KRAV MAGA

Remi Lessore gives an insight into the history and structure of the FEKM (Fédération Européenne ) from its early days to the present. All students learn to shadow box so that techniques can be practised dynamically through visualisation. THE PAST: Although shadow boxing is taught from the orange belt onwards, it is examined at the black belt exam. “So that EVERYONE Students are therefore given several Imi sentry take out years to improve. What is essential may walk in violentconfrontations under stress. is application of force (shoulders, hips, etc.) correct positioning (fists, peace…” Krav Maga is not another martial art school feet, etc.) realism (for example you would not follow a front kick with a Imi LICHTENFELD (1910-1998) based on a traditional approach.It is first and Krav Maga Founder jab. In reality, your opponent would no foremost a modern self-defence system. It longer be in jabbing range if the kick Imi Lichtenfeld - knife defence is distinguished by a consistent and logical had landed.) thought process, leading to a natural, practical and fighting technique easily executed and based on simple body movements.

This discipline has to be realistic. This precludes any rules, boundaries as to target - It is a comprehensive physical activity which GENERAL THEMES WITHIN THE areas or sport competition. Krav Maga arose in brings with it moral and physical benefits. A GRADING SYSTEM sound body leads to a sound mind. – NB. Grading is not compulsory.

MUSCLE TONE: Krav Maga strengthens A student can have access to the entire muscles as a whole. The warm up and general programme, and even teach, without ever fitness training, movements and partnered having graded. But we are conscious that the exercises tone and strengthen all of the body’s students themselves benefit from these tests muscle groups. which ratify their ability and give them short- STRETCHING AND GENTLE FITNESS term measurable goals to achieve. ROUTINE: Promoting suppleness and physical History recovery, practising Krav Maga nurtures physical Note also that in the FEKM, schools derive awareness and leads to better and lasting no great benefit from gradings. There is a Simplicity and efficiency are key features of health. Krav Maga. This is why Israeli military forces BALANCE: Krav Maga strengthens the legs as a whole, some law agencies, F.B.I. agents and core through basic positioning and stance and gendarmes from the G.I.G.N. embraced training. In turn this develops greater balance it. Imi Lichtenfeld (1910-1998) created it. He and confidence. was born in and practised COORDINATION: Movement visualisation many sports, finally deciding to focus on and practice helps the practitioner develop gymnastics, and boxing. He became good coordination, bodily awareness and a an active participant in several competitions, relationship with their surroundings.. which he often won, especially in wrestling. CARDIO-VASCULAR: A Krav Maga session He chose to join the nascent state of in includes regular intense activity at the student’s Outer upper 360 defence which 1948. There, he became the Chief Instructor own pace. This quickly leads to physical fitness, leads to: Outer upper 360 counter attack of Physical Training and Krav Maga for the muscle tone and develops a balanced, athletic army, and served in the I.D.F. for 20 years all physique. most other federations (although the IKMF the while refining and expanding his system of MEMORY: Practising and repeating specific grading programme is quite different) self-defence. movements, strikes and parries against divides itself up between various coloured visualised attackers, which we call ‘Shadow belts, then into Dargas (Hebrew for ‘Step’) Imi personally trained the very best of Israeli Boxing’ is an excellent way of developing after the first black belt – equivalent to ‘dan’ elite units. He also taught many generations of muscle-memory and reflexes. grades in other systems. Krav Maga instructors like F.E.K.M. President to fend off attacks, avoid injuries and defeat a context where violence – especially political STRESS: The physical activity expended Richard Douieb, official representative of the opponents in a wide range of unarmed or or ideological – was commonplace. As a direct during Krav Maga is a proven method of healthy The club handles the students’ development moderate one-off admin. fee for each grade discipline’s founder in Europe. armed attacks and from different positions: result, this allowed the discipline to be tested, stress relief, providing the practitioner with better and grading up to brown belt. However, starting which is not charged again next time if the standing, seated, even lying down. studied and improved. Krav Maga proved itself control over their emotions and behaviour during with the black belt, each can only be graded student fails the exam on the first attempt. THE PRESENT Close combat, which is a step further to be a ideal self-defence system against dire tense personal or work situations. at national exams, where they are tested by a in Krav Maga: it is designed to train you to threats in the real world . high ranking jury of three members chosen by YELLOW BELT DEFINITION: swiftly and efficiently neutralise your opponent. Many of our members regularly report back to the F.E.K.M. To reach the exam is a distinction (First Year) Krav Maga literal means ‘contact fight’ in It contains elements specifically related to BENEFITS us on the various benefits Krav Maga has given in itself! Guard position Hebrew. In other words: ‘Close Combat’. It combat: tactics, feints, the combination of - Accessible to everyone, Krav Maga training them in their daily life. Movement encompasses two key areas: different attacks, the psychological aspects brings a wide variety of benefits. The opinion of the student’s own instructor Breakfalls and Rolls Self-defence, which provides its primary of combat, and many exercises to strengthen - It enables all to develop strength, flexibility, RANKS AND BELTS remains a determining factor as to whether a Base striking techniques (feet, hands, elbows, framework. This includes different techniques one’s mind and develop an ability to cope with coordination and spatial awareness. The technical programme of the F.E.K.M. and belt is earned. knees) and defence against direct strikes.

