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
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.
No experience whatever with Crav Maga. Just remember you have TWO ELBOWS.
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.
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.
Its all nuts and eye gouging.
Similar background, although I am younger. Used to be a club bouncer, and took different martial arts from the age of 4, including judo, boxing and traditional karate to black belt level. I enjoyed Krav Maga training the most, no forms or endless yelling and stretching. I did it for about 4 years in my mid 30’s and wish I knew some of the techniques when I was working the door. It is effective and the focus is to do enough damage to allow you enough time to escape or until help comes, or put an attacker down and out if escape is impossible. I teach my kids the techniques from KM, not from any of the other martial arts.
As with any martial art, seek out a good instructor that has walked the walk, not some paper tiger.
I would suggest combining that with some of Hoch Hockheims type knife and stick fighting to have a pretty complete non-gun self protection training set.
What to look out for:
1) Check out the credentials of your teacher. When Krav Maga became popular in the West in the 90s there are a lot of Karate teachers who started calling what they do Krav Maga ....when it is really a mix of some Karate, some MMA, and lots of cardio. That's not what you are looking for.
2) Attend one or two free lessons. The teacher should allow you to sit in for a class or two. If you have to pay before you see what's on offer ....walk.
3) You know yourself and your abilities. If the teacher and the class are demonstrating techniques that you know your body cannot do, walk!!!! Krav Maga is a relatively simple style ...it uses direct gross motor skills directed towards points of vulnerability like eyes and the throat. Any kicks are not higher than to the opponent's knee. Aggressiveness. If you see moves that involve high kicks, or complicated fine motor skill movements, walk!!!! You'll NOT be able to execute a fancy technique when under attack with surprise on the opponent's side and adrenalin pumping through your system. If it is complex it is not Krav Maga.
4) The teacher should be able to teach you simple direct techniques suited to your age. If he teaches you a move only a 19 year old gymnast can do, thank him for his time and walk.
5) Finally, a good Krav Maga teacher should spend a lot of time discussing situational awareness. That is orobably the most important skill ....noticing things. Without proper situational awareness even carrying a gun is mostly useless. Remaining aware of your environment is.important.
With that Krav Maga, and a number of other reality based self defense/offense systems, would be helpful. Even if you carry a gun. Stay away from traditional martial arts (they take time to develop real fighting skill), stay away from anything that looks flashy, stay away from anything that you feel is 'off.'
One tiny plea from a guy who used to be a Moo Duk Kwan instructor - don’t use this to “get back into shape”. You’ll get injured. Be in shape before you begin. Run, stretch, cardio machines, lose that 10 pounds you wanted to before you ever start. Then you can concentrate on the art, not on your body.
I think your answer might just be right there, at least until you get some serious training.
It's worth pointing out that a black belt in karate won't help you when you're stuck in your car. But quality pepper spray just might.
Avoid the junk spray that you see in the Wal-Mart checkout lines. Also avoid any spray that does not have an expiration date.
I buy my pepper spray from a police supply store. Perhaps you can talk to a local cop for advice on the best spray available in your area.
Come to think of it, that would make a pretty good Free Republic post: Advice on pepper spray.
Nothing wrong with some good self defense training for a back up. That said, there is no substitution for a Ruger LCP 380 locked and loaded in your hip pocket! This coming from a lifelong martial artist with several years of Kick Boxing in Miami back in the day. Just saying.
You know the old saying, better to be judged by twelve, than carried by six.
5.56mm