What is Krav Maga

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT IS KRAV MAGA?

At heart, Krav Maga is very simply one of the most effective hybrid self defense systems ever devised.

Thanks to the explosive popularity and growth of Krav Maga around the world, and its adoption by many high-profile celebrities onscreen and online, you probably have an idea of what it's all about.

But if you've never heard of Krav Maga, here's a quick summary:

• It's a hybrid combat art, born in Israel through the 1930s and 1940s.
• It's evolved incredibly quickly, with many different teaching and training styles.
• It's not a sport, and fighting dirty is the name of the game.
• It incorporates empty hand techniques, weapon techniques, and training for almost every imaginable scenario where you'd have to defend yourself.
• The basics of Krav Maga can actually be learned quite quickly, which makes it very attractive to anyone who doesn't have a ton of time available.
• Unlike traditional martial arts, Krav Maga is designed to be adapted to you - to your own unique strengths, circumstances, and capabilities.

 

Krav Maga also has a very interesting history. It's worth taking a few minutes to cut through the media hype, to explore exactly what makes Krav Maga so unique - and to understand how it's evolving.

 

At Elite Defence Academy International, we teach a system of Krav Maga and practical combatives that is relevant to South African requirements and conditions. It's user-friendly, continually evolving, and extremely effective.

It's also not "military Krav Maga" - precisely because it's designed to use technique and physics over strength, timing over speed, and smart tactics that make it amazingly adaptable for everyone.

 

 

 

 

KRAV MAGA  AND THE REALITY OF VIOLENCE

Krav Maga is designed, first and foremost, to work in reality.

There's no room for fantasy or illusion.

In a life-threatening crisis, it either works, or you die.

Of course, this has given rise to a lot of tough guy talk and bickering over the years, and a lot of debate about whose Krav Maga is the "best".

But here are some simple facts:

Yes, Krav Maga is a great system. Yes, it's taught and applied differently according to where you are and what you need. But when all is said and done, it's not just the system: it's you.  

It's you who has to make smart split-second decisions, and apply what you learn. You also need to know when not to engage in violence.

But Krav Maga - taught correctly - goes far beyond the physical stuff. 

 

KRAV MAGA  AS A WAY OF LIFE

Krav Maga is more than an incredibly effective set of self defense techniques that ensures your safety, and the safety of your loved ones. It's also a pursuit that is surprisingly rewarding, because it also delivers a host of other amazing benefits, too.

These include:

• Greater self-confidence and inner peace.
• The ability to resolve conflict more calmly and effectively.
• Greater strength, fitness, and agility, regardless of age or "shape".
• Greater psychological and physical resilience.
• Heightened awareness and insight into the intentions of others.
• Mastery over fear and uncertainty.
• Reduced stress, and a heightened ability to think more clearly and intelligently under pressure.
• Enhanced creativity and the ability to think laterally and engage in high level problem-solving.

Do those sound like qualities that would make you a better, stronger, more in-control version of yourself? Well, that's exactly what Krav Maga does for you.

Perhaps you've thought about learning some Krav Maga - and then immediately doubted yourself because of self-limiting beliefs or preconceptions. If that's you, you're not alone - many of our practitioners tell us that the first step was the most challenging. And yet, magically, once they got started, something happened, and they never looked back.

Krav Maga is an exploration of your own human potential, in so many ways. You learn what you're made of, you discover the ability to do things you didn't think were possible, and you learn how to apply Krav Maga's winning principles to so many other areas of your life.

 

 

 

 

FAQs

Here are some of the most common questions we get asked:

DO I HAVE TO BE FIT, OR HAVE MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE, TO JOIN A KRAV MAGA CLUB?

The short answer: no.

Our training (in our clubs as well as corporate workshops and other events) is extremely beginner-friendly. We meet you where you're at, and take it from there. Also, everyone is welcome at Elite Defence Academy International, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religious or cultural background, or anything at all. If you'd like to learn intelligent, effective self defense, we have what you're looking for.


DO I HAVE TO BE IN SHAPE TO DO KRAV MAGA?

You don't have to be fit, or strong, or have any particular aptitude, to learn EDA Krav Maga. That's the wonderful thing about our system - it's versatile, can easily be adapted to your strength and fitness level, and teaches you how to progress, safely and intelligently.


WILL TRAINING KRAV MAGA MAKE ME FITTER?

In several ways, yes - your physical condition will improve, and you'll develop strength, a certain amount of fitness, and greater agility as you practice Krav Maga.

The primary goal of our Krav Maga system is to enable you to defend yourself, so the primary focus is on developing automatic skills through mindful, repeated practice and application. But, in doing so, an unavoidable side effect is that you do get stronger and fitter, too.

And this is a good thing.

Apart from the obvious benefits like better health and wellbeing, there's also a vitally important consideration too, and it's this: Strength and fitness are weapons in your self defense arsenal, just as technique and strategy are.

In a clash between two people of absolutely equal skill, the one with greater strength and endurance will win. This seems pretty obvious, but it's actually a consideration when training to defend yourself. What if the street thug is stronger than you? Well, then, in almost every case, your knowledge of sound technique, combined with the element of surprise and unpredictability will still enable you to win. But make no mistake: fighting for your life is utterly exhausting, and twenty seconds can can feel like two centuries in an actual fight!

So, you don't have to be "in shape" - at all - to get started. But it's not a bad idea to strive after ever-increasing strength and conditioning as an additional tool to enhance your self defense capabilities.

Besides, who doesn't want to look awesome?


I HAVE AN INJURY, OR A HEALTH CONCERN... CAN I STILL TRAIN?

Within certain commonsense parameters, yes you can. The techniques we teach can be adapted to realistically equip you for self defense, in an amazing number of ways.

We have students who have come to us with prior spinal injuries, badly injured knees, brain injuries, amputations, partial paralysis, and more.

We've had others who have suffered from conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, congenital heart issues, or have been sight-impaired.

Obviously, though, if you are uncertain, please check with your healthcare provider before signing up.

 

DO ALL EDA KRAV MAGA CLUBS IN SOUTH AFRICA CHARGE THE SAME FEE?

No. Fees vary slightly according to area, and other considerations. For example, a club instructor might have to pay a higher venue rental for training premises - and cover those costs accordingly. Also, as a general rule, the more advanced the instructor, the more you can expect to pay for access to that expertise.

To find out what the fee structure is at a club, simply get in touch with the relevant instructor. 


HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK SHOULD I PRACTICE?

We recommend trying to spend at least 2 hours per week training, if you can manage it. As with all skills, the more quality time you invest, the faster you progress and the greater your mastery.

Notice that the key phrase there is "quality time" as opposed to just "time" - because mastery of a skill requires thoughtful, serious analysis and focus. Distracted or dumb repetition will not help you learn, and in fact will hinder your progress. Visualize, make it real, and remember that the little things ARE the big things in Krav Maga.

If you do that, then 2 hours a week will be a great investment - and of course, if you can do more, you should!

And, remember that consistency is key - it's better to train those fundamentals for 10 or 15 minutes every day, than to do a 5-hour session once a month. If you can, then reserve your training time and stick to it. The results will be worth it!

 

LEARN KRAV MAGA

Whether you join a Krav Maga club in South Africa - or abroad - or are considering booking a corporate self defense workshop for your company, we'd love to hear from you.

If you have questions, reach out to us, and we'll assist you.