Whatever your sport, Wrestling, Karate, BJJ, or MMA, nothing gets you as pumped before a match as a good playlist.
Unfortunately, I’ve been looking for months, and if you’re not into a bunch of screaming or rap a good pre-fight playlist is hard to find. So for a while now I have been sampling various lists, and built one that I think really works so I wanted to share it. I hope you like it!
My guess is that there are several readers out there right now who look at the schools and gyms around them, and think to themselves:
“Some day. Some day I will open my own. But not now.”
Well, I wanted to share with you about a great opportunity that has come up. A chance for you to teach, and built up a student (and revenue) base without having to quit your day job, or mortgage you home.
Paul Evans, the owner of Paul Evans Martial Arts has built a great facility in Sandy Utah, where he does an amazing job of teaching Krav Maga to a mass of very loyal students. But he is looking to expand the offerings of his gym.
Specifically, he is looking for people looking to teach classes, and just need a location for:
- MMA
- Crossfit (or similar fitness program)
This is a really amazing opportunity to live your dream, without having to make the huge financial leap of getting location and equipment. Not to mention that you’ll be able to work very closely with Paul to understand what he has learned about how to market your programs, how to gain (and keep) students. What to charge, and how to really make it a successful business for yourself.
If you’re interested (and I cannot recommend Paul highly enough!) please don’t hesitate. If you don’t take this, someone else will snap it up (especially heading into the new year, and everyone re-committing themselves to fineness. Feel free to reach out to Paul directly with any questions you might have at: 801-352-7482.
I think a lot of us in the martial arts community may be in roughly the same boat when it comes to Krav Maga…
I have watched it on Human Weapon, and on fight Science. I was intrigued. It appears to be very serious… very aggressive. Tailored to be effective against weapons, and to really disable an opponent. Definitely not sport.
But that’s what I have gleaned from TV. It left me unsure what the art was really about. It left me Krav curious, and wondering, “What the hell is Krav Maga really?”
Well, Paul Evans of Paul Evans Martial arts invited my son and I out to a six hour seminar with one of the top Krav Maga teachers in the country. I don’t intend to imply to be an expert. But this writeup is my opinion on Krav Maga after that experience.
Not just unarmed:
One of the first eye opening items during our training was that Krav Maga is not just about defense from weapons. Krav Maga incorporates the usage of weapons as well. In particular is the hand-gun. As we trained there were many times when most arts might refer to the “left hand” or the “right hand” or even “strong hand” or “dominant hand.” But in our training for Krav Maga the hands and feet were referred to as “gun hand side” and “non gun hand.” similarly we would address the “gun side leg” or “non gun side leg.”
Krav Maga has strong punches, elbows, knees, and kicks. Obviously taking many of its elements from a Muay Thai base. But we also spent time drilling on being able to draw and fire quickly and effectively, as well as using our kicks and strikes to gain enough distance to fend off a knife and go for our firearm.
The concept of Self Defense:
One of the other things that really struck me during our training is that it made me drastically rethink the concept of “Self Defense.” This term is so broad, and means so many different things to just as many people. But if you look at most Martial Arts, and what is meant by “self defense” I think you have to look at what is the realistic expectation of most of its practicers as to how and when they will actually be likely to use it.
Be it Karate, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, or even MMA, most of these arts train people with an expectation that they will either use this in a sport setting, or that they will use it if they are bullied, picked on, or need to get into a bit of a scrap in a bar or parking lot. Yes, there are elements of knife or gun defense in most of these arts, but these are secondary. In Krav Maga they are at the forefront.
Based on what we saw, and did with our new friends that day, I would not refer to Krav Maga as “self defense.” I think that we already have to many ideas as to what that means. What we saw struck me much more as “Life Retention”. If you asked most of the people we were training with when they felt they would be likely to use their skills, I would guess that the huge majority would respond with something along the lines of, “When someone is trying to take my life.”
This was pervasive in the training. At one point I have to admit I was talking rather that listening. In most arts I would have been chastised with a “Be respectful and listen,” or something similar. The whispered message here was, “Be quiet. We’re trying to save your life here.”
Training is intense. We used Shock Knifes that would arc and pop like a taser to let you know they meant business, and would give you a good electrical bite if you let your attacker get too close. This is meant to train you to live when someone intends otherwise.
Where it fits:
I think that each martial art has its place. I have written recently on why I chose the art of Judo. There are other reasons to choose other arts. If you want to fight in a cage, Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu may be the best mix there is (although I would add in something with take-down skills.) So where does Krav Maga fit?
In my opinion, Krav Maga is an excellent design of “You are trying to take my life. I intend to very aggressively counter attack you such that I can eliminate your threat and escape or so that I can kill you instead.”
Thank you to Paul, and to our new friends for the great experience.
Honestly, how many of us have seen Krav Maga on Human Weapon and Fight Science and not been at least a little bit curious? Sure, it’s not a sport. But if you were ever truly in a life threatening situation what have you seen that would be more effective?
I know, at this point you’re either already into Krav Maga, or you’ve decided that you’re busy enough with whatever other art you’re learning that you don’t really have time. But c’mon. You know you’re curious
Paul Evans has brought it to my attention that there is a really unique opportunity for you to attend a local even put on by one of the best in the country in Krav Maga. This is a great opportunity to just try it out, and see what you think.
