Krav Maga comes from Hebrew and means “contact fight”. It is an effective self-defense system, which combines punching, kicking and fighting techniques as well as ground fighting, and is suitable for all people, regardless of age, sex, height, weight, or fitness level.
Where does Krav Maga come from?
Imi Lichtenfeld is the founder of Krav Maga. Born in Hungary, he grew up in Slovakia, was a passionate boxer and wrestler, and developed Krav Maga as early as the 1930s.
Originally, Krav Maga served to protect Jews living in Slovakia from Nazis. In 1942 Imi Lichtenfeld traveled to Palestine, where he became a close combat instructor for the Israeli army. Only since the late 1970s has Krav Maga been taught to civilians as well.
In 1993 Imi Lichtenfeld founded the IKMF (International Krav Maga Federation) with the idea behind it that the organization makes it possible to make Krav Maga training accessible to everyone worldwide, also in Berlin! And that’s how it happened – in the meantime, IKMF Krav Maga is represented in over 100 countries with more than 50,000 students.
The techniques in Krav Maga training
All Krav Maga techniques are based on natural reflexes and do not require years of basic training to be used in a real-life situation. Punch and kick techniques as well as ground fighting are used effectively, so that they can be recalled quickly, easily, and instinctively, even under high-stress situations.
“The beginning of every Krav Maga technique is a natural reaction, the end of every Krav Maga technique is to be safe.” – Imi Lichtenfeld
Self-defense in case of emergency
Krav Maga is a pure self-defense system, with no rules.
Krav Maga trains you in the case of an emergency in everyday life. The aim is to get out of a dangerous situation quickly, safely, and independently. And this with all possible means at your disposal.
With Krav Maga, you learn how to handle dangerous situations of all kinds. You learn to keep a cool head, neutralize the danger, and find safe and quick solutions in any situation, whether stressful, dangerous, or even life-threatening. Whether attacks and defenses with or without weapons: Krav Maga prepares in the best possible way for the unpredictable and brings you home safely.
How long does it take to train Krav Maga and to be effective and able to defend yourself?
This is the question everyone wants an answer to. Unfortunately, as in any learning process, the speed at which you will be able to defend yourself reflexively in a situation of intense stress will depend solely on your learning process.
In fact, in the few years that I have been teaching Krav Maga, I have noticed that each student assimilates the techniques of Krav Maga in a completely different way.
I have noticed two fundamental characteristics about students who learn faster than others; regularity and exclusivity.
Anyone can learn Krav Maga, this is the major advantage of this self-defense system! The training is based on simple and easy techniques.
Moreover, it is not up to the student to adapt to learning this self-defense system, but to Krav Maga and to the trainer to adapt to the person he is teaching, to bring him the answers he needs by adapting the Krav Maga techniques and applying the simple principles of this fighting system.
With regular training, once or twice a week, the students I train have shown that after a short period of a few months (3 to 4 months depending on the students), they are able to defend themselves in the street against about 90% of the most common dangerous situations they might encounter in a rather quiet city like Berlin.
Exclusivity is THE key to “fast” learning and a better adaptation of Krav Maga techniques by the student. Indeed, what could be better than having a trainer who only takes care of you and your needs for an hour?
During my private Krav Maga training sessions, I take care to listen to and understand the possibilities and needs of each of my students in order to provide them, with the help of a program and meticulous preparation before each session, with the answers they expect from this learning, in constant adaptation of their time, physical possibilities and motivation.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me, I will be happy to answer you as soon as possible.
