December 2011 Newsletter

Dear Friends, KMG HQ would like to wish Happy Holidays to all our friends around the world.

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We look with content at the many worldwide activities held in 2011 with the help of our country directors and many of our great students and friends.

2011 was a year during which significant progress was made towards fulfilling KMG’s goals. We are proud to say that KMG has become the biggest Krav Maga instructing organization operating in 52 countries, this is after a mere year and a half since established. Get ready cause 2012 is going to be full of great events and activities in Israel and around the world, brought to you by the most professional and skilled Krav Maga team available.

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We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Alex and Heath from Institute Krav Maga Netherlands for joining the KMG family – Welcome aboard guys.

As part of the recent re-organization at KMG UK, Jon Bullock started functioning as the countries director. During Nick Maison’s recent visit to Israel, KMG thanked him for his outstanding activities as the UK director during the years (in the picture with Eyal). Nick will continue to instruct as part of the KMG’s International Team. As part of the changes taking place at KMG UK, we would like to mention the addition of 17 Scottish instructors to KMG.

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We’d also like to congratulate two old-new Krav Maga instructors from France, who have recently, to our delight, graduated the transition instructors’ Course in Israel: Olivier Vasquez and Eric Sembinelli who are now certified KMG instructors.

Olivier was one of the first Krav Maga instructors in France (back in the early 90′s). He is now living and teaching Krav Maga in Versailles, near Paris.

Congrats guys!!!
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Sincerely,
KRAV MAGA GLOBAL

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How to Defend Against Multiple Attackers

By Eyal Yanilov

This month I decided to address an important aspect of Krav Maga: how to deal with multiple attacker situations.
As custom here at KMG, we will start from the source, Imi.
KMG’s method for dealing with multiple attackers is based on military, Law enforcement and civilian confrontations (mainly in Israel). Numerous logical situation assessments and experiments in real life conditions conducted over the years are the foundations of our method.

In the 60′s and 70′s curriculum (for civilians) we only dealt with a situation where two people grab your hands, and maybe a third attacker from the front. In the early 80′s we had self-defense techniques against
two attackers, one with a stick the other with a knife and how to handle the situation (evaluation, positioning, technical solutions); In the mid 80′s we added games of 4 Vs. 1 and after that from the early 90′s we started dealing with all kinds of attacks and problems in all types of environments. Finally, in the late 90′s and early 21st century we improved the tactics and added them to our overall method.

395004_284509748266254_100001216921934_853503_97595067_nBefore we can start dealing with a multiple attacker situation, it is important to understand some basic facts (statistical, behavioral and psychological) about the situation:

Most attacks start with an acceleration and escalation of behavior and aggression.
Signals may be there long before the first attack itself starts.
Most attackers choose their victims subconsciously based on their subconscious assessment of the person.
Attackers will try to kill you – this is the assumption. If they do not – you are lucky.

The strategy Krav Maga Global offers for dealing with a multiple attacker situation is divided in to three periods – before, during and after the fight:
Pre-fight (before the actual physical attack) – Always try to avoid, prevent and de-escalate the attack. Use actions and tactical maneuvers such as – escaping or distancing to get away from the danger zone; re-position to be facing all opponents and avoid encircling (attacker that reaches the back side of defender); preemptive attacks; equipping self with a common object that will help deterring, threatening as well as allow better defensive and counter actions; recruiting assistance (from other people); using voice and threats, and more.
The “Fight” – Mainly utilization of specific maneuvers targeted to position defender in such a way that all of the attackers are “funneled” in-front of the defender. This is done while performing the needed moves, defenses, attacks and counter attacks.
“Post-Fight”- Additional tactics and techniques to ensure the attackers won’t reach, encircle or use tools against the defender. This includes maneuvers, control techniques, manipulation of body position (self and attackers), retrieving of tools and weapons, and more.

