Posted by: bullbaiter
The best Krav exercise we ever did - 06/06/06 12:56 PM
I trained in Krav a few years back in Boston, and gained so much from it. One of the best exercises we ever did came on a day we were actually doing groundwork. As is typical, I think, for Krav Maga training, we were just working on some fundamentals -- attacking from the mount, defending from the mount, basic sweep and bridging techniques.
Then the instructor told us to get up and come outside. We went out onto the street in front of the studio (in an ugly industrial area, like so many MA studios) and tried the techniques on the asphalt. It was brutal, and it didn't matter whether you were on top or bottom. The asphalt dug into knees, back, ankles, skulls, and skinned knuckles. Doing the techniques we had been doing on the mats just minutes before was nearly impossible. We returned to the studio in a lot of pain.
Krav has a reputation for not emphasizing grappling enough, which I presume results from its military background. I was fortunate enough to have instructors who saw the importance of groundfighting skills and grappling, and taught us some basics, but I learned that day that I would MUCH rather fight from my feet if I can help it.
I'd rather fight from my feet, and risk getting a black eye than have to drag my knuckles or my forehead across the asphalt to get a guy in a headlock. God forbid you take a guy down and land on broken glass.
(And before some grapplers jump on me, keep in mind that I am cross-training in BJJ now. Grappling is critical to any self-defense repetoire, I know. You have to learn how to grapple to best avoid being forced to.)
Just thought I'd share and open it up to other's illuminating Krav experiences.
Then the instructor told us to get up and come outside. We went out onto the street in front of the studio (in an ugly industrial area, like so many MA studios) and tried the techniques on the asphalt. It was brutal, and it didn't matter whether you were on top or bottom. The asphalt dug into knees, back, ankles, skulls, and skinned knuckles. Doing the techniques we had been doing on the mats just minutes before was nearly impossible. We returned to the studio in a lot of pain.
Krav has a reputation for not emphasizing grappling enough, which I presume results from its military background. I was fortunate enough to have instructors who saw the importance of groundfighting skills and grappling, and taught us some basics, but I learned that day that I would MUCH rather fight from my feet if I can help it.
I'd rather fight from my feet, and risk getting a black eye than have to drag my knuckles or my forehead across the asphalt to get a guy in a headlock. God forbid you take a guy down and land on broken glass.
(And before some grapplers jump on me, keep in mind that I am cross-training in BJJ now. Grappling is critical to any self-defense repetoire, I know. You have to learn how to grapple to best avoid being forced to.)
Just thought I'd share and open it up to other's illuminating Krav experiences.