swing it in an ‘eight’ figure and hit parts of the body.”

6) Get as much distance between them as you can

“You need to try and get distance from the attacker,” says Ambrofino. “Use your legs to kick him in the groin, in his knees. From medium distance you can use your hands.”

When you get closer, that’s when you can resort to biting/scratching/sticking fingers in the eyes .But the idea is to try and keep them as far away as possible.

But Morrison also warns against kicking them in the groin in case you miss as “it could make them more angry than anything.”

So only go for the groin if you know you’ll hit your target, or if you’ve had any training.”

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Self Defence EVERY Woman Should Know 17 Jul 2014 7:21 AM (10 years ago)

We recently spoke to sofeminine.co.uk to give advice on self defence techniques all women should know, enable you to defend yourself, WHATEVER the situation.

Check out the full article…. And Learn more about our Krav Maga classes for Women.

Self Defence For Women

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Awareness and Self Defence 22 Mar 2014 12:30 AM (11 years ago)

I spotted this article online a while back, it is especially relevant if you are training or thinking about training in Krav Maga.

Be Aware and learn how to detect trouble.

CRIME comes in many forms and disguises. Know that murderers, rapists, robbers and other predatory rascals don’t look any different from “normal” people.

However, the good news is that they can be recognised by their behaviour. If you know what to look for, you can recognise a problem as it unfolds and stay one step ahead of criminal attacks. That is the goal of awareness.

Human predators don’t just leap at the first person that comes along. There is an evaluation process that occurs where they deliberately or unconsciously assess the “victim”. In doing so, they project their intentions by watching, following and even “testing” you. If you understand this process you will spot predatory intent before an assault is initiated. Realise that knowing what clues to look for will allow you to anticipate and respond effectively to a potential confrontation.

Awareness is the ability to “read” people and situations and anticipate the probability of violence before it happens. It is knowing what to look for and taking time to notice safety-related aspects of what is happening around you.

Awareness is not about being fearful or paranoid. It is a relaxed state of alertness that you can incorporate into your character. It is neither desirable, nor necessary, to go about life hectically scanning your surroundings for the criminal around every corner.

Your level of awareness should be appropriate to the circumstances you are in. Some circumstances call for a greater degree of awareness than others. Obviously, you would want to be more aware when walking alone to your car at night than when shopping with friends.

The sooner you detect and recognise a threat, the more options you have to respond to it. Imagine a timeline spanning from the time a predator forms the intent to commit a violent crime and the moment he initiates it upon you. The time it takes you to detect, recognise and respond, impacts how successful your actions are likely to be. The sooner you act, the more flexible and deliberate you can be in avoiding, escaping or responding to the situation. Awareness strategies focus primarily on the “pre-incident” phase of the encounter; to the signals you can detect and recognise that allow you to anticipate the event before it occurs.

There are three primary aspects of awareness: knowing what to pay attention to, paying attention to safety-related details and matching the degree of your awareness to your circumstances. You need to pay attention to the “right things” (people watching or following us, potential ambush places, escape routes, etc) at the “right time”.

Remember the following:

– Your ability to recognise a dangerous person or situation makes you safer.

– Awareness involves knowing what to look for and disciplining yourself to pay attention.

– The earlier you detect and recognise a potential problem, the more options you have to resolve it.

– Attention involves adjusting your conscious focus toward what is relevant to a particular situation.

Have you ever heard of the, “I-never-thought-it-would-happen-to-me phenomenon?” Until you acknowledge, “it could happen to you,” pre-incident clues may not register as important or relevant enough to notice. They will go undetected. Unless you acknowledge a need to be aware, you simply won’t be. A predator’s primary targets are people who are unaware of their surroundings and are lax about personal safety. One of the best, most proactive, things you can do to reduce the probability of being victimised is to improve your awareness skills.

Here are some examples of activities and exercises that will improve your awareness:

Accept full responsibility for your safety. Unless you take full responsibility for your safety and make it a priority, you are less likely to detect and recognise danger clues.

Identify situations in your own life requiring a higher level of vigilance. You can’t be totally aware all of the time, nor do you have to be. Identify times and situations in your own life where a higher degree of vigilance is merited.

Build and refine your self-defence awareness by continuous learning. If personal safety is important to you, read books/articles about it, take self-defence courses, etc. Periodically review what you know and continuously build on what you’ve learned.

Analyse the news. Analyse news events to familiarise yourself with criminal patterns and factors, which contribute to violent crimes. Apply the questions who, what, when, where, why and how to these incidents.

