International Women’s Day 2018: Empowering Women Through Krav Maga

In celebration and contribution to International Women’s Day 2018 EITAN Krav Maga will be joining FEKM federation clubs across the United Kingdom, Europe and the world in specialised Krav Maga Self-Defence training events for women. All our self-defence training events for International Women’s Day 2018 will be free to all women and teenage girls to attend. Our focus will be to empower women through Krav Maga, both physically and psychologically, in a single 2 to 3-hour training session, with skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

IWD 2018 FREE Women’s Self-Defence Course

Book Your Free Women’s Self-Defence Course

Women’s Self-Defence Course
International Women’s Day 2018
19.20-22.00  Thursday 8th March
EITAN Krav Maga, Trevor Bailey Building, Dulwich Common, London SE21 7EX

Book Your FREE Course Here

100 Years – Women’s Right to Vote 1918

This year we are also celebrating another very important date in the United Kingdom. 100 years ago on 6th February 1918 women suffragettes, at huge personal cost, finally won the initial right to vote. In fact, one of the first ever woman martial arts instructors in the the western world was the English suffragette, Edith Margaret Williams.

The ‘Suffra-Jitsu’ Bodyguards 

Edith Margaret Williams (later Garrud), a small woman of 150cm height, instructed her fellow activists in the core suffragette protection group known as “The Bodyguard” in secret locations. They trained in order to protect themselves and their suffragette leaders, such as Emmeline Pankhurst, against arrest and the brutality of the police. Williams trained them in Jiu Jitsu, the use of clubs as defensive weapons and tactics such as sabotage and subterfuge. “The Bodyguard” unit subsequently fought a number of well-publicised, hand-to-hand, combative confrontations with police officers who were attempting to arrest their leaders. And they somehow achieved this in long Victorian dresses, eight layers of petticoats and corsets.

One of the first ever woman martial arts instructors in the the western world was an English suffragette, Edith Margaret Williams (later Gurrud)

#Press for Progress

Coming back to the present, the theme of International Women’s Day 2018 is “Press For Progress”. And that’s no surprise. The Global Gender Gap Report 2017 by the World Economic Forum predicts that it will take 217 years to achieve gender equality at the current rate of change. The #MeToo campaign has also exposed the enormous scale of the threats and attacks across industries and nations that women and girls are systematically exposed to on a daily basis as they progress in their lives and careers.

All our self-defence training events in the UK for International Women’s Day 2018 will be free to all women and teenage girls to attend.

Transformation through the Simplicity and Power of Krav Maga

What a perfect time for us to share our passion for the simplicity and power of Krav Maga whilst making a huge contribution to women’s lives. All our self-defence training events in the UK for International Women’s Day 2018 will be free to all women and teenage girls to attend.

Our focus will be to empower women, both physically and psychologically, in a single 2 to 3-hour training session and to open up the world of Krav Maga to women who may not otherwise imagine it is for them.

International Women’s Day 2018. Empowering Women Through Krav Maga.

We will have a voluntary contribution or T-Shirt purchase to raise funds for the incredible work of the “Krav Maga Women Protect” charity. We will be teaching from the syllabus of 17 FEKM techniques identified as the most important for women by “Krav Maga Women Protect” in their work with the “Red Brigade” and the women in Lucknow, India. Our focus will be to empower women, both physically and psychologically, in a single 2 to 3-hour training session and to open up the world of Krav Maga to women who may not otherwise imagine it is for them.

Book Your FREE Course Here

Our Sponsors

EITAN Krav Maga thanks the management and team at Dulwich College Sports Club for their generous sponsorship of our International Women’s Day 2018 event – Women’s Self-Defence Course.

EITAN Krav Maga wishes all our sister clubs in the  FEKM-UK and our FEKM clubs around the world hugely successful training events for International Women’s Day 2018; transformation and empowerment through Krav Maga.