At this point you are probably thinking to yourself that all sounds fine but HOW am I supposed to do all of the above? Good question. From easy to slightly more complicated, we use methods that improve the ability to divide and spread attention, elevate aggression and determination as well as making the right decision while under stress and bombarded with data. The methods include:
Technical and physical drills against 1,2,3 and 4 aggressors. Group training – all against all with different “functional games” and drills (Initial games were introduced to us in the mid 1980′s by Jim Keenan, a master of several martial arts, a Krav Maga expert and a friend).
Specific visualizations and mental drills are also used. Including planning and executing of simulations.
Defined “functional games” – for trainees to learn positioning against multiple attackers. Attacks are divided to categories, first we train only on a certain category and then limitations start to drop and attackers can use whatever they wish.
Initially attackers can initiate a set of attacks and then they need to pause for 1-2 seconds, in later stages this limitation is gone.
First no weapons are used; later on we put weapons in the hands of the attackers.
We start with 1 on 1 and gradually we add the second, third and fourth attackers. Attackers strike individually or in a group, as they wish, there are no limitations on when to attack, just on when to join the group. Later all can start at the same time.

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In KMG training against multiple attackers, scenario variations are vital, especially but not only, changing locations and terrains for the training and practice.

In regards to weapons, we recommend that students get one during a conflict, since the attackers usually do carry. We teach how to identify and retrieve objects and defend or attack with them (originally a common object that becomes an improvised tool/weapon for self-defense). Mainly we teach how to use the tools in order to threaten and control others. The common objects are divided into different categories: shield like; stone like; sharp edge objects; stick like; small object (for distraction);rope and whip like – we teach how to use all of them.

There are many common mistakes I see in martial arts schools when training against multiple attackers, most of them are related to not keeping it real, mainly the attackers fail to function as in real life situations. The attackers have a tendency to cooperate with defenders and time their attacks to the convenience of the defender. Also, there are many training situations in which the defender knows exactly what the attacker is going to do and when. This is by no doubt far from most real life surprise attacks.
Remember – the attacking partner is the teacher. Without the existence of a “good problem” one can never even understand reality.

My friends, the above is really in a nutshell, reading about it is great but won’t do the trick. In order to be able to defend against multiple attackers you need training. It is essential you experience being in the eye of the storm, in the middle of the trouble, in order to feel, experience, overcome and become better and efficient. But, we start easy with the appropriate training and escalate and progress with them in time.
That’s about it for now. Don’t forget to train hard and keep it real, but most of all safe for you and your partners with the correct attitude, protection gear and equipment.

 

A Review of December

Ten KMG instructors participated in an intense Shooting Instructors’ Course that took place in Israel. The course was led in accordance with the Israeli method of instinctive combat shooting.
During the course the instructors practiced shooting techniques and tactics with one and two hands at different distance targets, changing magazines, overcoming stoppages of different kinds, competitions to elevate response time, functioning under stress, and much more. Training also included relevant topics on how and what to teach and the process of teaching.

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During 2012 KMG will conduct intensive shooting seminars at different levels and instructors’ training.
Click on the buttons below in order to view some smoking clips from our shooting courses:

 

Eyal held a number of seminars in Lodz Poland which were attended by a lot of participants.
Our activities for instructors included the latest training programs, as well as a workshop for Expert 2 and Expert 3 for the advanced instructors. The seminars were attended by more than 150 students and instructors from all over Poland.

Later on, two workshops led by Eyal, Maciej Wi?niewski (a corporate CEO and adviser ) and our local director Tomasz Adamczyk, were delivered to managers from the School of Leadership which is associated with the Business School of the Warsaw University of Technology, and to managers from an international corporation.

KMG plans a series of courses in Poland for the upcoming year, including seminars, General Instructors’ Course and a VIP Protection Instructor Course for our certified instructors and members of Governmental units.

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A three day Women Seminar organized by Nick Masi was held in Washington D.C. for the first time. The seminars were taught by Meyrav Bar Haim (Expert – 1) and mainly dealt with the evaluation of dangerous situations and dealing with all their aspects, Third Party Protection and neutralizing knife threats and firearms threats.

In addition, we held testing in Scotland (Edinburg) with Ilya Dunsky and in The Netherlands (Nijmegen) with Tal Kvores .

Congratulations to all!

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We are getting ready for the opening of our “Touring & Training” winter event. As always participants will enjoy guided tours as well as training in various sites and exciting new experiences. Some great new locations have been added to this year’s Touring & Training, so get your smiles and cameras ready.

 

What’s in store for 2012?

In addition to Instructor Courses, seminars and testing, please pay attention to the following activities for the first half of 2012:

January: A VIP Course and an open seminar with Eyal in Australia; Instructors Seminar and an open seminar with Eyal in Norway and an Expert camp and an open seminar with Eyal in Hungary; A Winter Camp will be held in Germany; Kids Instructor Course in Denmark; GIC in Russia with Ilya Dunsky.

