Congratulations to our most recent group of StrikeFit instructors, representing schools across the United States. Well done, everyone!

There’s an axiom among disaster “preppers” that says we should educate others on preparedness so that they are not helpless during an emergency. Sure, it’s the right thing to do, but there is another reason: if your neighbors are as prepared as you are, they become an asset rather than a liability.

The same is true of self defense. The greater the number of law-abiding good guys who can fight, the larger the team of heroes in an emergency. If I am at a venue and an active shooter opens fire, I don’t want to be a lone defender. I would be happy if a dozen people jumped the bad guy before I could do anything.

I remember training at the Israeli Military Institute years ago, where one of the instructors talked about the “galloping horse” theory. It said, in essence, that if you are not in communication with your team, act as though they are all dead and you alone are responsible for stopping the threat. I agree with training for that worst case, but I also believe in raising the level of everyone around me so that the worst case never arrives.

For that to happen, our friends and colleagues need to train. Like the prepper who encourages his neighbors to stock up on supplies, we need to get our loved ones involved in self defense. Show them that they don’t need to be like the bunker-builder who spends all his income on gas masks and iodine tablets. Disaster preparedness takes only a reasonable amount of time and planning, and provides both readiness and peace of mind. Likewise, self defense training requires only a few hours a week, and provides fitness and self confidence as well as preparedness. We need to inspire those around us to train for their own sake and for the sake of others.

At a disaster preparedness conference, I heard a speaker tell his audience, “I hope I am wasting your time and money. I hope you never have to use anything I teach you.” The same is true of self defense. I hope my students, my colleagues, and my family never need a single technique or tactic that I show them. But hope is not a plan. I want every one of my neighbors stocked up on food and water so that we are all a help, not a hindrance, to one another, if disaster strikes.

And I want everyone in my community to be self reliant in self defense. Imagine the effect that could have on bullying, crime, and sexual assault. Imagine how much that could reduce the loss of life in an active shooter situation. Self defense is the very essence of disaster preparedness for yourself and your community.

WHY KRAV MAGA?

I have been a student, teacher, and advocate of Krav Maga for the last 25 years because I believe self defense training is important for everyone. If you drive a car, wear a seat belt. If you go sailing, bring a life vest. If you walk among people, know self defense.

But why Krav Maga? My search began toward the end of high school and college. I didn’t have a particularly large number of violent encounters, but some of those I did have left a mark. One incident involved a gun pointed at me (that turned out all right) and another involved a fight where two guys jumped me (I got my ass handed to me).

I had a few other incidents, but those two events stood out to me. I promised myself that if I ever committed to a self defense system, it would have answers to those two problems. I tried a few programs, from traditional martial arts to boxing to “street fighting,” but nothing seemed to answer the questions raised by my experience.

Then, a few years later, I took my first Krav Maga class. At the time, there were only about a hundred people in Los Angeles studying the system, and one or two even smaller operations on the East Coast. It was an unknown quantity and, in fact, wasn’t even considered a martial art by the establishment (that’s OK, we took pride in that).

I watched my first Krav Maga demonstration in October of 1991. Within minutes, I saw a gun defense that I knew would work based on my experience and I saw an answer to the fight against two opponents. That answer, by the way, wasn’t some fancy “multiple attacker drill.” It was simple: if you know there’s going to be a fight, hit them first. Very Israeli. I liked it.

I have continued to study Krav Maga for a quarter century because I appreciate its comprehensive approach. Krav Maga excels in certain areas, but ultimately it is a “jack of all trades, master of none” approach. I don’t mean that as an insult. I take pride in it. When it comes to self defense, I have always wanted to be very good in every aspect rather than great at one. Specialization seems like genius in one moment but folly in the next. That seat belt won’t do you much good on a sailboat.

There is a term used in certain fitness circles called General Physical Preparedness, or GPP. The philosophy promotes comprehensive fitness over speciailization. Think of an Olympic decathlete. His 100m dash time is nothing compared to Usain Bolt’s, but he probably pole vaults a lot better. Conversely, he runs the 100 faster than most pole vaulters.

The GPP philosophy is a great analogy for Krav Maga. We try to prepare for the unknown and the unknowable. That’s a wide net to cast. So we work hard to make ourselves very good in every area (stand up, ground, surprise attacks, guns, knives, multiple attackers, different environments, while injured, etc.). In my opinion, this makes Krav Maga an excellent system for the average person who wants good defensive tactics. If you want to be a great stand up fighter, you’re probably going to have to study Muay Thai, Dutch kickboxing, or the like. If you want to be a great ground fighter, you’re probably going to have to gravitate toward Brazilian jiu-jitsu. But if you are willing to settle for “very good” instead of “great,” plus learn other aspects of self defense, Krav Maga is the ticket.