Practise observations skills. Pre-determine specific things to look for as you go about your day-to-day activities. For example, when going shopping make a “game” of spotting as many tall men with a moustache as you can. Next time look for something else. Consider the fact that “playing” awareness games makes you appear more watchful to a predator who may be evaluating you as a potential target.

Establish self-defence habits. The truth of the matter is that you never know when you may be targeted as a potential victim. Assaults happen at all times of the day and in all types of setting and situations. The only effective self-defence strategies are those that you build into your day-to-day behaviour. They become unconscious habits by repetition and consistency.

Lastly, it is a fact that many people confuse the ability to defend themselves with the ability to fight. If your image of successful self-defence is fighting off an assailant, your solution will be directed at learning physical techniques. You would then be missing the point. Success in self-defence is not winning a fight but avoiding it. The ultimate success in self-defence is when nothing happens! If that’s not possible, consider this philosophy: If you can’t prevent it, avoid it. If you can’t avoid it, defuse it. If you can’t defuse it, escape. If you can’t escape, you may have to fight your way out of the situation. If you do have to fight, it will be as a last resort, not a first. Does this philosophy influence your success strategies?

Stay safe!

Joe

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Pre Grading Gallery 26 Feb 2014 5:18 AM (11 years ago)

Photos from the Krav Maga Pre Grading Workshop on 23.02.14

Our Institute Krav Maga UK instructor team guiding students in Krav Maga training ready for the upcoming National Gradings in London.

[AFG_gallery id=’1′]

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A students view of the pre grading 24 Feb 2014 4:16 AM (11 years ago)

Institute Krav Maga Pre Grading Team Photo

Group photo of the Krav Maga Pre Grading workshop in Harlow

Hello I’m Mark, Joe asked me to write a little bit for the blog about yesterdays Pre Grading event. Firstly a bit of background, I’ve trained with the Institute Krav Maga UK since classes started in Hertfordshire.

Somehow I’ve managed to miss all the pre gradings so far. Which is a shame and not just because that is 4 missed opportunities for a trip to the sunny paradise that is Harlow. But mostly because having experienced yesterday it would of made the last 4 gradings much easier.

The training started with a big mixed warm up led by Joe, the good old touching heads and knees game is pretty entertaining with 100 odd people. More warming up including some running on the spot getting faster and faster. Interestingly Joe seems to be able to make everyone else up their speed to a sprint without ever really changing his. Once everyone was glowing a bit we separated into 5 groups.

This is probably the best bit of the pre grading, getting the opportunity to train for 4 hours is good anyway but better when you have one instructor for each grading group. Better still when you think there were 3 Expert level instructors in the room.

Joe worked with us on the P5 sylabus but also refreshed us on some of the techniques the lead up to it. Having that much time to concentrate on things you are likely to be tested on next month was great. At the end of a bruising 4 hours the feedback we got was invaluable. I’m sure everyone who was there yesterday will have a refreshed focus on the techniques they want to improve this month.

So basically a great day, I know certainly in the P5 corner we had a lot of fun.

I’d kick myself for missing the other pre gradings but luckily my training partners kicked me enough yesterday that I’ll not worry about that!

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Krav Maga Touring and Training in Israel: The Institute Experience, Days 5,6,7 & 8 25 May 2013 12:30 PM (11 years ago)

Krav Maga Touring and Training in Israel: The Institute Experience, Days 5, 6, 7 & 8

Hi Everyone,

Apologies for the ‘radio silence’ we have been touring and training all around Israel, the days have been long and intense but very enjoyable and getting the time to sit down and write each blog and get it online has been challenging, we we’ve clubbed together to update you on the last few days as the event comes to a close.

Day 5 – By James Worker

Day 5 of the Touring and Training trip was packed full of action. We set off at 4:30am and climbed Mount Masada, beginning 200 metres below sea level and finishing 300 metres above sea level. The IKM UK Team led from the front and reached the summit in perfect time to watch the sun rise. Institute Director Jon Bullock arrived a few minutes later, conserving his energy 🙂 to teach an excellent gun threat defense session on top of the mountain. It was an amazing place to train, given that many battles have taken place in this region in the past, including an invasion by the Romans!

After a cable car journey back down and a huge breakfast, we set off for the Dead Sea. Our tour guide Avi suggested we should cover ourselves in mud from the sea bed, which is full of minerals, and let it dry in the sun before dipping into the water. It was a slightly surreal but enjoyable experience floating around on the surface of the sea.

Later in the day we had another training session with Jon, this time on defenses against knife attacks and chokes. The whole group have been training hard and getting along well on the touring part of the trip, there’s a real mix of personalities from around the world which is making it a really great experience.

