|
Defending Against Knife Threats at Very Tight Range (Being a Hostage)
By Eyal Yanilov
Head Instructor
In our history - during the first couple of decades of Krav Maga existence, Imi used to give solutions to problems he encountered or problems that were given to him by the IDF officers, soldiers and later his civilian students.
When I started training KM in 1974 we had nothing in the curriculum related to defending against knife threats. I saw that the subject needed to be addressed about 10 years later, during my work with civilian instructors and students as well as with several Israeli units dealing with anti-terror. Also, there was accumulating evidence that the issue of knife threats is becoming more and more common in Israel and around the world. I collected and analyzed the different options of knife threats at far and close ranges, then I went to Imi with the problems and solutions I reached, this was in the mid 1980's. Naturally, as one who grew inside KM, I could only rely on what Imi taught me; how to defend against different (hand and knife) attacks and (gun) threats and upon my own experience and logic. In practice, I used the solutions Imi gave for defending bayonet attacks, knife attacks and pistol threats, to compose variations of those solutions and I made modifications to suit the problems of knife threats. I took the set of problems and solutions to Imi to be "certified" as part of the curriculum. He liked what he saw; the defenses were natural to perform, very effective and according to his way. Those set of techniques were indeed inserted in the new curriculum of the system that we had made in the late 1990's. In later years we also added to the system another set of problems-solutions that are relevant to very close range, where the attacker controls the defender very tightly, as in hostage situations and other common tight threats. Here we have incorporated principles and techniques originated from the subjects of - releases from chokes and headlocks, gun and knife threats.
In this article I would like to focus on this last set of techniques.
To continur reading 
***
How to Train in the Heat
Inspired by the recent heat waves we have been experiencing here in sunny Israel and the large number of activities in hot weather, this month we decided to provide you with some tips for training in heat conditions. We hope you find it usefull.
Physical activity translates mostly (around 80%) into heat energy and raises the body temperature. When it's hot outside an additional amount of heat is absorbed from the environment.
Excessive sun exposure during summer, especially when combined with a physical effort, can lead to heat stroke and a life threatening situation due to the sharp increase in body temperature. In addition to the well-known dangers such as dehydration, sun burns and skin cancer, the temperature increase can cause liver damage, which manifests usually as an increase in liver enzymes as seen in blood tests and in the destruction of liver cells.
In warm countries which are characterized with heavy heat loads, the danger is especially big and not once liver damage is one of the identifying symptoms of heat stroke.
As far as possible avoid physical activities in the sun. If you must, restrict your exposure to low radiation hours and protect yourself with the appropriate attire, hat and lots of water to prevent dehydration.
So how do we keep on training without taking unnecessary risks?
1. Train early in the morning or during the evening.
Direct sunshine contributes 5-7�C to the temperature. For example: at noon, 30�C in the shade translates into 35�C in the sun.
2. Trained for an hour? Rest for 15 min.
If the effort is big, rest every 30-40 minutes. This is not a break in order to rest, rather, time to allow your body to reduce its temperature and chill down.
3. Think how much water you need to drink.
Weigh yourself before and after you train. Each kilogram you lose is actually a liter of water you sweat away.
4. Drink water only.
When it comes to athlete's sugar disturbs the fluid absorption, therefore it is recommended to drink water only. What about isotonic drinks? You can drink them, but note that the body only really needs them after 4 hours of training.
5. Moderate your motivation.
Listen to your body and don't let your motivation push you too far. If you feel shortness of breath, muscle pain and fast pulse, confusion or weakness, stop the activity and get checked.
6. Don't train outdoors during a heavy heat load.
The chance of dehydration and heat stroke during these days is high.
7. Sick? Stay home.
Don't train outside when sick or on medication. Disease weakens the body and hurts the heat regulating system and combined with a heavy heat load becomes dangerous.
** All recommendations are general and are not instead of personal professional consulting.
***
During the upcoming months we will be publishing parts of our Moral Aspects, Values and Principles of Krav Maga and KMG DVD on our Youtube channel.
In this first ever, one of a kind DVD Shihan Ronen Katz (Israel Branch Chief Kyokushin Karate, 6th Dan and Israel Branch Chief Bhrigu Yoga) interviews Master Eyal about the fundamental components of the system, morals and ethics, instructor & student relations and much more.
Click HERE to take a peek.
We would like to share with you a few words by Shihan Ronen Katz.
I was delighted by the opportunity to share a few words with the amazing community of KMG trainees worldwide.
I made my first steps in the martial arts world in 1979 as a Krav Maga trainee and after a few years I received the Black belt from the founder Master Imi.
Today, after 33 years of fighting and instructing (6 of which were in Tokyo as a direct student of Masutatsu Oyama - Founder of Kyokushin Karate), I would like to share with you a unique and clever training method I was exposed to in 2010. During one of my visits to Master Eyal, I saw on one of the living room shelves a metal ball with a handle. Eyal immediately offered to explain and demonstrate one of its uses. I of course did my best to follow him. After a number of swings I felt my Thigh muscles cramping.
It did its work!
The same day I surfed the internet for information. When I arrived to www.Dragondoor.Com and Master Pavel Tsatsouline I understood that there is a method and deep body of knowledge here.
I decided to join a RCK course in Hungary. The professionalism and knowledge demonstrated by Chief instructor Pavel Tsatsouline and the team of instructors was extraordinary, the course was demanding and challenging with vast amounts of knowledge.
The same year RKC Master Peter Lakatosh (KMG Expert) was sent to Israel and held a two-day introductory course to senior instructors of the Israeli security services.
Nowadays, Hard Style Kettlebell is an integral part of my and of course my students training regime.
I sincearly recommend to any martial arts trainee to seriously consider participating in a RKC course and read "Enter the kettlebell" and "The Naked Warrior" books written by Pavel Tsatsoulin.
Regards,
Shihan Ronen Katz
Israel Branch Chief Kyokushin Karate, 6 Dan
Israel Branch Chief Bhrigu/Raja Yoga
R.K.C Instructor
| 