James Hiromasa is one of only a handful of black belt and fully certified Krav Maga law enforcement instructors anywhere. He trains not only law enforcement, but the military as well, and is one of the very few to be certified to train trainers in Krav Maga as well.
The event will be held at:
Rail Event Center. 235 North 500 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84116.
(For those who haven’t been to this facility it is really, really slick. It’s a concert venue that should work great for this seminar!)
The Seminar runs from 10:00 to 4:00 on November 20th, and is $99. It will cover various forms of combat and techniques including those against gun and knives. You can access a PDF with all of the details here.
This is really a unique opportunity with a word-class talent. I plan on attending. Say “hi” if you see me there please… this will be my first Krav Maga event, but I didn’t want to miss it!!
we are moving to draper. new location will be on 12300 south and between 7 and 800 east. if all goes as planned we should be in the new facility by mid august. if you have ever thought about trying Israeli Krav Maga then come see us. i will knock off $20.00 off memberships if you mention Utah martial art.com www.kravmagaslc.com. we have a great program and offer krav maga 6 days a week, grappling 2 times a week and mma 3 times a week. come check us out.
Krav Maga SLC is hosting a weapons seminar held by German Krav Maga Federation owner and Chief Instructor – Sejoscha Agiri. Joshi, as we call him owns 13 schools in Germany and is one of the top instructors in Germany. His seminars are always packed and students leave feeling they have truly learned Krav Maga from one of the best!!! This seminar will cover Guns, Knives and sticks defenses as well as third party protection and hostage training. If the weather permits, the seminar will be held at Jordanelle State park. Friday night will be open for all and there families. Camp, eat, play games with the kids and get to know everyone. Sat. training begins. This is a great chance to train and see what Krav Maga is about. Everyone is welcome regardless of your Martial Arts Background.
Seminar will be held on September 25th 2010 from noon to 6 p.m. there will also be some outdoor fitness training beginning at 10 a.m. for those hardcore people.
For more information contact Paul Evans at www.kravmagaslc.com – a flyer is available on the website. For more nfo on Joshi visit www.defend2survive.com
Thumb down and forward. That’s all it took to release the strap and draw the weapon from its holster. Thumb down and forward.
But I couldn’t do it in the roughly 1.7 seconds it took for the attacker to cover twenty-plus feet. I had to abandon the weapon and go right to Krav Maga’s regular stick defense. You can watch the video here.
Even after 19 years of Krav Maga stress training, it still amazes me how small changes in circumstance can affect performance and reaction time.
Now, to discuss this specific situation, let’s make a few basic assumptions. First, that I am a reasonably good athlete with reasonably good hand-eye coordination. Second, that the borrowed holster I was using was secure but not complicated to operate. (I had, in fact, practiced the simple release movement several times while waiting my turn in the stress drill.) Third, that I have reasonably good reaction time when dealing with Krav Maga stick and knife defenses (you will have to take this on faith; I don’t claim to be perfect, but I’ve done this sort of thing for a long time).
The reason I make these assumptions is to identify what I think is the one important factor: the situation was new. It wasn’t complex (the holster was easy to operate). Nor was it particularly stressful for me. It was just new. That “newness” was all that was needed to slow my reaction time enough to change my defense.
This is true of all of us. Every new situation tests our abilities. To keep our training true, and to maintain a decent state of awareness, we need to constantly change up our environment and circumstances. To push yourself, try changing up any of the following factors as often as you can:
• Time of day
• Clothing
• Altitude
• Energy level
• Flooring
• Operating space
• Size/strength of opponent
• Resistance level of opponent
• Lighting
Remember, the environment might not be inherently difficult, but the very newness of it will be a factor. The more we take ourselves out of our comfort zone, the better prepared we will be if we are ever confronted by violence.
krav maga slc will be hosting a womens only self defense seminar on Sat May 15th 2010. this seminar will cover issues that women face today when attached. topics will include:
Seminar Topics:
Art of Distraction
Understanding Conflict & Anger
IBR (insticnitve Body Reactions)
de-escalation & diffusing tactics
Use of envioroment
Rape Pre vention
Krav Maga is the Official System of self defense employed by the Israeli Defense Forces, Israeli Anti-Terrorist Units, and Hundreds of Law Enforcement Agencies World Wide. Krav Maga emerged in a enviorment where extreme violence was common. No defense tactics program in the world is more battle-tested than Krav Maga. Based on simple principles and instinctive movements, this reality based system is designed to teach real self defense in the shortest possible time. Learn to defend against common chokes, grabs, bearhugs, as well as weapons, such as guns, knives and sticks.
this is a great oppurtunity for anyone wanting to learn to protect themselves. we will address hair pulls, bear hug grabs and ground tactics. for more information please contact Paul Evans at 801-942-2693 or www.kravmagaslc.com
Whatever your sport, Wrestling, Karate, BJJ, or MMA, nothing gets you as pumped before a match as a good playlist.
Honestly, how many of us have seen Krav Maga on Human Weapon and Fight Science and not been at least a little bit curious? Sure, it’s not a sport. But if you were ever truly in a life threatening situation what have you seen that would be more effective?
