Posted on 08/28/2013 1:29:06 PM PDT by A Navy Vet
I have a question for all the martial arts types here.
Is Krav Maga all it's cracked to be? As far as I can research it is about horrific and deadly force against an attacker without years of training in Karate, Kung-Fu, Ju-jitsu and other disciplines.
As I walk on my treadmill and work weights, I am in better shape that most in their 50's, maybe even 40's.
I don't want to go through endless hours of training for Karate, Kung-fu, Akido, nor any of those marital arts. I just want to learn to do simple moves to cause the worst damage to attacker, quick and simple. I have read that Krav Maga is the answer.
My bona fides are of a club bouncer and taking some unruly dipshit by the throat and escorting him outside. They would quickly settle down. I understand that Krav Maga has the same simple approach in hitting or sqeezing vital areas. Am I wrong? I would appreciate any input, since I'm thinking about enrolling in the local class.
Krav Maga is all about fighting off multiple attackers at the same time. Using whatever tools you have. To make space and ultimately get away from the dangerous situation.
Think all the gangs of amish attacking individuals in the news lately.
Maybe you need to move out of CA?
i blame the jews for krav maga
That’s my bet. Get a gun, or get gone.
I’d also like to see some answers on this subject. Any former (or current) IDFers out there willing to take on the question? Thanks in advance.
At 63, this in not your normal option.
No experience whatever with Crav Maga. Just remember you have TWO ELBOWS.
And the heel of your hand is better than your fist, because of the vulnerability of fingers.
At age 55 I took a bone density test and discovered I had osteopenia. Within months I had broken two toes. You may find that you can’t hit anybody for fear of breaking your own bones. I took Fosamax for several years and extra calcium and got my bone density close to normal. But there are side effects.
Believe me, I’m in good shape for my age. Hardly a day goes by that somebody doesn’t comment on the bulging arms or six pack. (Okay, mostly it’s me who comments, but I am well developed and have a flat stomach.) But it would be crazy to hit somebody hard point to hard point. If you must go with martial arts, stick with Judo.
The point is, you need a weapon. Go talk to a martial arts person and get a recommendation for something you can carry. Two heavy sticks with a short string. (Get good with them.)
I do have what is called a Knuckle Blaster (http://www.amazon.com/Knuckle-Blaster-Stun-Gun/dp/B008S8HCAC, but again, the crazies can ignore since it is lower voltage that a police style tazer, and you have to be up close and get wind up getting shocked yourself if not carefull.
As I mention above, ff you strongly grab a person by the adams apple, in my experience they quickly become docile. Krav Maga has many other pressure points. Yes, I know some incapacitate and others outright kill. I seriously don't care which in this day and my and my wife's age.
Don't have time to pull a gun (which I can't carry legally), or pull out pepper spray or a small hand held tazer. What do you do? I'm thinking throat grab; kick to the groin; step on their instep; bring your flatten hand upside their armpit, etc.
I’m armed with a handgun. Regardless of the laws of the State I happen to be in. No, I don’t have a CCW. No, I don’t care what you or anybody else thinks or feels about it.
WTF is that supposed to mean?
I like Abir martial arts, too.
English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F9RWiu-Vik
Hebrew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2aGALQqmEc
Krav Maga on Human Weapon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4x_mucNG2Q
When I was 57 I took a year of Krav Maga instruction (2-3 times per week). I was usually, but not always, the oldest guy there. However, I learned techniques that can be a life saver. Krav Maga is very demanding. We were usually sweating thru all clothes by the end of the hour. Krav is systematized street fighting. The object is to disable your opponent(s) in the first 1-3 seconds of a street assault. It also teaches some good disarming techniques.
Well worth your time. There are some related programs. Krav Maga is a copy-righted trademark. Locally, the spinoffs might have any name.
My karate instructor thinks it’s good. There are many vids on YouTube to give you a taste.
Ok, lets go back to the basics and work up from there. In ANY conflict, person on person to army on army, there are 5 things that will determine the winner.
Speed
Strength
Stamina
Skill
Spirit
Any martial art will advance those five things, be it Karate, Judo, whatever. So taking a martial art is good. The question becomes, what are your advantages. Are you a huge hulk of a person so that strength is a natural advantage for you? Are you perhaps a smaller person but quick on your feet so that speed is your advantage? Just as people come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, so do martial arts styles. Also understand that asking which martial art is best is likely to cause a flame war. So here are some of my personal observations.
I have used Shaolin Chin-Na techniques to take a bruiser’s hands off of my throat and pin him to the wall. I have used a lunge move from saber fensing to knock the wind out of someone to end an fight before it started. I have also gotten my head handed to me from a standard boxer and have been pinned by a wrestler. Believe me, there is a lot more to a fight than just what you know
Offense vs Defense -
What is your spirit (mindset)? Beat the crap out of the guy or keep from getting hurt. I find offensive spirits tend to gravitate towards hard styles. Defensive spirits to control styles such as Akido, ju-jitsu etc.
At 65 you are getting on in years. Not trying to insult but just observing fact here. Your body does not heal as quickly. You can’t take the punch that you used to. Your strength and speed are going to start slowing down if they have not already. With all of that in mind, I would consider softer more controling styles.
Krav Maga to me is more combat and less control. My observation would be yeah, you probably could do well with it for the next few years. How about when you are 70? 75? At some point, you are going to have to change the approach and thus, the skill set.
So, perhaps a combination of study? Krav Maga or Wing Chun or Pa Qua for now. Add to that some occasional classes in Hapkido or Akido or Chin-Na. Having more than one tool is also useful at keeping yourself out of jail. Not all situations call for breaking the guy’s collar bone.
Exactly, and at my older age while in some what shape, I want those tools, even if not hard tools. So do you think it's worth pursueing?
Its all nuts and eye gouging.
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