Humanist Values: Krav Maga Today

The Important Role of Krav Maga Today

As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our Krav Maga federation, the FEKM, we take a look at the role of Krav Maga today.

This blog is dedicated to a very important and timely message by the founder and head of our federation Richard Douieb (Black Belt 5th Darga). This editorial piece was published in the FEKM Webzine, Issue 4, June 2017. Click here for your full copy of the FEKM Webzine.

 

Dear friends

Here we are at the 20th anniversary of our Krav Maga federation, the FEKM.

History Of The FEKM

In 1987, I found that my work in security was lacking in interest. So, I decided to start the first training of KM in Europe. Initially, I only gave one class, then two per week. I thought that the dimension of my Krav Maga project would remain artisanal.

After 3 or 4 years the first Krav Maga ‘plagiarists’ arrived. They were followed by others, and then many more. That is why, 10 years later in 1997, I decided to create the European Federation of Krav Maga. I did not want to lose this discipline which is very important to me.

20 Years On – The FEKM In 2017

Today, as you know, in terms of members we are the biggest existing Krav Maga federation in the world. But our federation is not only important in terms of student numbers. It is also important in preserving the innovative principles that are the foundation of Krav Maga today. This is something which is not found in any other method of self-defence. Krav Maga is innovative and allows for continual improvement of its program, taking into account the new needs of recent years whilst also ensuring that we are not mislead “towards something else”. Finally, our federation has a duty to keep and transmit the humanist values ​​that come directly from its founder, Imi Lichtenfeld.

Our federation has a duty to keep and transmit the humanist values ​​that come directly from its founder, Imi Lichtenfeld.

The World Today

I am well aware of the everyday difficulties of unemployment and of the world of work as I have experienced them myself, and especially those which the police are facing. I also understand that the values of our founder can ​​sometimes seem utopian. At such moments, nations are tempted to seek out authoritative and all-powerful heroes who will get them out of their difficulties. I do not decide the beliefs and position of each of you. I simply refer to what has already happened in the world in the history of mankind.

In times of economic hardship, or even famine, men have often sought a strong and radical authority to get them out of their difficulties. We are in the ideal period for the rise of such extremism.

In times of economic hardship, or even famine, men have often sought a strong and radical authority to get them out of their difficulties. We are in the ideal period for the rise of such extremism.

What I can say without uncertainty is that this direction that people have taken for remedy, from the far end of the Caucasus to the other end of the West, has invariably led humanity to catastrophes. It is only in times when they were not buried in totalitarianism and only after such disasters and misfortune that the men and women of those times realised that it was necessary to return to greater openness.

To confirm this, it is enough to look at the course of humanity since the Neolithic period. Throughout history the same causes have produced the same effects and not only in 1939-45 and during the Stalinist period. Why would it be different now?

Humanist Values – The Role Of Krav Maga Today

Our founder Imi Lichtenfeld carried strong humanist values. People who think differently can not rely on Imi and pretend to perpetuate his spirit. In any case, Imi’s humanist values will always be those of our federation, the FEKM.

Imi’s humanist values will always be those of our federation, the FEKM.

I wish an excellent 20th anniversary to all, including those who joined us well after our beginning and who continue this adventure with us.

Sincerely
Richard Douieb

Excerpt, FEKM Webzine, Issue 4, June 2017

Team FEKM-UK with Richard Douieb. Winter Course 2016 Paris.

 

 

 

 

Self-Defence Training – Is Krav Maga Right for Me?

benefits-of-self-defence-training

The Benefits of Krav Maga Self-Defence Training

Why Anybody Can Enjoy the Benefits of Krav Maga

Krav Maga self-defence training teaches a valuable and effective self-defence system. It also promotes fitness, flexibility, speed and stamina. After a short time you will notice improved mental focus and clarity. You may also notice an increased ability to deal with stressful situations. If you would like these skills and benefits you may be considering joining a club. Here’s how to know if self-defence training is right for you.

