Krav Maga

Several months ago my Husband tossed around the idea of joining a gym and starting Krav Maga.......

Krav Maga from Wikipedia 

(The name in Hebrew means "hand-to-hand-combat".)

 

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.

Krav Maga has a philosophy emphasizing threat neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive maneuvers, and aggression. Krav Maga is used by Israeli Defense Forces, both regular and special forces, and several closely related variations have been developed and adopted by law enforcement and intelligence forces, special police and military.  
 

                          .......we've been talking about doing more things together  for a while.  It just so happens that his handful of hobbies don't fall into my definition of a good time (and vice versa).  

• George wants to jump out of an air plane - I want to have my feet planted on the ground waiting for him to land.  
• George likes to race motorcycles and cars - I like to read books.   
• George likes to shoot assault riffles - I have mad glue gun skills. 

Are you seeing a pattern here?

After watching a few Krav Maga style fights on YouTube, the passive part of me couldn't help but think my Husband was out of his freaking mind.  Outside of "day dream" beating the hell out of my high school arch nemesis, I've never been in a physical altercation and couldn't imagine I ever would or could be.  

Since moving over 2000 miles away from friends and family (5 years ago) I've gained a very different perspective on life.  

• From trying new foods (eating vegetables for me was always a struggle - comparable to eating some of the grotesque things you see on Fear Factor), 
• To getting my CCW (guns have always freaked me out)
• To flying 3 - 5 times a year (my first flight was when I was 25 - always said I'd never fly).  

So, even though Krav Maga sounded absurd, I wasn't ready to completely dismiss the idea. 

Krav Maga used in the movie Enough

We continued to research the fighting style and began to "condition" ourselves a few weeks prior to our trial run.  

Pros

• Defend Yourself in Any Situation
• Get into Great Shape - strength, stamina, endurance, and flexibility will also increase
• Great for Stress Reduction – many people deal with stress because they are fearful and anxious. When you learn Krav Maga, you’ll learn how to deal with that stress, how to function with it, and how you can recover. You’ll also learn how to get tough internally and externally. Also, since it is such a high energy workout, it will work as a stress reliever too.
• Confidence in Yourself will be Built
• Situational Awareness
• Exciting Training that is Enjoyable - something the Husband and I can do together!

Cons

• Fear of getting hurt
• Fear of looking stupid
• Laziness (as in I'm lazy and don't want to sweat)
• Expensive

Decisions, decisions....

Day 1 (Trial Day)

The moment we stepped into the gym we had a few moments before things got real.   There was a mix of young and old.  Men and woman lined up in a straight line facing the eager instructors.  We were directed to turn around and bow to the photo of Imi Lichtenfeld, the founder of the Krav Maga self defense systems then back around to our instructors then again to one another (I'm making it sound like this took a long time - really about 3 seconds).

After  warm up exercises we were thrown into some serious cardio drills - jumping jacks, lunges, bicycle crunches, sit ups, push ups, football drills (running in place like a crazy fool), partner push ups (face to face - push up - clap your partner's hand - push up - hand clap - etc ) up, down, up, down.... repeat....

Water break / internal cursing

Find a partner - same sex.

We learned how to get out of a bear hug - from behind and/or from the side.

 

Combat drill  - 40 minutes or so

• Partner holds flat punching bag
• Instructor calls out each command
• covers - (partner drives punching bag into your head while you attempt to block it with forearms and elbows
• knees - (grip your partners neck with the right palm, grab their bicep with the left hand and drill your knee into their groin aka the punching bag)
• palm strikes (constant striking with palm)
• Third person comes behind to bear hug - going back and forth from getting out of bear hug and following through with punching bag commands

Last 10 minutes of class - cardio drills again

So - we sign up

Since then we've done a total of

• 3 - Krav Maga classes
• 1 - Punching Bag class

What I've learned (not that I could apply all of the moves successfully just yet)

• How to get out of a bear hug
• How to get out of a choke hold
• elbow strikes
• palm strikes
• knee strikes
• the meaning of "five on three"
• front kicks
• side kicks
• dehydration is serious - found out the hard way
• I hate cardio - especially army crawls and high jumps
• I'm gaining weight and it's frustrating
• I need to stop apologizing and caring if I look stupid while doing this
• I may need to go back to the Dr and re check my asthma
• This isn't for sissies ;)