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Defence against basic grabs and strangles registered teachers: During this course, the Defence against simple knife attacks candidate will improve their knowledge of the technical programme, and will acquire a ORANGE BELT greater understanding of the structure of a (also in the first year) lesson, the attitude that a Krav Maga instructor Intermediate striking techniques (hook, must have and the subtleties of the KravMaga uppercut, hammer) teaching methods. Krav Maga Winter Course 2013 Defence and strike combinations 1. An initiation course (this is exempted Evasion for those students who have already obtained 3. One last long course: supervised by your interest in Krav Maga. It is due to your Various kicks while static and moving their green belt): During this course, the student Richard Douieb: At this stage, the candidate enthusiasm and that of many before you that Defence against more active grabs and studies the technical programme from the will finalise his or her instruction and will present our discipline is now recognized as ‘the self- strangles yellow belt to the green belt. If the student a lesson in front of Richard or one of his senior defence’ of choice. Other systems refer to or Pre Black-Belt exam briefing Parry/counter against direct punches or kicks attends a club his or her instructor makes a instructors. If it is approved,and after having draw an inspiration from it thanks to its founder, Shadow boxing report to Richard Douieb or a senior instructor presented his or her official first aid certificate, Imi Lichtenfeld, his genius, and his training Light sparring which I have had the privilege to follow for twenty four years. From the orange belt onwards there is no more than one grading per year. “Of course Imi taught me Krav Maga, but also much more than that. He changed my outlook GREEN BELT on life and even my understanding of it. This (Second Year) Candidates is the mark of a great teacher… I wish that for the Instructor Turning kick each of you could have met him. It was he who qualification, Additional grab defences – hair, wrist, etc. where each has taught me simplicity of movement both in Krav Basic ground fighting training against to demonstrate Maga and in my daily life and to keep to what chokes, throttles and grabs their teaching is essential. Parries and counters against various strike ability, as distinct combinations from their “Ever since he entrusted me with the Combat readiness technical ability. responsibility of bringing Krav Maga to Europe, Additional and more advanced striking my main purpose has been to pass on that techniques wealth of knowledge. We need to understand that Krav Maga, the purpose of which can BLUE BELT be drastic and uncompromising, is wholly (Third Year) compatible with humanism and tolerance. Parries and counters against various kicks and punches “You are perfectly free be as involved or not as Defences against various knife attacks you like when practising Krav Maga. Defences against various stick or baton attacks “You might concentrate specifically on self- Sweeping techniques defence and simply to learn the techniques you Basic throwing techniques on the physical and technical capabilities of the might need one day to save your life. However, candidate, as well as their moral capacities. This if you choose to you make this discipline a Threat from a gun examined at black belt. NB. Our first principle is to comply if safe to follows from the fact that Krav Maga conveys greater part of your life, it may also become a do so for oneself and others. If this is a kidnap situation, for example, we would say, Fight! the moral values passed on by Imi Lichtenfeld, combat sport or even an true martial art. Whatever the aggressor intends is more convenient for him elsewhere when you might be and the F.E.K.M. intends to maintain the spirit bound, and unable to defend at all established by its founder. “Whatever happens, if you want to experience and so on… with a qualification and instructors will want to the benefits it has to offer, all I suggest is that provide a perception of value for money. However, there may be cases when the student your learning remains truthful and genuine. THE FUTURE who wishes to instruct is not a member of an Welcome to the school of Krav Maga.” The FEKM qualification is awarded at two FEKM club. He or she may not live in a part of - Richard Douieb Imi Lichtenfeld with Richard Douieb TO TEACH KRAV MAGA distinct levels, according to the level of the Europe where the FEKM is present. How can F.E.K.M. Founder and President BROWN BELT As has been said in a previous article, the person wishing to instruct. they progress to become instructors? he or she will obtainthe F.E.K.M. Initiator (Fourth Year) teaching method is very part of the discipline. Qualification. Defences against more advanced grabs and It is not only the techniques which have to be F.E.K.M. Initiator Well, these students attend the courses, the When Richard Douieb refers to ‘truth’ he means strangles fast, simple, effective and controlled, but the As the name suggests, this is where the camps, the seminars. On their return home they F.E.K.M. Instructor Qualification: In order that we only train in techniques that are able to Dynamic throws - throws while moving in very way in which these are taught must also instructor begins to instruct others in the basics begin teaching and practising with associates in a to gain the full F.E.K.M. Instructor Qualification, work in a real situation, and in such a manner combat abide by these principles. The IDF, the FBI, of Krav Maga. This can be relatively soon private capacity. When competent they can pass the candidate must have achieved their black as to make them work. For self-defence Defences against knife, staff or baton attacks the GIGN do not have the resources to train after beginning their own training – they have their grading by continuous assessment at one belt 1st Darga, and also have been through the purposes, there is no point in taking ages to from any angle. people for years before they are combat-ready. to be of at least green-belt standard. In order of the camps, as well the Initiator exam. Note that initiator training courses as above. If a student learn elaborate techniques when simple ones Defences against pistol and extreme knife Since Krav Maga is accessible to all (health to attempt the exam they must attend three the minimum level for an Initiator is competence reaches their Black Belt 1st Darga and wishes can be assimilated quickly and will be better threats permitting), so is teaching it. long training courses over the course of the at green belt level. It is not strictly necessary to teach they must still go through the initiator retained and applied under stress. There is no Parries and counters from a sitting or lying year. These last four or five days with several that they formally pass their exams as long as courses, have their first aid certificate, and be point in rushing any technique when training. down position. In order to understand and to properly convey belt-specific groups. People from outside they demonstrate the technical ability to teach examined as any other student. Technical ability Each has to be practised slowly, quickly, the teachings of this discipline, Richard Douieb the federation can train in any group they are at that level (- granted, this would be unlikely is not confused with teaching ability, related respecting form and function, application of BLACK BELT 1ST DARGA AND UP established instructor training from the outset able to follow. Note that these are not courses or impossible if they had failed the technical though they are. force, pressure testing, mirror practice, etc. until (Fifth Year and onwards) for anyone who was interested. This training is aimed at trainers. Instructor training takes grading). So people living in parts of Europe it is really learned. Then it needs to be practised Perfection of all the techniques from the effectively free to anyone attending the summer place for an hour each day after four hours where the FEKM was not previously implanted For further information visit again, and again. We must not fool ourselves yellow belt onwards or winter camps. This structure means there is of technical training. In addition, during the have been able to open their own clubs and even www.soutlondonkravmaga.com that we know something when we do not. Implementation through specific exercises no particular interest in inducing people to pay summer courses, extra-curricular activities are start up their own national federations. This is with or without a partner large sums in order to qualify as instructors. organised. For example, last year, a workshop what has happened in the UK. The FEKM president Richard Douieb offers The FEKM has grown into one of the largest Demonstrating competence from both static When this happens there is a temptation to was organised on handling and using fire- these words to all new students: martial arts organisations in Europe because of and dynamic positions compromise in technical standards because arms, and another on visualisation as an aid to 2. A second long course: supervised this commitment to authenticity. Combat against multiple armed opponents, people who have paid want to come away learning in martial arts. by Richard Douieb, or one of the F.E.K.M. “First of all I would like to thank you for Remi Lessore

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