February: A traveling Seminar Tour with Eyal in different locations in The Netherlands, in Italy and in Sardinia; Open Seminar in Paris with Eyal, and in Serbia with Ilya Dunsky; Instructors Seminar in Ireland and Czech Rep.

March: Women Instructors Course in Germany with Eyal, Meyrav Bar-Haim and Gracia Ho; Instructors Training in Finland with Eyal and Robert Nordman; Shooting Instructor Course (details will be published soon); VIP and Law Enforcement seminar in Cadiz (Spain) with Ilya Dunsky; A Kids Instructor Course in Houston Texas for the first time; Instructors Seminar in The Netherlands.

April: Instructors Seminar with Eyal in Melbourne and in Belgium, and in England with Tommy Blom;
Opening Seminar with Eyal in South Korea; Instructors Training in Scotland and in Ireland; seminars in Trinidad, Croatia and UK.

May: Cross Town in the Czech Rep. with Eyal and Instructors Seminar in Ireland; GIC in Holland, UK andGermany.

June: E & G Camps, Touring & Training and Director Convention – all in Israel with Eyal and other members of the Global Team; A summer camp in The Czech Rep.

For the full list of KMG’s upcoming events for 2012

 

KMG New Year Photo Contest

My Special Training Spot

This is the moment you’ve all been waiting for…

KMG has decided to warm you up with a hot New Year’s contest.

This is the moment you’ve all been waiting for…
KMG has decided to warm you up with a hot New Year’s contest.

All you need to do is email us a photo of a Krav Maga technique or a training session at your special training spot, with a short explanation why it’s special to you.

The photos will be displayed on KMG’s official website open for votes. The photos that receive the most votes by February 28th, 2012 will win the contest and receive the following desirable prizes:

1st place will receive our practitioner level 1-5 DVD set with a PERSONAL dedication from Eyal, together with a training rubber knife and a pair of forearm protectors.

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2nd place will receive a copy of Imi and Eyal’s book “Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself against Armed Assault”, with a PERSONAL dedication from Eyal together with a training rubber knife.

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3rd place will receive a KMG T-shirt signed by Eyal.

Eyal will also give a special prize for his best choice.
We’re waiting to see those photos! Please email them to: info@krav-maga.com

* Promotion ends on February 28th, 2012 at 12pm (GMT+2). Photos will be accepted until January 31th, 2012.

** KMG reserves the right to disqualify any picture as we see fit. By submitting your photo you grant KMG the right to make use of posted photos as we see fit.

*** One vote per photo per person.

A new video clip:

Starting this newsletter, we are going to upload a short clip featuring a Krav Maga technique or an integrative drill which contains relevant elements of movement.

This one is from Eyal’s arsenal of fitness and body awareness drills. Taken Dec. 12th, 2011 during the instructors training in Lodz, Eyal and Mateusz (one of our G level instructors) demonstrate a movement drill in 2 versions.
In this drill, the whole move should be performed smoothly and fluently. At every point along the movement it can be stopped and the direction be reversed (except for the jump forward).
The roll should especially be performed without momentum, so it can be reversed at any point.
Do the exercise slowly and all the time be aware of the different points of contact with the ground. To watch the clip click HERE.

New DVD Release

We have finished the shootings of Graduate level 1 & 2 DVDs which are currently in final editing stages. The new DVDs will be offered for sale from early2012 on the KMG website, Kravdepot and with your country director. Those of you who have seen the practitioner level DVD’s, know that there is a lot to be excited about.

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KRAVDEPOT

KMG’s official web shop – The Kravdepot Christmas Sale is on NOW!
We have discounted some of our most popular items. Hurry! Quantities are limited -
Buy now!
Offer ends December 24th, 2011
To check out our special Christmas offers please go to: www.kravdepot.com

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Maxkravmaga

For those of you who are not familiar with this project: you can now receive online Krav Maga training from Eyal himself at MaxKravMaga.

This project is a major success, gaining increasing praise from participants. If you have not yet taken advantage of what MaxKravMaga has to offer, then you are invited to visit us at www.maxkravmaga.com and personally experience the value of this unique service.

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We wish you all a blessed and successful 2012.

As always thank you for reading! Feel free to contact us at any time at info@krav-maga.com
Also, you are always welcome at our Official Facebook group.

Eyal

and the KMG HQ staff

Israel