What the heck is Krav Maga?

What the heck is Krav Maga? Well today I found out! I took a Intro to Krav Maga class.

Wikipedia says... Krav Maga /krɑːv məˈɡɑː/ (Hebrew: קרב מגע [ˈkʁav maˈɡa], lit. "contact combat") is a noncompetitive eclectic self-defense system developed in Israel that involves striking techniques, wrestling and grappling. Krav Maga is known for its focus on real-world situations and extremely efficient, brutal counter-attacks. It was derived from street-fighting skills developed by Imi Lichtenfeld, who made use of his training as a boxer and wrestler, as a means of defending the Jewish quarter against fascist groups in Bratislava in the mid-to-late 1930s. In the late-1940s, following his immigration to Israel, he began to provide lessons on combat training to what was to become the IDF, who went on to develop the system that became known as Krav Maga. It has since been refined for civilian, police and military applications.

Our instructor said that it was developed to be used effectively by many different people with different body styles. Everyone in the military is taught to use this style of fighting. And since everyone in Israel is supposed to be in the military once they are 18, pretty much everyone knows how to rumble there. He said that with this style of fighting "you don't fight fair, you fight to win," and so when they rumble they rumble dirty.

It was really interesting learning this type of self defense and very useful. He showed us how to move while fighting, how to get out of being strangled, and also how to kick and hit to end a fight quickly.

So that's what that is... so now I am cliffs-noted in it so watch out! I'll grapple your butt if you tick me off!

So conclusion...

1. Don't pick a fight with someone from Israel.

2. If you are gonna fight, fight to win.

3. Boys still cringe when a girl kicks hard below the belt even when there is a punching bag between them.

4. I'm ready if someone wants to strangle me. I know a really cool move now, it's really awesome. In fact, I'm gonna ask all my friends to try and strangle me now.

KRAV MAGA HOW TO:

How do you use Krav Maga? (well at least what I learned in 5 steps)

1. Stand with your arms in front and close to your body with your hands open to protect yourself against punches and attacks.

2. Do not hit with a closed fist. Hit with the bottom part of the palm of your hand.

3. Do not side kick or kick anywhere higher than the groin area as people can grab your foot and use it to hurt you.

4. Use knee and elbow hits to inflict a lot of damage.

5. COOL STRANGLE MOVE ALERT!!! If someone is coming at you from the front and is strangling you, do not try to break the grip by using your hands. Instead shoot your right arm straight up to trap your attacker's hand between your arm and your neck then twist quickly to yourleft breaking the grip. Then bring youarms down fast on their hands further breaking there grip and then elbow them to the face using your right elbow then grab their shoulder that is in front of you and knee them to the stomach. Very cool move! If they come from behind well I'm sorry... I don't know that move yet.

WHERE WAS I?
East Valley Krav Maga
... another petite studio but with a lot of fierceness packed into it. I will definitely be going again when I get a chance!

My First Pole Dancing Class...

My first pole dancing class started off with an almost bang. On my way to the class a red SUV crossed four lanes and went all "Fast and the Furious" in front of me, well two cars in front of me. After spinning out three times the car was able to correct itself without hitting anyone and get off on the next exit which was mine too. Needless to say I let that car pass me.

After all that excitement I was ready take it as a bad sign and turn around but I was already almost there and I didn't want to waste my gas. Gas is expensive. So I pressed on... and was late so I had to wait for the next class. Which would have been fine but the place is in an odd deserted spot, so I thought I was gonna end up a Lifetime movie or end up on a milk carton(do they still do that?), but no. The instructors turned out to be two petite girls, so I thought no problem, "I can take them, I have brothers bigger than them." ; )

However, when the class started I figured out that those two petite small girls could probably take me if they ganged up on me, well they could probably take my brothers too though I doubt they would complain about being taken down by those girls.

Swinging on poles is hard! I didn't realize how much upper body strength it takes to whip around those things! And they had us hang onto the poles with our knees and swing around! AND I could do it!!! Sure I fell on my bum a few times because my feet got all tangled up somehow and I got a bruise on my ankle BUT I did not fall on my face. I didn't fall on it even when we did a front swing where our heads were really really close to the floor. It was awesome. I can't wait for my next class.

So conclusion...

1. Those girls work hard for their money.

2. I can swing on a pole with my knee and 1 hand AND not fall on my face, so that's fun!

3. I have another career option, though it probably isn't as fun when you have to rely on that to say... eat and support your ten kids.

4. My arms are going to be killing me tomorrow.

POLE DANCING HOW TO:
How do you Pole Dance? (well at least what I learned... in 5 steps)

1. No matter what do not let go of the pole!!! (ha that sounds funny)

2. "Do not wear lotion as this may cause you to loose your grip on the pole." (hehehe)

3. To do a BASIC turn/swing - hold the pole with your right hand and take 3 steps starting on the inside foot and on the third step swing your outside foot towards the pole and grip pole with left hand(below right hand) as you use your momentum to swing around the pole all the way down to the floor.

4. To do a TRICKIER turn/swing - hold onto the pole with the back of your knee with your inside leg. Place your hands on the pole one above your knee and one below... now swing forward. (Do not let go of the pole even though you may get freaked out! I didn't but a girl in the class did and made a loud smack as she fell to the floor.) Again swing all the way to the floor using your momentum.

5. One thing we learned about turns and swings is that you always start them while facing the audience. If you are not, you use some booty shakes, wiggles and other dance moves to get into the right position to start your trick. (HA!)


WHERE WAS I?
Fitness to Nutrition Studio
... a lovely petite studio with six poles, an awesome instructor and lots of twirly fitness fun.

So... Pole Dancing.

me in my imagination

So... Pole dancing.

Tomorrow I will attempt to pole dance. And right now I am excited and have every intention of looking as good as the above picture. I know I'll rock it. No Problem!

But then I'm pretty sure tomorrow I'll remember that I'm pretty clumsy. I'll remember the times I have fallen down by just walking and tripping over my own feet or the times I fell down a few flights of stairs. You know, by just using them. Oooh! Especially that one time in high school I fell down the stairs... a senior caught me. Oh yes. I'll remember I'm clumsy and feel and look like the pictures below.

what i'll feel like

what i'll really look like

We'll see. I'll have 3 chances to try it out. 3 1hr pole dancing classes. Bring it! I say bravely and semi-confidently! Who knows I may be fabulous at it and end up having another career option.