Draw Something & Chapter 5

 
Here is my latest addiction and HUGE distraction...has anyone fell into the powerless grip of this game?  I used to think I could draw... nope, not even a little bit.  Also, I must have the fattest finger ever.  I'm currently playing about 70 million people right now with no stopping point in sight.  It started with Words With Friends then Hanging With Friends now I draw stick figures all day long!!!  The worst is when it is your turn to guess said drawing... only to see that the "artist" has spelled out the word after many failed attempts.  I literally had to place my phone on the table across the room so that I could sit down and focus on a new blog post!  I feel naked and lost with out my phone and I know someone has guessed my drawing.... so I know that it is my turn times at least 8.  Also I struggle with content I want to add that does not belong here.  Design DNA may make a comeback soon enough. Alright, raise your glasses to chapter 5 - please remember the tab next to "home" will house the story from beginning to end.

Chapter 5

      Drea was drawn to his familiarity.  His black almond shaped eyes, intense and comforting which should have terrified the young girl kept her close.  It wasn’t until after Draden successfully planted his seed did Drea begin to put the pieces together.  The beginning phase of his plan was right on schedule so there was no need to carry on with the absurd courtship.  Drea’s intoxicating romance was unexpectedly extinguished while her now changing body would forever be a lingering shadow of her happiness’s sudden and mysterious demise.  He became extremely cold towards his young bride violently draining her spirit, bringing her back to the life she thought she had left behind.  Draden left her emotionally abandoned and physically exhausted and once again a prisoner of her own home.

      Her only escape was the short hike to town which never went unsupervised.  Their intense stares pierced through her like sharp daggers as she walked through the island.  Though for no honorable reason, Drea had often become the topic of conversation.  She could hear their whispers through the wind as the island women concocted stories of Drea’s position in Draden’s world.  It was evident to Drea of her Husband’s arrangement with many of the towns’ women.  Their jealousy and hatred towards her made it incredibly difficult to maintain meaningful friendships; leaving her sad and lonely.  Every trip made away from Draden’s lair, Drea became more aware of her increasingly dangerous predicament.  Although obviously alone amongst the towns’ people, she felt as though something was trying to pull her from the corrupt environment. 

      The whispers had returned; this time leaving her unable to translate the soft hissing.  Time and again she checked over her shoulder, sure someone was there.  Since meeting Draden, she was less connected to the sounds of the wild.  Recent reminders proved to be both hopeful and depressing.  How could she have forgotten who she was? 

      Drea slowly walked down the main strip of the village.  She passed several boutique windows taking in all of their contents.  Unintentionally making eye contact with one of the sales associate she nodded, smiling warmly.  The women in the window dressing her mannequin for the new season half smiled back at Drea.  Realizing who was looking back at her the woman raised her nose slightly and flashed Drea a dry smile.  Although deeply disliked in the town, Draden made sure Drea dressed well.  Which meant, fake or not, the shop owners played nice as to keep Drea coming back.  She peered past each display and watched the people.  Imagining herself as a part of each family.  She was the happy daughter excited to buy a new dress with her mother.  She was the proud mother helping her daughter pick out wedding dresses.  She was the best friend buying drinks and appetizers.  Reaching the last store, she ran out of windows to escape in.  Drea crossed the street, pulling her sweater closed as she caught a chill.  She would repeat the same game on the opposite side of the street peering into the lives of the villagers.  Reaching the first store she caught a reflection of someone walking beside her.  He was only a few inches taller than she.  Light hair and light eyes she thought.  It was so fast.   Drea looked to her side to see nothing but empty space.  Perhaps she had enough walking for the day.  The sun was a sliver in the distance causing the lamp posts to turn on, lighting her path down the strip.  The air was becoming cooler as the sun disappeared.  Drea hugged herself rubbing her hands up and down her arms for warmth.  She widened her strides as to pick up the pace.  She turned the corner colliding into the arms of Detective Randy Creston.  “Oh! Excuse me!” Drea said in a startled voice.  “Drea, are you ok?” Detective Creston glared down at Drea with a cocked eyebrow.  “I’m fine Randy.  I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.  I guess my head is elsewhere.” She shrugged at the detective holding herself tighter.  “Well it’s getting cold, you should get home Drea.”  The Detective squeezed her arm lightly, turning the corner.