Krav Maga Global hosted dinner at a local restaurant and the team made the most of the delicious food. We went for a late evening swim (and took a few turns on the water slide) before relaxing in another thermal spa and returning to the hotel for a well-earned rest. Cheers, James Worker – London Member

Day 6 – By Daniel Agoston

As every day a different person is writing about the T&T program, here goes a little about myself.

My name is Daniel Agoston, I’m from Brazil but I have been living in London for the past 7 years or so. I first came into contact (a little bit) with Krav Maga when I was serving my Country in the Brazilian Army, as it was one of the hand-to-hand combat styles they were teaching at the time. I have been a member of the Institute of Krav Maga UK since July 2012, and obviously everything I know about the system is thanks to IKM UK, the top quality instruction and the events like the MasterClasses. It was because of all of this, and the effort that the IKM team puts into to training the system, that really inspired me to carry on training. I have always had a passion for Israel and its history, so the next natural step would of course be to train with the source and also experience the culture. That is why I signed up for Touring and Training.

But that’s enough about me. Let’s crack on with day 6, which was a packed day full of…. you guessed! Touring and Training in Israel!

At 0900, we traveled to the Golan Heights. We learnt about the 6-day war in 1973 and the battle for the Golan Heights, between Israel and Syria from Avi Weinstein our amazing tour guide! We visited a military bunker (deactivated, at least for now!), which looked over the Syrian border; while gaining an insight of how troops were positioned throughout the battle.

After the tour, we began the training session in front of the bunker, as usual! Jon Bullock (Expert Level 2) led us through an intense training session of defending against headlocks and self-defense with sticks. Back on the Krav Bus, and already en route to the Jordan River Valley for some mental training and relaxation… refreshing our-selves from the intense Israeli heat!

After some well deserved refreshment, more training ensued, courtesy of Jon B, training defense against multiple attackers and returning attackers armed with guns, knives and sticks. After a very intense day, we were taken to a Bedouin tent. It belonged to Zeehan and his lovely family, who warmly welcomed us. Mr. Zeehan told us about the Bedouin way of life and traditions. We were served with some traditional, and very delicious food and drink. He even played a! It was a really really great experience and I believe we all enjoyed it! We headed back to the hotel for some sleep after a day packed with action!

Shalom from Israel

Stay safe, Daniel

Day 7 – By John Vincent

To point out the high lights on this day requires a re cap of the antics of the night before

It can be confirmed that tequila tastes the same in Israel as it does in London, the same for vodka and it goes without saying that the local beer, Goldstar, is excellent also. So after confirming all the above and rolling into the hotel room at 3am I set my alarm for 6am.

This morning we conducted water training in a nearby swimming pool. This involved one of the simplest and yet effective moves in breaking the grip of an attacker grabbing hold of you. It may not be a dynamic move as that of Jason Bourne with the razzmatazz of a Hollywood blockbuster, but it was a relevant move breaking you away from the attack and as the saying goes ‘keep it simple stupid’.

We headed towards the Lebanon and Israeli border for another photo opportunity. Then bus training. The most important point about self defence on a bus is to have a strong grip on something. As when the bus brakes there’s only one direction you go in, it ain’t pretty and the driver doesn’t like a human pyramid dirtying the floor of his bus beside his seat.

We then headed to the crusader city of Akko. This was the last tour we had with our guide who then departed from us. Avi, our guide, was passionate about his country and held a wealth of knowledge he wished to impart to us all. An all round great bloke! We then finished our day in Haifa. Training in a pub…….A real pub…….A pub with several impressionable American tourist having a birthday party……. A pub with bar staff, with one certain individual from the tour, who shall remain nameless, actually buying pint of Guinness during training – for added realism obviously!

After training, Nithin from the Institute, who lost a dance off with Alex (An american participant on the course), was witnessed telling grossly exaggerated stories of his exploits in the field of Krav Maga to our American friends celebrating the birthday. He then offered to share his wisdom with Eyal’s daughter. She accepted this invitation with the graceful contempt that it deserved, and then let rip with a torrent of blows that could only be described by the American saying as, ‘she opened up a can of whoop ass.’ Much to everyone’s delight and amusement. Cheers, John.

Day 8 – By John Shepherd

Shalom

My name is Jon shepherd and I’ve been keen to do Krav Maga for a while. I’m currently serving in the 3rd battalion the parachute regiment. I have recently represented my battalion in boxing and was a member of the team. We trained three times a day, five times a week, for the last 8 months.

I jumped at the opportunity to come on the tour and training in Israel and I have not been disappointed as I had high expectations and it exceeded them.

