FEKM (Fédération Européenne Krav Maga) from Its Early Days to the Present
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KRAV MAGA Remi Lessore gives an insight into the history and structure of the FEKM (Fédération Européenne Krav Maga) 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 Czechoslovakia and practised COORDINATION: Movement visualisation many sports, finally deciding to focus on and practice helps the practitioner develop gymnastics, wrestling 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 Israel 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. 56 | martial arts illustrated martial arts illustrated | 57 KRAV MAGA 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.