Self-Defence Training Enjoyed by People of All Ages, Shapes, and Sizes

Krav Maga was developed to meet the needs of all people – not just super-fit, agile athletes. This Israeli martial art is enjoyed by a wide and very diverse group of people.

It does not matter what height, body shape, or current fitness level you have. You won’t feel out of place at a Krav Maga training session.  You’ll find a mix of students many of who are just like you. Typically a training session will be around 35% women and 65% men and an age range of teenagers to 65+.

Krav Maga is not like some of the sports-type martial arts, which have set moves that everyone must perform in a uniform manner. Krav Maga encourages adapting techniques to work for the individual. Some of us are just not built to kick opponents at head height. So why waste time on a technique that won’t work for us in a real-life threat situation?

If you’re fit and agile, or already practice a martial art, then you’ll enjoy adding this practical, real-life self-defence system to your existing combative skills. If you want to get fit, lose weight, become more confident, and learn a practical system of self-defence, you can arrange to come along to a training session. It’s the best way to judge the benefits for yourself. Simply complete a short contact form on our website eitankravmaga.com or email us at team@eitankravmaga.com.

Friendly Encouragement and Teamwork

Krav Maga is a serious self-defence system, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. There is a level of care, focus, and concentration required while training but the lessons are conducted in a friendly and encouraging atmosphere, not one of competition or triumph versus failure.

If you’re worried that you won’t be able to do the training, or that you need to get fit first – stop worrying. You’ll be learning from experienced instructors who recognise that we’re all different and all need to progress at different speeds.

The friendly team-working doesn’t end with the training session. At Eitan Krav Maga we enjoy social occasions after training both at club level and with students in our federation clubs across the UK. This is a great way to extend your social circle, meet people from different walks of life and make new friends.  Especially if you’re new to London or the UK.

At Eitan Krav Maga everyone fits in and is welcomed. We’re all individuals with different strengths and weaknesses and together we make a great team.

Life Changing Results You Can Expect

Krav Maga self-defence training offers everyone positive changes that will benefit both body and mind.

To make Krav Maga effective in real situations, the training simulates the stress levels you will feel if facing a real threat. The training improves your mental sharpness and your ability to think clearly and act with confidence even in times of stress. In fact, the training will improve your clarity and decision making inside and outside the training room.

The positive body and mind changes will lead to benefits in many areas of your life; work, family and social life. Your health, fitness, energy levels and physical appearance will all feel and show the benefits of your Krav Maga training.

And let’s not forget that Krav Maga self-defence training primarily offers the benefit of keeping you safe – giving you the ability to avoid, escape from, or deal with any threat that you encounter.

What Are The Benefits That You’re Looking For?

You probably have your own reasons for considering Krav Maga self-defence training. Maybe there are specific benefits that you want. Perhaps there are personal concerns that you have. There is a simple way to find out how quickly you can achieve those benefits, or whether your concerns are a real challenge or not. Speak with an instructor who was once a beginner just like you. You can contact our instructors and have a friendly discussion on whether Krav Maga is right for you by calling Eitan Krav Maga on +44 (0)7976 294 825.

Would you like to learn more about Krav Maga self-defence training? Visit our website, read our blogs and take a look at what other students have to say. But in the end, the best way to find out whether Krav Maga training is right for you is to experience it for yourself. You can do that by contacting us at eitankravmaga.com and joining us for a training session.

Does Krav Maga Training Really Make You Safer? 

 freeimages-com_desolate-carpark-1496670

How to Stay Safe in the Modern World

Krav Maga training claims to make you safer, but does it really work?

Imagine parking your car at night in a dimly lit street or car park. As you get out of the car and turn to face the door as you close it, a figure appears behind you. Many people who are not trained in Krav Maga, believe that the training kicks-in at this point and the combat skills learned are used to overpower the aggressor.

