An OPEN Letter of concern to Krav Maga Institutions World Wide. Written By: Idan Abolnik Addressed to: Krav Maga Instituions Worldwide This past week I requested to challenge two organizations I came across advertising their joint event on Facebook. Challenging, I believe, is something that one does when one wants to check the validity and effectiveness of a physical system. Athletes compete against one another to decide who is the best as standard procedure. Swimmers do it, jockey’s do it, florists do it, so what makes Krav Maga any different? I’ll tell you; what makes it different is that the level of challenge and testing one’s trainer should be more severe and realistic because it involves the outcome of your LIFE in a violent situation. This has nothing to do with BELTS or TROPHIES. After turning me down to challenge Moshe Katz at their seminar (due to fear of disrespect to the guest), I requested a private challenge with Mr Des Brown from Elite Defence Academy. We agreed on a time at his studio. When someone is teaching you defensive moves that could save or destroy you, there should never be any point during which a challenge should be seen as disrespectful or out of place. Your life is more important than anybody’s ego or concept of respect and you have every right to ensure that what you are learning or “buying” will be effective. I was shocked at the manner in which Krav Maga was presented to me at this studio. Let me put this in perspective before I begin. 1. Krav Maga is a “hand to hand combat system” originating from the Israeli defense force used in combat and war to SURVIVE whatever attack comes one’s way. 2. Krav Maga is learned through practice, not theory. Reading a theory book, a manual, a poster or even watching a DVD will NEVER teach you a physical defense system. Opponent resistance is essential to teach correct technique and efficacy. Training on a bag or with gloves and non-physical contact will NEVER give you a realistic knowledge or skill to resist a real attacker. I was born in Israel, I grew up in Israel, I was selected for one of the most “Elite” special forces in Israel, I learned Krav Maga in the Israeli Special Forces, I served in TWO WARS using Krav Maga every day of my life, often, to save my own life when confronted by the enemy. Upon leaving the army, I continued to give training in Krav Maga to Police, Special Police Units, Special Forces, Police Reservists and Military WORLDWIDE. I have protected ambassadors and prime ministers, politicians and celebrities and trained the people who took over from me, to protect them too. The chief instructor of the anti terror unit in Israel itself, recommends my services and training above all other. To name a few, special units that recommend my training as the most effective worldwide are Yamas, Lotar, Golani, Consubine, Carabienerie, Colmoskine, SARS Close Protection Unit and Alpine Unit. Given my background of the past 20 years, I expected so much more from an academy certified by Israeli Krav International. My first taste of what South Africans are learning at EDA was disrespectful to everything Krav Maga stands for. Des Brown teaches numerous philosophies, the first of which is South African law and the dangers of using this defensive technique in order to save your life should a case of assault, murder, or attempted murder be opened against you. From what I have learnt first hand about the law and police system in South Africa, this is inevitable. Whether you slap someone in a drunken brawl, or protect your young daughter and wife from brutal rape, law, court and judgment at various levels is certain. The second lesson I learned with EDA, is to surrender. If a criminal has a weapon and wants your possessions… give it to him to save your life. It’s obvious to me that this instructor feels he has some hidden intellect that this attacker will simply take his goods and leave him unharmed. In the most brutally violent country on the globe, this can NEVER be one’s first line of defense. In South Africa, you will be shot for your cell phone, raped for R50 and hacked to death for less. There is NEVER certainty that your attacker will leave you unharmed once he has what he wants. Crime and terror are not simple. You cannot take a military combat system, water it down for civilians and expect the same results when then students are faced with a very real criminal threat. The army taught me everything I know, from mental through to physical strength and technique, through committed, constant practice and real life experience. Without my God this would also not have been possible. Des Brown could not, when tested, demonstrate the efficacy of any of his moves with realistic resistance and out of a bruised ego took to his Facebook page to lay insults upon me. In Israel, we approach people to their faces with insult or compliment. I can only assume that he resorted to this cowardly behaviour because he has no ground to stand on when the practical facts or the flaws in his training and academy are laid bare. I agree with a few points he made though, I am a madman, I am arrogant and I am rude. My students learn as closely as I had to in the army in a comfortable studio. They get drilled from 16year old school boys to petite pianists to 76 year old pensioners and yes, large strong body builders. They all train the same, get drilled and shouted at the same and can all defend themselves to any means necessary. But I am willing to challenge and prove the success of my system to ANYONE who walks into my door because I am so sure of it’s EFFECTIVENESS in reality. The day someone can physically demonstrate to me that my system is ineffective, I will be a man, open my doors, learn what I can from him and not deface his character on a social media platform from behind a keyboard. Speaking of social media and the internet, was has disturbed me about many of your social online platforms is how you represent your systems and Krav Maga training as FUN, FITNESS and FAMILY orientated: Fun to learn – Moshe Katz Give us FIVE MINUTES and we’ll give you practical, effective techniques that you can learn and use IMMEDIATELY” – Elite Defense Academy So… if you’d like to find out why we’re rated as the best self defense training organization in South Africa, and how you can easily gain access to our scheduled classes, seminars, workshops and one-on-one training, contact us. – Elite Defense Academy As Des puts it: "I believe that our organisation reflects the true spirit of Krav Maga- we offer the very best combat training to anyone who wants it, while instilling a culture of fun, community, responsibility, and mutual respect in everything we do. Who wouldn’t want to be part of something like that?" Krav Maga is serious and life altering when applied and trained correctly. It is not a light-hearted system that you can practice on your friends or compete in for trophies and belts. This combat system should never be watered down for civilians to increase your sales and then demand the same results in reality. These things are unacceptable to me and make me ashamed of all of those instructors claiming to be specialists in the field. Krav Maga is about COMMITMENT, REALISM, RESISTANCE, RESPONSIBILITY, CHALLENGE and ULTIMATELY RESULT. Pure and simple. I invite all of you to our facilities in South Africa or we are not shy to come to your studios either. Let us ensure that we are always holding to the TRUE spirit of combat Krav Maga and the highest levels of excellence. Our students lives are in our hands, and if we need to be crazy and mad to ensure this… SO BE IT. Yours truly, Idan Abolnik
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:16:32 +0000
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