Krav Maga: Israeli Self-Defense makes it big in Mumbai

With growing number rapes and other acts of violence in Mumbai, a number of citizens are enrolling themselves for various courses in self-defence. One of the techniques gaining popularity is the Israeli self-defence system known as Krav Maga.

Krav Maga literally means "close contact" in Hebrew. This defense system has its roots in 1930s Europe, where its founder, Slovakia-born Imi Lichtenfeld, developed the system to protect himself from anti-Semitic street gangs. In 1948, once the state of Israel had formed, IDF's (Israeli Defense Force) officials approached Imi and requested him to develop a system of self defense and fighting based upon his experience and his work with special forces units as the Haganah, Palmach and Palyam.

After Krav Maga gained immense popularity as a official combative training for all military personnel, Israeli police and security forces, the need for an international organization was felt. It was then that the International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF) was born. IKMF was built not only to address the needs of the security forces but also to cater to the need of the everyday individual. The system worked out by IKMF, which is headquartered in Tel Aviv,  has a great advantage over other forms of self defense as it is based on technique and not strength. IKMF's street ready defense system became a hot favorite amongst women fighting to hold on their own against men.

IKMF has its training here in Mumbai which is led by Sensei Sadashiv Mogaveera, the senior-most full-time Krav Maga instructor certified by the IKMF. Having trained under his guidance for over two years, I have definitely become more confident to protect myself and those close to me, on the street. I interviewed the instructors at Krav Maga Mumbai and this is what they had to say-

Krishna: Tell us a little bit about your class

Krav Maga Mumbai: We train civilians in Krav Maga, which is an Israeli self-defense system. We are affiliated with the Israeli Krav Maga Federation (IKMF), the only authentic source of Krav Maga training in the world. Unlike martial arts, Krav Maga is simple to learn and easy to retain, and can be learned in a relatively short period of time. It is not a sport, so there are no rules, tournaments or belts. It is based on real-life scenarios and threats. It is also an excellent fitness regimen. Once you start training in Krav Maga, you will never feel the need to be inside a gym again.

Our students come from all walks of life – ex-servicemen, security personnel, business owners, lawyers, bankers, teachers, engineers, architects, managers, airline crew, students, homemakers....the list goes on. Although our class has a fairly large number of male members, off-late women (from school-going girls to business women) have started joining us. At present, we conduct classes in Vile Parle (West), Bandra (West), Malad (West),

Krishna: How safe do you think the city is for women?

Krav Maga Mumbai: Well, it's as safe or unsafe as you make it. Truth be told, over 90% of crime against women can be prevented if they simply increase their awareness of their surroundings. The attacker's biggest advantage is surprise. The victim's biggest disadvantage is her oblivion. A big part of Krav Maga training is increasing awareness of one's surroundings and developing the ability to fend off a surprise attack with relative ease.

Krishna: What steps can women take to protect themselves from eve teasing?

Krav Maga Mumbai: Step 1 – Be alert, understand the situation. If you are going through a public place, say a railway station or even an ATM, its a terrible idea to plug in your ear-phones and get engrossed in your iPod or mp3 player. A woman whose body language is alert and purposeful is a hard target. It is unlikely that she will be selected for victimization.

Step 2 – Use your instincts and common sense – Don't walk close to the corner when crossing an alley, because if there's someone standing around the corner to grab or touch you, you wont see him in time. Instead, walk at a safe distance from the corner, peer into the alley, if you see someone who can be a potential threat, make sure that he sees that you have seen him (it is unlikely that he'll come after you if he knows you'll be able to identify him in a line-up).

Another example, if you're walking on a road with cars passing by, don't walk on the side where cars are coming from behind you. Instead, cross-over and walk on the opposite pavement, so that you can see any car that slows down. This will make you a difficult target.

Step 3 – Learn how to use your body and your belongings as weapons if the need arises. Heels, knees, elbows, teeth are all excellent weapons. So are nail-files, keys, cell-phones, and credit cards. And you don't need a license to carry them. If used in the right way, you can teach even the strongest man a lesson he'll remember for life. Needless to say, your mind remains your biggest weapon.

Step 4 – Get trained in self-defense. If you're fit, you can increase your chances of survival manifold. If you are trained, your mind will continue to work for you even in a tricky situation. Most untrained women find that the moment they are confronted, touched or attacked, they get into victim-mode, and their mind and body shut down. This is exactly what the attacker wants.

Krishna: What tips do you have for women who are in situations like that?

Krav Maga Mumbai: Understand the first principle of self defence - safety. If you reach home safely, you've won. Many a times, ignoring an eve-teaser and not antagonizing him, may work well provided you are not in physical reach of the aggressor. But sometimes, you don't have that choice. Try to anticipate where you may face such situations, and try not to be alone in them. If you don't have that choice either, make sure you keep a family member, friend or colleague aware of your whereabouts, commutes and timings. Dress appropriately, walk purposefully, be alert. If the physical danger is imminent, use your body and available objects to cause quick, intense pain, and leave the scene before the aggressor can recover. Surprise can be your friend too. But it is advisable to get trained in self-defence before you engage an aggressor.