After last nights training session in a local bar, with locals watching while eating and drinking, which added realism. We learnt how to use common objects found in the bar and learnt how to take control of situations, while dealing with limitations such as restricted space using. The realism of the bar continued as a few drinks were swiftly countered!

Feeling a little worse for wear after a few too many and rolling in at 04.30, we were up to train a few hours later. The group went to a local park close to the hotel to train in stick defence which was really effective after a few repetitions. Once we got the basics, the group was split into two; with one half slow fighting before running the gauntlet of the other half of the group armed with sticks. Singularly, we manoeuvred through multiple opponents either thrusting the weapon or swinging it, using the techniques learnt earlier in the session to work your way through the on coming attackers. It gets you thinking and really puts what you’ve learnt to the test so when it comes to it it will actually be effective on the street.

The week has been action packed but has gone at a good steady pace. As I said we are on the way to tel aviv one of the best beaches in the world! We’ve had free time during the tour and train but today we have the rest of the day off to enjoy the beautiful Israeli weather.

Now I have the time, as soon as I get the opportunity when I return to the U.K I will be joining the Institute of Krav Maga UK and cannot wait. Thanks, hope to meet you all soon, John.

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Krav Maga Touring and Training in Israel: The Institute Experience, Day 4 22 May 2013 9:45 PM (11 years ago)

Krav Maga Touring and Training in Israel: The Institute Experience, Day 4.

Apologies that this post is slightly late, we have been ‘on the road’ for a couple of days.

This past Monday saw our first full day of touring. Make no mistake about it though, this was not a break. The end of the day saw each and every member successfully exhausted.

First stop was “Yad Vashem”, the holocaust memorial and museum . The trip there was intense and provoked deep contemplation.

Next we took advantage of some free time in “Machanee Yehuda” (a Jewish food market) in the Old City to, reboot, refuel, and to test out our skills haggling with the local market traders. In the event of being drawn into a situation where it was impossible to flee, swift deflections coupled with immediate counters got the job done.

There was no stopping us as we descended to explore the tunnels beneath David’s City. The route was pitch dark, confined of space and the water ran waist deep.

The Dutch member of our team took it upon himself to hide in the darkness and jump out on various Institute of Krav Maga UK members, each and every one of whom, I am happy to report back, responded with no more than the appropriate level of aggression under, quite frankly, a high level of stress.

Following our ascent, we regrouped, redressed and refocused ourselves for the chance to experience a more personal moment at the Western Wall, located at the foot of the Western side of the Temple Mount.

The day was nearly over, save for an unexpected run-in with a camel as we made our way South. The camel was mounted a few times, but his releases, with somewhat exemplary bridging, were phenomenal.

Night saw the team head South and into the dessert. Arriving at the Guest House, we scoffed some hot dogs, nachos and beers and then it was straight to bed, intensely excited about the prospect of getting up at 4am to primal move our way up the Masada mountain, kettlebells in hand 🙂 Cheers, Alistair Phillip

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Krav Maga Touring and Training in Israel: The Institute Experience,Day 3 20 May 2013 10:51 AM (11 years ago)

Krav Maga Touring and Training in Israel: The Institute Experience, Day 3 By Steve Harvey

Day 3 of our Krav Maga pilgrimage that is the “Touring and Training” started earlier than normal. This was due to the rather busy schedule of the day.

We all assembled in the hotel foyer for 0740 in anticipation of the visit to the Netanya shooting range. Due to numbers we were split into three groups that rotated between continuing practice of defense against handgun threats with Institute Director Jon Bullock, headlock defenses with KMG Head Instructor Eyal Yanilov and the experience of firing a handgun in the shooting range in Netanya.

After a speedy checkout of the hotel we met Avi Weinstein who will be our guide around Israel for the remainder of our trip and we embarked on our journey to Jerusalem. I’m sure more will be said about Avi throughout the blog but this guy knows Israel like the back of his hand.

Our first stop in Jerusalem was to Mount Scopus, where Avi pointed out a number of landmarks including Mount Olive, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and The Rock Mosque. Here we also toasted our arrival to Jerusalem with a ‘small’ glass of wine. We then descended to the Old City and had a short tour with Avi through The Armenian Quarter, The Christian Quarter and The Jewish Quarter, arriving upon the rooftops where these intersect with The Muslim Quarter. We continued our tour to The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and subsequent resurrection. I struggle to find the words to describe the feeling of being in The Church however I am sure you can grasp the gravity of its symbolism to a number of religions and millions of people.

To round off an action packed day, as the light disappeared, we trained some knife threats with KMG Expert Level 2 Albert Kagalski, in front of the walls of The Old City before some much needed dinner in Jerusalem. More tomorrow from one of the other guys, cheers, Steve.

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