If you think that’s how learning Krav Maga works, then you would be right to question its effectiveness. Let me give you some insights into the real world of Krav Maga training. Let’s explore how this practical, real-life self-defence system will keep you safe.

Krav Maga Training is About Much More Than Physical Combat – The AAEC™ System

You may be surprised to hear that we train in Krav Maga in order to not fight. In other words, Krav Maga combat skills are a kind of insurance policy – just in case – but only used when absolutely necessary. What makes Krav Maga training so effective at keeping you safe is in fact its emphasis on awareness and avoidance of potentially dangerous situations. By learning how to develop and maintain a level of awareness and presence you will have at your disposal the proven 4 tier self-defence system of self-defence:

  1. Awareness
  2. Avoidance
  3. Escape or De-escalate
  4. Combat

The above skill sets are the foundation of Krav Maga training and you’ll see that they make far more sense than simply training to fight with your attacker.

Awareness – The First And Most Important Step To Staying Safe

You will be trained to be present, mindful and aware of your surroundings as a natural every-day habit. You will also be trained to know what behavioural patterns to look for and so you will become alert to potential threats often before they develop. That certainly doesn’t mean walking around in a constant state of Red-Alert! It means you train to get into a normal routine of assessing your surroundings and the situations you are entering. You begin making conscious choices to avoid putting yourself at unnecessary risk. Awareness is absolutely key to effective self-defence.

Avoidance – The Second Step To Staying Safe

Awareness then naturally increases the chance of simply avoiding many situations that can threaten your safety. This happens in two ways.

  • Firstly, by you not putting yourself in unnecessary danger
  • Secondly, your own state of confident alertness will make you a far less desirable target

Going back to our earlier car example, after a short time training in Krav Maga you would instinctively look for a different, well-lit parking spot. And if that was not possible you would certainly assess the immediate environment before stepping out of the car.

With Krav Maga training you will learn and become aware of actions that make you vulnerable to would be attackers. For example, wearing headphones while jogging alone, walking along with your head buried in a phone as you send messages or getting into your car without glancing at the back seat first.

Escape or De-Escalation – Plan to Be Safe

Having a plan to escape or de-escalate a threatening situation will save you valuable seconds and make your actions fast and deliberate.

Let’s go back to our car parking example. Think of somewhere you regularly park your car. If you saw what you thought may be an aggressor and you had already stepped out of the car what would be your first action? What do you do if they demand your keys or wallet? What do you do if they demand you get back in the car? What do you do if they have a weapon?

Most people can’t immediately answer these questions – and if a potential threat occurs they would have the same dangerous hesitation. By training with Eitan Krav Maga you will train in and develop appropriate escape measures for the common situations and environments you enter such as public transport, walking along the street, arriving home alone, using cash points and attending crowded evening venues.

Combat – Effective Self-Defence

Sometimes in life of-course, no amount of avoidance can help you and escape is simply not possible. Dangerous situations can occur suddenly and very unexpectedly. Assailants are not novices – they have done this before. If you have not become aware of a potential threat and not been able to avoid it and there is simply no time or space for an escape you can certainly rely on Krav Maga self-defence and combative techniques to end the threat quickly and decisively.

Krav Maga is not an ancient martial art, it’s a modern form of combat training specifically developed by the Israeli military for dealing with the threats of the modern, real world. There are no elaborate movements, nor hundreds of katas and forms to learn and little by way of high-flying kicks for people who are are gymnasts.

Krav Maga training uses practical combat moves that are short and sharp, and very effective. You’ll learn how to attack vital pressure points, disable your attacker quickly and simply and apply techniques that are used by law enforcement, security and military forces around the world.

Krav Maga doesn’t look pretty. It’s not flamboyant or dance like and you don’t have to be an athlete or gymnast to learn this Israeli martial art. If you would like to learn more about Krav Maga you can view our website at eitankravmaga.com and our Facebook page at facebook.com/EitanKravMaga.

How to get started?

