Krav Maga

So I've been taking this class for about two weeks. That's 5 classes (including today's).

Wikipedia defines it as full-contact hand-to-hand combat developed in Israel that involves wrestling, grappling, and striking techniques. It's known for extreme efficiency and brutal counter attacks and is taught to elite special forces around the world. It's derived from street fighting emphasizing on threat neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive maneuvers, and aggression.

Sounds pretty intense. Well it is.

Training, according to me and wikipedia, is aerobic and anaerobic. We do a lot of running and physically trying "warm-ups" which normally have us sweating and panting by the beginning of class. We do a lot of pad work which involves long sessions of repeated striking and moving. We've done drills where we were "attacked" while our eyes were closed and had to deal with the situation instantly after opening our eyes. We also do a lot of training at the peak of exhaustion which helps deal with the adrenaline of being in a real fight.

First class we learned how to get out of a two-handed frontal choke like when someone rushes you and is trying to literally crush your neck. We learned some subsequent counter attacks which seem pretty brutal.

Class 2 we learned what I call the pez-dispenser. Basically its the counter to a from-behind choke hold like you would do on the playground to give a noogie, except you're giving it to someone to hurt them. Anyway, the way you position yourself as soon as you get in it, you have the opportunity to get some leverage against them and put them in a pretty bad position.

Class 3 was pretty intense. We did groin kicks and hammerfists which when used in conjunction is pretty nasty. We also were taught open-palm strikes which can be pretty useful in a long fight.
ON that, while it's ghastly to imagine condoning groin strikes, the point of Krav is to get through a fight/get out of a fight quickly by debilitating your opponent. And if you're fighting against more than 1 dude... you need to do some otherwise deplorable things.

Class 4 we revisted the choke and incorporated the palm strike which on the one hand seemed like a good idea, but in order to get out of a real tight choke, you typically need two hands which this maneuver doesn't allow for. Hopefully won't have to test the theory. Did an interesting drill where half of the class stood in a circle and closed their eyes the other half walked around and attacked them. Half of the walking group had pads so if you were checked by a pad you had to open your eyes and punch it quickly or if someone put a front-choke on you you had to open your eyes and deliver the proper counter. It was scary to be just standing there with your eyes closed and feel someones hands come around your neck.

This past class we learned elbow strikes. We were taught 7 different positions for which to deliver strikes and it was a serious core and shoulder work out. Useful stuff I'm sure.

Overall, a good investment. I'm enjoying the class and look forward to what I can learn from it. Still not sure everyone who shows up has paid for it which makes me feel like a putz for actually doing so... but what can you do?