Krav Maga – Martial Art Or Not?
Is Krav Maga a martial art or not?
As far as Krav Maga practitioners are concerned it’s more about martial than art.
Now what does that mean? Good question.
For some, traditional martial arts appear to be too rigid and simply too tradition-bound.
Krav Maga strives to be a ‘defensive tactics system’ which means it has to constantly adapt to situation and circumstances.
It is NOT a sport. It is about self-defense that will get you home safely.
Krav Maga incorporates elements of many martial arts themselves.
Krav Maga has been the prime fighting system of the Israeli Defense Forces since the State of Israel was founded in 1948.
Imi Lichtenfeld, who created Krav Maga (Hebrew for contact combat), was the Israeli military school’s chief instructor for physical training and Krav Maga.
He already developed the concepts of an effective self-defense system while still living as a Jew in Eastern Europe and fighting fascist thugs in the 1930s.
Years later in Israel, Mr. Lichtenfeld continued to refine the system to base it on the body’s natural instincts under stress and making it a very aggressive, “never quit” combat system.
Check out this video clip and as always viewer discretion is advised.
Do not attempt without a certified instructor and not before consulting your physician!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRFR7HB5Kho[/youtube]
So, is Krav Maga a martial art or not? Let me know what you think.
2 Comments to Krav Maga – Martial Art Or Not?
Anyway you package it; a fighting art is a martial art. I like wikipedia’s article on this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_arts). As far as krav being any different – I think it is window dressing as any Eastern striking art can claim.
Unless krav unleashes a humanistic shape-shifting ability or something else “new” I think that fighting is fighting is fighting.
Interesting post.
TigerOctober 24, 2009
Thanks for writing in about Krav Maga.
I’m glad you found the post interesting.
Stay tuned for more.
Thanks again.
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October 18, 2009