[Blog] Krav Maga in action: Karate and Tai chi take a backseat as this Israeli form of hand-to-hand combat prepares Chennaiites for the real world 5 reasons why Krav Maga cou… http://s3nt.com/bpmp

[Blog] Krav Maga in action: Karate and Tai chi take a backseat as this Israeli form of hand-to-hand combat prepare… http://s3nt.com/bpmp

Krav Maga in action

(My Original Blog Post: http://vickykapoor.com/photo-gallery/kravmaga-in-action)

Karate and Tai chi take a backseat as this Israeli form of hand-to-hand combat prepares Chennaiites for the real world 5 reasons why Krav Maga could work for you

YOU belong to the low-carbs and six-pack set. Great, but how much of your gym work is going to help you save yourself from a sudden violent attack, an assailant or road rage? Imagine being assaulted by hoodlums when getting back home in the middle of night. You’ll require more than just washboard abs and yoga stretches to get through unarmed and unharmed. Krav Maga, a street-smart self-defense technique favoured by the Israeli military, promises to bail you out. It is as much about self-defense as it is about fitness and the good news is that it has come to Chennai.

‘‘There are no hard and fast rules in this technique. It is battle-tested, street smart, based on the simplest body reflexes and is an ever-evolving system meant for life threatening situations, where no rules apply. It’s based on your instincts,’’ explains Vicky Kapoor, founder director and chief instructor of the only official school for Krav Maga in Delhi. Kapoor’s clients include National Conference Party president, Omar Abdullah, and his wife Payal and Naveen Jindal (MP). The school has branches in Calcutta, Hyderabad, Bangalore and have recently opened a branch in Chennai.

Incorporating new age defenses like anticarjacking, anti-kidnapping and anti-sabotage, Krav Maga was developed by the Israeli military. But the fitness benefits offered by it are tremendous. The workout includes power drills, cardio vascular coordination, stamina and endurance-building exercises. In fact people around the world, including celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez (Enough), Britney Spears and Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raider), practise KravMaga. Kapoor, incidentally, was the chief action director of the Akshay Kumar-starrer, Khatron Ka Khiladi, which was telecast on Colors.

‘‘It also helps one develop faster reflexes and better flexibility, making for an effective fitness workout. Another important aspect about the art is that we provide the same training for men and women, as the threats both face are the same,’’ continues Kapoor.

What is absent are the yoga-like movements found in East Asian martial arts and rules against striking the groin, eyes, or other vulnerable parts of the body In class, though, steps are . taken to keep people safe. ‘‘In Delhi, which is considered unsafe for women, we teach methods to combat eve-teasing, rape and other domestic violence,’’ says Kapoor.

Clients are mostly from the IT sector, BPOs, even housewives. The school is planning to incorporate self-defense classes for children as well. ‘‘Krav Maga is big in the US and Europe, and the trend is quickly catching up in India, especially over the past four years,’’ offers Kapoor. In Chennai, there are branches at Adyar and Velachery Their two-and-a half week course with 8 hours of instruction would cost Rs 1,500.

Note: Recommended only for those with a fighting spirit, and not for the faint-hearted. More details at www. kravmagachennai.com and www. kravmagaindia.com. Vicky Kapoor can be contacted at +91 9810412442.

5 reasons why Krav Maga would work for you

• You will learn to defend yourself: Krav Maga teaches you practical, proven techniques against the most common real-life attacks you might face.
• Be in terrific shape: You will lose body fat while gaining muscle, so you will look and feel better. With increased heart rate, you will breathe and sleep better.
• Reduce stress: Krav Maga has special training drills designed to help you function under stress, shock, and the adrenal rush of a sudden encounter.
• Build your confidence: Krav Maga students say it gives them a positive attitude and makes them feel good about themselves.
• A culmination of fitness and self-defense: No complicated rituals, no crazy outfits, no nonsense, just stateof-the-art fitness and self-defense training

Hollywood showcase Instances of Krav Maga in films

• Jennifer Lopez in ‘Enough‘
• Matt Damon in ‘Bourne Ultimatum’
• Jason Statham in ‘Transporter‘
• Sandra Bullock in ‘Miss Congeniality‘

Know the basics

Krav Maga is a highly effective, battle-tested Israeli system of defensive tactics, fighting skills and self-defense. Krav means ‘Combat’ and Maga means ‘contact.’ Conventional forms of martial arts use age-old methods, whereas Krav Maga is a contemporary and practical form of self-defence. One trains in a real-life scenario inspired by real sudden attacks.