TOPIC: What style do you fight with?

Dark Jedi Zero wrote:
Yes I do practice Krav Maga.

Let me tell you a story. I used to go with 3 friends of mine, we usually sparred together and trained together. After I passed my first exam and successfully gained a rank, one day at training, there were 3 of us. So I started training with a girl, who was no more than 1.6 meters (around 5'3" or something) and who weighed at most 50 kilos (110 pounds). And we were having fun, and training, and repeating the moves, etc ... And at some point, she showed me that some of my moves were wrong, so she helped me correct them. And then our master said: alright kids, time for combat.

Mind you, combat during training is the speed of the combat without the strength in the hits. We're training, not fighting for our lives here, we try not to damage our partners.

And then she kicked the shit out of me during the following 5 minutes. Litterrally 5 minutes, where I didn't even know where the hits were coming from, where they were going to land, and why does my knee hurt, and what was that kick I felt in the protection for my nuts, and why do I have the feeling I'm going to get a blackeye if I'm not very very careful?
So when you say that someone your height and weight can knock you out between two breaths, imagine when someone who looks a lot more fragile than you can do the same


However, don't get the wrong idea. The main philosophy of Krav Maga is indeed to neutralise as fast as possible, there are no forbidden hits or strikes. But, the goal is never to maim or kill the opponent. Never! Not even in the street. Yes, you can do it. It does not mean you have to.
Whoever tells you the opposite is being taught by a bad master.

Still, it's very enjoyable and helped me greatly (as I wasn't a very confident person in conflict situations) to feel more confident about myself. And when things start to get heated, I tell myself: You can kick the shit out of this guy in 3 seconds if needed.
And it really puts things in perspective and helps me stay calm and focused

Faethien wrote:
Had a chance to check out krav maga. I like how effective it looks in a real environment where you would have little time to react to disable your aggressor. Were there any hurdles you have to overcome when first getting into it? I used to do Taekwondo as a kid and have some experience with Aikido and kendo. For the most part, I find most of what I have had experience with to be in a relatively controlled environment that makes me question sometimes the practicality of it. From what I have seen just browsing around about krav maga is it is a fast paced remove the threat style. I might have to check out a local place sometime soon.

Coot

Coot83 wrote: No not really. Most of the Krav Maga moves are based on the natural reflexes of a standard human being.
Someone is going to hit your face? Move it out of the way or parry the blow with the closest hand/arm.

During training, the environment is obviously controlled. You wear boxing gloves, with a croch protection, and lower legs cushions. The clothes you wear are usually pretty large to allow for maximum liberty of movement.

However, if it comes to you using this martial art in real life situation, then you're not in a controlled environment.
I've had to use it twice in my life to defend myself and friends. Those are the two times I used it. Let me emphasise on DEFEND. I did not attack, nor did I strike the first blow.

Coot83 wrote: It is fast paced indeed. I personnally have a very defensive style. I'd rather let, if possible, my opponent show me what he does and how he moves, and if I see an opening, I'll go straight in it and finish the damn fight. Even with my defensive style, things happen pretty fast and you need to be absolutely completely entirely 100% focused on not getting hit and neutralising the threat.

Coot83 wrote: If you do, make sure the club where you will practice is affiliated to, depending on where you live, one of these three associations:
- FFK : Fédération Française de Karaté (most lesser known or practiced martial arts are affiliated to the Karate association) ;
- FEKM : Fédération Européenne de Krav Maga ;
- Krav Maga Global in the US ;

If you're in any other country, let me know, I'll find you the instructor or federation that was taught by Imi Lichtenfeld, the founder of Krav Maga.

Appreciate the insight there Faethien, def some good info there. I feel that this style might fit me a little better as well. I used to wrestle in high school and I always had a problem of being more of a defensive reactive type instead of the attacker. I too prefer to see the opponent reveal their strike and then counter it to get in close. With that being said, Im used to grappling with someone, but striking is still somewhat foreign territory to me. It sounds like this would be able to help blend some of what I know to a more complete skill set.

Coot

Happy to help!

Plus you've practiced Tae Kwon Do. This is one of the best martial arts to practice next to Krav Maga to me, because you mainly use your legs in the first one, and have to learn how to counter this in the second one.
In my later years, I practiced a lot with a mate of mine, 18 years of Tae Kwon Do. I had lots of problems at first to close the distance and disable the use of his legs as in being too close to him for him to use them, not as in breaking them!

I like to use form 4 ataru because you use you body a lot for momentum and strength. Plus it is fun

Faethien wrote:
Interesting. My friend has told me that our local center is almost entirely padding free (crotch protection, but that's it). Something about the protection restricting your movement or something? Of course, he hasn't even tried the first exam, so probably doesn't know too much dangerous stuff.

