Circuit training that will boost endurance
What it is: Krav Maga got its start in the 1930s on the streets of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, where a wrestling and boxing champion named Imi Lichtenfeld trained Jews to defend themselves from fascist gangs.
What it’s like: I learned the techniques in an alley behind the Academy of Self Defense in Santa Clara, California. Class started with fast-paced calisthenics, plyometrics, and push-ups followed by punching and kicking drills that spiked my heart rate. Then student-on-student clinics taught me to break choke holds, bear hugs, or assaults by multiple hoodlums. Afterward I could tell that my muscles and lungs had snapped to attention and that if a miscreant jumped me in the studio parking lot, I’d rip his throat out.
Best for: The cardio junkie
Achieves harmony with: Marathons and triathlons; endurance will improve with the art form’s fast-paced interval and strength training. However, it’s unlikely you’ll develop the flexibility or refined sense of wellness of a more structured system.
Only workout I’ll ever need? Yes, if done three or more times a week
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Front Kick
Point your knee toward your target, then thrust your hips forward as you swing your foot into your opponent’s groin or abdomen.
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This article originally appeared in the December 2009/January 2010 issue of Men’s Journal.
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February 5th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
I really like the krav maga style. The mentality, the concepts, the trainning are very good
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February 11th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Sound like a great workout. Any suggestions on where to find such training at?
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March 18th, 2010 at 12:27 am
WELL IT SIMPLY SEEMS TO COWARDLY FOR YOUR FIRST HIT TO BE ON THE GROIN. I WOULDNT WANT TO BE KICKED ON THE GROINS. THEIRS A QUICKER FIX TO THIS. YOU CAN GIVE A GUY A PINCH TO THE SIDE OF THE NECK. IT DISTRACTS THEIR MIND AND ISOLATES ANY QUICK MOVEMENT. YOU CAN ALWAYS FOLLOW IT WITH A NOSE PUNCH. THAT SHOULD HAVE HIM DOUBTING A FIGHT
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March 18th, 2010 at 12:28 am
I MENT A PUNCH TO THE SIDE OF THE NECK… LET ME CORRECT THAT PINCH
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April 13th, 2010 at 11:26 am
I disagree. I think a groin kick is a great way to get away from someone who is attacking you, especially if you are are smaller than the person attacking you. I don’t think a punch to the neck would work for a 5’1″ person against a 5’7″+ person – the reach to achieve that punch takes too much effort, plus you don’t know if that punch will connect. I think Krav Maga is designed to be used in the “real world”. It’s not meant to be used in martial arts tournaments and I think it is meant to be cheap, dirty fighting. Therefore, I really don’t care if it seems cowardly (and I doubt that anyone else would care), as long as it can get me away from the person attacking me. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.
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April 28th, 2010 at 3:33 am
The whole reason behind the idea of a groin kick is not about whether or not the fight is “fair”. Krav Maga is a style intended to keep you alive, namely by severely disabling or killing your opponent. The entire philosophy behind it is to use natural, limited movements to inflict the greatest amount of damage in the shortest amount of time. I served for 7 years in the Marine Corps and the one consistent message that was pounded into our heads before and after was, it’s us or them. When it comes down to fighting fair or staying alive, I’m going to kick your nuts straight to the top of your head.
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July 5th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
I really like the krav maga ,the concepts and the trainning are very good
but where can we find the trainning of krav maga
thanks
Bill
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November 20th, 2010 at 3:43 am
I did Krav Maga for about a couple of years and loved every moment of it! I was going to a couple of classes per day along with the cross-fit class they also had. I weighed 190 pounds when I got there and 6 months later I weighed 180 pounds and most of it was muscle. I still had a small amount of gut because of bad diet. The only thing I didn’t like is that guys wanted me to wrestle with them and I would always back out because Krav is designed for survival, not play, and we don’t spend as much time ground fighting as competition based martial arts. The ground fighting they taught us was only so if we got on the ground we would know what to do and then get back on our feet as quickly as possible. They would think it was weak because I would back out. Krav is battle proven. If you just want to rough house take MMA. If you want to learn how to survive take Krav.
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March 5th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
I agree with the last 3 posts I love the fact it is real world based not martial”art” I was that I’m not putting on a show I’m fighting for my life and my family and friends by any means necessary I will win.
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