Putting Reality Back Into Reality Training

As much as the Krav Maga system is designed to help you train to defend yourself against real world, common threats such as chokes, bear hugs, knives, guns, etc - which it does extremely well - the Krav Maga system and it's instructors can only do and bring so much to the table, you have to contribute as well. But contribute what, you might ask? Realism.

Without realistic attacks (so much as safety and training allows) the entire system breaks down - let me rephrase - If you are not a good, realistic, attacker, YOU undermine THE ENTIRE SYSTEM for your training partner.

Would you run 3 miles a day to train for a Marathon (26.2 miles)? No. Would you study intensely for double-digit multiplication and long division if you had a calculus test? No. Why not? Because with the previous two examples, while the training or studying might hold SOME value, it is not nearly enough to support the goals mentioned...the training and the studying are NOT REALISTIC for the goals they aspire to achieve. This remains true for our Krav Maga training. Why then would I build my partner up to "think" they can defend against a shoulder massage when it should be a life taking choke? Or against a punch that is 12 inches to the side of their face when an attacker will very much be going for their face?

I know it can be uncomfortable to put your hands around someones throat and choke them - especially if you are a guy choking a female, you may feel you are being invasive and might want to hold back - bad idea. When we are in class, we are all in this together. We are not competing against each other, but rather, we are training each other to survive against those who wish to do us harm. If you guys hold back on the females you are setting them up to fail. You - inadvertently - are setting them up to fail at defending themselves in a rape situation, in a mugging situation, or in an abusive situation. It is more than acceptable, if you feel uncomfortable (ladies and gentlemen) to ask if its okay that you are about to choke them. After they give you the go ahead let loose! It is your responsibility to tell your partner or the instructor if something is uncomfortable. No one is there to read minds - we are adults, we need to speak up.

With that said when we are working on choke defenses it is important that when we choke our partners we do not make them feel like this:


Rather, we should make them feel like this!


Look at the face of the attacker, it is strained - he is really trying to choke his partner! And look at the defender, look at the agony on his face - he has no choice BUT to defend. You as a partner need to eliminate the idea of choice from your partner's head. Their only "choice" should be to defend, not laugh or smile, or joke while they are being choked.

When you are in class, check the "Nice Guy/Girl" at the door and bring in the attacker in you. You are responsible for the lives of everyone in that room just as much as we instructors are. Do not ever forget that.

Train hard. Train smart. Train to survive.

(If you have any questions or comments please leave them in the comments section or feel free to email me at: matt@fitandfearless)