Returning to the two situations that informed my own search for training, they were wildly different from each other. One was a stand up fight against two attackers, in which I was cornered. The other was a gun threat. What I needed, back then, was a single system with a comprehensive approach to defensive tactics. I needed Krav Maga.

Congratulations to Michael Hooker from KMD Self Defense in Memphis, TN, Michael is a 2nd Degree Black Belt Krav Maga instructor, part of the KMA Train the Trainer team, holds a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has over 25 years of martial arts experience. He runs his academy, KMD Self-Defense, in Memphis, TN and Southaven, MS with fellow Krav Maga Black Belt, Sara Ayaz. Their academy is known for having an open door policy to other school owners and instructors to explore concepts and cross train together. To learn more about Michael, his team, and the academy, check out KMD's website: http://KMDmemphis.com

January 2016's "Technique of the Month" is the Level 3 (Green Belt) technique Ground Headlock from the Side - Weight Forward. Watch the video for a full demonstration and explanation of this month's technique!

Congratulations to Daniel Hines from Krav Maga DFW in Dallas, TX. Daniel is a 2nd Degree Black Belt Krav Maga Instructor, KMA Force Certified, and also a Next Generation Krav Maga Instructor just to name some of his many achievements. Head on over to Krav Maga DFW's website to learn more about Daniel and the entire team over there: http://www.kravmagadfw.com/

Congratulations to Nashville Krav Maga & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, for being Krav Maga Alliance's January 2016 Affiliate of the Month! They team over at NKM sent us over a little spotlight video of the gym and to accept the accolade. Visit their website to learn more about them, and if you're ever in the Nashville area, stop in to say Hi and train with them! http://nashville-krav-maga.com/

The Krav Maga Alliance December 2015 Technique of the Month is Bearhug from Behind, with Finger Leverage. Every month, we'll share a Technique of the Month with our Affiliates and those on our monthly email newsletter list. Sometimes, these might be variations on an official technique. Or, as in this month's case, we will share an Affiliates-only technique with everyone. This month, we're sharing this Level 3 (Green Belt) technique.

Check out the video below, with instructions and demonstration by Krav Maga Alliance's John Whitman, 5th Degree Krav Maga Black Belt:

In my previous article we identified why you need an atmosphere of respect and discipline in your school or dojo through protocol.

So how do we go about changing and establishing protocol in your school.

Here are 4 Things students should learn in the dojo:

1. Respect for authority.
   • This should carry forth outside the dojo to the real would as students interact with parents, teachers, their boss in the workplace and others in position of authority.
   • Students should be saying “Yes Sir, No Sir, Yes Maam, No Maam”
2. Respect for the dojo.
   • This will carry forth in ways of respecting not only their own property but the property of others as well.
3. Respect for their fellow students and classmates.
4. The spirit of martial arts and Krav Maga should be that it is a force for good.
   • Krav Maga is to protect and defend and not to use any martial art for the purpose of being abusive or offensive.
   • Martial artists treat people with dignity and respect.
   • Students should learn this by experience.

Unfortunately it doesn’t all fall on the shoulders of the students. The school owner and instructors need to take on and even bigger role in changing and maintaining school protocol.

Here are some basics that school owners and instructors need to adhere to:

1. Instructors should be using ranking name. Sensei, Master, Mr. etc.
2. Exercise the principal of being “friendly” but not “familiar”.
   • This means it is great to be friendly with people to build relationships but keep it superficial. Building deep personal relationships with students never ends well and creates lines of division and speculation both in your ranks and amongst the students.
3. Bowing in the dojo shows respect for the dojo.
4. Learning positions – Behavior protocol
   • 2 claps take a knee, rest position, ready position all prepare and condition students to be ready to listen and learn.
5. Proper attire – What you wear when you are teaching shows respect for yourself and your position.
   • Although there is no real official uniform for Krav, it makes sense that instructors and the school owner should dress the part. Shirts of a different color or design should easily identify instructors.
6. Make sure that you look good, smell good and behave professionally.
   • If you sweat a lot when you teach then bring a few extra shirts and some deodorant.
   • Keep some mouthwash in the office for between classes. Your breath should not be used as a weapon.
   • Act professionally at all times, students might misinterpret unprofessional joking around with close friends who might train with you.
7. Cover any unprofessional tats or piercings.
   • You attract what you portray.   Think about the demographic you are trying to attract.

For more information and to watch the video that reviews all the information you just received go to http://kmasuccess.com

WRITTEN BY PAUL GARCIA (America's Best Defense)

Krav Maga University is a 1-day training session on December 5, 2015, for Krav Maga Alliance Instructors, high level students, and program directors. We are dedicated to helping your business grow by offering both a quality program and sound business practices.

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