As far as their training method, they practice by intentionally missing each other (because it's easier to adjust target than power) but, as far as I know, haven't really had sparring.

Still, although I realize that my aggression could be somewhat handy for Krav Maga (again, just from what my friend has told me), the thought of being in a room filled with people who could kill me, no matter how docile they are, scares me immensely.

Dark Jedi Zero wrote:
I've had the chance to train with Richard Douïeb and Gilles Grosjean. The first one has been trained by Imi Lichtenfeld, the founder of Krav Maga himself, and has been awarded the title of European Master for Krav Maga by Imi Lichtenfeld, and Gilles was trained by Richard.
The two are at most 1.75 m (5'10) I think. I'm a bit taller than both of them and am somewhere around 1.78 (5'11). They are MASSIVE! Huge bodies, lots of muscles and power, lots of control, they're impressive. And along this incredible power and ability to destroy you in the blink of an eye, they have huge hearts, incredible patience, and absolute love for teaching their art.

So honestly, do not be afraid. Those people, and their students, are usually fantastic. Patience, they listen to you, take the time to correct your mistakes any time you make one, you can always try and challenge them (which I did ALL THE TIME, even though I got brought to the ground or blocked in ways that could be really painful), they always listen and welcome the challenge or the questions.
Do not be afraid. There is no need.
The very few times I got hurt while training were:
- I moved myself in the way of the blow (which is stupid) because I moved too fast or not fast enough to avoid / block ;
- I practiced with someone less experienced than me and who thought I couldn't get hurt because I'm more experienced ;
- Once my croch cap slid down my legs a bit and I got kicked. It flew back up in my nuts, that was extremely painful.

Also, if you find a class and after a few weeks, they tell you you're good to go, you've got nothing to fear in the street, flee my friend. Flee.
This is the mark of irresponsible masters and you DO NOT WANT to be trained by them.

Dark Jedi Zero wrote: I have had the chance to train with Richard Douïeb, trained by Imi Lichtenfeld (the founder of Krav Maga) and who has been named Headmaster for Europe by Imi, and with Gilles Grosjean, trained by Richard Douïeb.
Richard is considered Black Belt 6th Dan. Only two Dans are above, and you need to write a full thesis in order to get those. Gilles is 5th Dan.

They are MASSIVE! Big guys, though not extremely tall. I myself am around 1.78 m (5'11) and they're a bit smaller than me. But I weigh 74 kgs (162 pounds) and they weigh somewhere around 95 and 90 kgs (around 200 pounds). Big muscles, huge necks, hands that look like they can crush a tree trunk. Yet, they're super nice, patient, they love to help you learn their art and are again, extremely patient.
I spent my classes challenging them, they'd show us a move and how to counter attack it, and I'd go:
"What if you're attacked like this?!"
Then they'd ask me to come and attack them this way, and I usually ended on the ground in the following seconds. But I learned! And I learned a lot!
So do not be afraid. Really, there is no need. The very few times I got hurt were:
- I did not move fast enough or not correctly and ended up right in the way of the blow ;
- I was practicing with unexperienced people (in their first few classes) and they thought that because I was much more experienced than them, I couldn't get hurt. But no, my wrist is just as fragile as theirs (got a very minor sprain, healed in a couple days) ;
- My crotch protection slid down my legs a bit and I got kicked in there and it flew back up in my nuts. That hurt. A lot ;

While in class, people are pretty calm, pay attention to what they do and what happens around them. You will get hurt, that is a certainty. But I've never heard of anyone being actually really hurt while training. Accidents happen (see 3rd bullet point above) but they are minor and will not incapacitate you in any way.
Do not fear this, that's a useless hassle on your mind

Dark Jedi Zero wrote: I wholehearteldy disagree with that. It is a lot easier to adjust power than target. You MUST train to hit the right spot, if not, the reflexes are going to take over when you are in a real combat situation and you're going to do what you do at training.
Control the speed and power of your blows, not the target of the blow.

I use vaapad but I'd like to get lessons on real combat

I use a mixed variation of Ataru, Vaapad, and Soresu

My main go-to is a mix of Soresu and Shien. I see what my foes are doing and counter whatever they throw at me. For more offensive moments, I'm generally very Shii-Cho focused, with attacks designed only to disarm the opponent. I often favor lunges and stabs to allow myself breathing room, so that's some Makashi, as well.

Finally, that's just with one saber. When using two, I am a mix of Niman, Jar'Kai and everything you saw above. I move fast and hit fast, but I put power in those strikes.

Personally I quite like the balance offered by Niman. You can do almost anything with it, including dual blade combat. That being said, I also use Shii-Cho, Makashi and Soresu if I need something a bit more specialised.