Fighting spirit Krav Maga

What is Krav Maga?

Krav Maga is a simple, yet aggressive system of self-defense that can be accessed by all. Krav Maga training includes cardio fitness, basic combatives, and self-defense movements against attacks such as chokes, bear hugs, ground attacks, and multiple attackers scenarios. Advanced students receive additional training with weapons, outdoor scenarios, and sparring.

Krav Maga training focuses on principles rather than techniques because no two attacks are the same. These movements are based on natural instincts and address the immediate danger. Krav Maga defenses are accessible to the average person, not just athletes, and are designed to work from a position of disadvantage. They include the stress experienced in real-life attacks.

The goal of the program at FSKM is to provide participants with a basic understanding of self-defense principles and a feeling of confidence and awareness for the future. Best of all, we have fun and make new friends all while getting a workout!

A Brief History of Krav Maga

Krav Maga (pronounced “krahv muhgah) meaning “contact combat” in Hebrew is the official defensive tactics system of the Israeli Military. The system is simple, practical, aggressive, and based on instinctive movements. Because the techniques are closely aligned with the body‘s natural instincts, they are easy to learn and, more importantly, easy to remember under stress. The system was purposely created to be accessible to men and women of all ages and abilities. Krav Maga is designed to bring each student to a high level of proficiency as quickly as possible.

Krav Maga was first developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s by Imi Lichtenfeld. Working first with the Jewish independence fighters known as the Haganah, and later with the fledgling Israeli Defense Forces, Imi developed a hand-to-hand combat system that could be taught quickly to new soldiers of all ages and abilities, and which could be easily remembered by battle weary troops with no time for refresher training. In order to answer the needs of the hard-pressed Israeli military, Imi developed an instinct-based, integrated system that focused on fewer techniques that apply to more situations. The fewer the techniques, the less likely you are to act confused and hesitate, and the more likely you are to act decisively and aggressively to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Krav Maga in the United States

In 1981, a delegation of Krav Maga instructors traveled to the United States to demonstrate Krav Maga. As a result of that tour, several Americans were invited to the first international Krav Maga Instructor Course in Israel. Darren Levine was one of those attendees who, upon returning to the United States, began teaching in the Los Angeles area. Krav Maga grew slowly in the United States, until late 1990s, when its popularity exploded thanks to the work of Darren Levine, John Whitman, and their peers and students. Today, Krav Maga is taught to thousands of civilians and hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the country.