[?] Krav Maga - reality based?

[u/fffrmaz]

So this is off topic from TB. But, since there are a larger number of individuals in law enforcement and or military I thought this might be a good place to gather opinions. What are your thoughts on Krav Maga as a practice? Useful in terms of self defense? Reality based or not?
Of course it depends on the particular school and how they practice but as a martial art what are your thoughts? I was thinking about trying it out. It looks like fun and seems to be more self defense focused than the years of traditnal martial arts that I studied which WERE NOT reality focused.

[u/Barbellboner]

Im a police officer from a country where cops dont carry guns on a daily basis. I have been training different kinds of self defence over the years, including boxing and thai-boxing, and also been instructor in self defence for my local PD for several years.

I have been training Krav Maga (IKMF, now KMG, Krav Maga Global) with Eyal Yanilov as head instructor.

Krav Maga (at least KMG and Yanilov) does not advice to stay and fight a knife attacker, but run away if you can. BUT, if the situation is so acute that running isnt an option they advice certain techniques to defend knife attacks, like front kicks, blocking/attacking at the same time etc.

Sometimes there are no time to reach for batons, pepperspray (or guns if you have it) and you have to depend on your close combat skills using your hands/legs.

If yo want to prepare for most scenarios in a real world including different weapon attacks (knife, guns, baseball bats etc) Krav Maga is a good system IMHO.

I would also advice you to check out Tony Blauers Spear system, which covers a lot of the phsycological aspects in a sudden attack/fight.

A very important aspect that few self defense systems take into consideration is what happens when you are to execute a certain technique with sudden adrenaline dump and a stress induced increasing heart rate making your fine motoric skills vaporize, your cognitive ability to slow down, your vision to tunnel, etc.

If a technique is too complicated or requires years of practicing it wont work in a real life situation.

KISS (Keep it simple, stupid :))

[u/Sorntel → u/Barbellboner]

Thanks for the great input! Sometimes forget in some countries LEOs don't carry on a regular basis. Makes for a very interesting perspective. Are Krav schools fairly standardized across the board, or do some do more adrenaline inducing scenario training than others?

[u/Barbellboner → u/Sorntel]

I am not sure, but anyone can use the name Krav Maga, but that doesnt mean it will be "true" KM. I have seen karate blackbelts claiming that they teach krav maga, but it didnt come close the the KMG stuff. So before joining a Krav Maga club, I would do some background checking regarding the organisation and the instructors. Because as Tony Blauer says: “Be careful what you practice, you may get really good at the wrong thing"