The single best way to learn about Krav Maga is to experience it for yourself! And you can do that by contacting us at team@eitankravmaga.com or on +44 (0)7976 294 825 and come and join us for a training session.

Still not sure whether Krav Maga is right for you? Look out for our next article: Is Krav Maga Training Right for Me? We’ll be discussing what you need to become competent at this modern Israeli martial art that offers unrivalled self-defence training for everyone.

Interview with David Fitoussi FEKM Instructor Black Belt 5th Darga

david-fitoussi-knife-defenceHello David. Thank you for speaking with us today for the Winter 2016/17 Edition of FEKM-UK Magazine. We are all looking forward to training with you in London on the 18th February for the first FEKM-UK Mastercourse of 2017. This interview is to give our students a ‘sneak preview’ of David Fitoussi and the opportunity to learn something from your formidable 29-year Krav Maga expertise. Shall we start?

What was that first clear moment in your mind when you realised that Krav Maga had connected with you for life?

David: I would say it was at my first class with Richard Douieb. After having done a year of French Boxing and having tried several martial arts, it was THE thing I was searching for. Years later, in 1996, after being injured for many months and being far from Krav Maga, I couldn’t bear to do nothing. I gained too much weight and was getting out of breath. I also really missed being able to teach others and help people to defend themselves.

David, would you mind sharing a story from your personal Krav Maga journey that had a profound, humbling or revealing impact on you?

David: During life, there will be good and bad moments. Krav Maga has always be the solid rock in my life, in all of them.

Our founding master, Imi Lichtenfeld, created Krav Maga and taught his students so that they “may walk in peace”. Would you share with us an experience where you have used Krav Maga to either diffuse or manage a potentially dangerous situation?

David: The paradox is here; the more you train in Krav Maga the less you fight in the real life. And so you walk in peace. Even when I was a bodyguard, I never used Krav Maga directly. Only management of people and situations. One time, I did have to use Krav Maga when a group of three people wanted to steal my wallet. I had the opportunity to knock-out one of them and escape. But Krav Maga can also be very good for everyday situations. A perfect example is when in 2006, a car crossed my way while I was driving a scooter. My reflex was to avoid a direct front collision but I had no other choice than to fall on the road. Krav Maga rolls and falls are very useful in the that case!

You have trained for many years directly with our FEKM director, Richard Douieb. Would you mind sharing with us what impact this has had on you?

David: At first when I was very young (about 16 years old) and I was pretty impressed by Richard’s skills and cardio. At the beginning we were only a few students (about 10-15) and I had the feeling that I was practising something very useful and very efficient. It gives you confidence. It also shows you how to choose people you might follow… Or not! Richard was a very skilled person and a good representative for Krav Maga. So it also consolidated my free will for things other than Krav Maga.

What key advice would you give newer FEKM students who are just starting out on their Krav maga path?

David: Don’t chat during classes. Practice. Experiment. Keep the objectives in mind… more and more efficient, learn to defend, learn to fight… But overall, stay humble. Personally, I have found in Krav Maga a perfect way of life. Everything has to be simple, fast and efficient.

In your experience, what is the most challenging aspect of Krav Maga that students must master as they develop and progress?

David: Krav Maga has to be taken as a whole. When you achieve the road to your Black Belt 1st Darga, it opens new perspectives and a new understanding. But in fact, it takes about 10 years to control our discipline. So I think the challenge for us all is to challenge ourselves constantly to remain out of our comfort zone as we gain experience.

We all have the 18th February FEKM-UK Masterclass in our diaries and a brand new gymnasium venue booked for the event. What are you most looking forward to in your London Mastercourse?

David: I will be pleased to find motivated people who are thirsty to share knowledge.

And finally, what can our FEKM-UK students and instructors most look forward to when training with you on the 18th February?

David: Getting out of their comfort zone 😉  It will be hard, but it will be good!

by Victoria Kitson
Eitan Krav Maga
London