The art of Krav Maga to defend oneself
Members of the EBI Captains of Industry recently got a taste of close combat to counter real life crime threats during a forum meeting held at the Golani East Rand premises in Boksburg.
Instructors at Golani East Rand, trained in the art of Krav Maga, put on a demonstration of various crime scenarios. They showed how with the right training one can turn the tables on being the victim to become the assailant.
Demonstrations covered close protection (as when a woman is being attacked, or for the purpose of rape), and also weapon, rape and hijack defense.
The mastermind behind the Golani studios where Krav Maga is practised, is Idan Abolnik. He is is the founder of Golani Israeli Specialists Security and has over many years trained students in South Africa in the art of Krav Maga.
He was also in the top special forces unit in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and in the top Israeli security industry.
Krav Maga is a system that was developed in the Israeli Special Force and according to Abolnik is the most effective self- defense system in existence. Krav Maga in Hebrew can be translated as “close combat” or “contact combat”.
Abolnik, who has protected two Prime Ministers of Israel, said after the demonstrations that Krav Maga is not about entertainment, neither is it a sport or to get into shape, but it is about survival.
“Crime in South Africa calls for a real combat techniques and knowing what do when you get into a situation when confronted with real danger. Training in Krav Maga could just save your life.
“We need to understand when an armed criminal approaches you, you never know what he will do. He might even accidentally shoot you because he is nervous. You don’t have the luxury that the criminal might leave you alone.
“We see this often when women will be robbed but then also raped. This is the mind-set of criminality in this country, there is no respect for life.
“With this is mind, our students are trained in close combat to react immediately when someone who is armed with any kind of weapon threatens them, and such a reaction takes place when the criminal gets up close and personal.
“Everybody needs to know what to do when someone attacks you with a knife or holds a gun to your head. This applies to your housewife, to your businessman, to the student and any other citizen. Crime is a daily reality.”
While many South African rely on various home security systems to make themselves feel safe, Abolnik says that once you get into a situation where a gun is pointed at you, then all that precautionary measures fall away in a blink of an eye.
“What are you then going to do? At that moment, your fences, the police, the security company, your dogs and everything else cannot save you. All that will save you is to be trained in combat and to react to save your life.”
Abolnik says that even though some people regard themselves as tough, and even have training in boxing or other martial arts, all that counts for naught when dealing with an armed confrontation.
“Crime is rampant in South Africa because we have allowed ourselves to become victims and we have surrendered to the criminal. It is, however, time to fight back.”
Heinrich Hayes, chief instructor of Golani East Rand says: “We instruct civilians for self-defense, law enforcement and special units. Our techniques are taught first-hand by Abolnik.
“Krav Maga’s philosophy emphasises neutralisation, but also simultaneous defensive and offensive manoeuvres, along with aggression. Simply put, it is a defense system against armed and unarmed attackers.
“Krav Maga also promotes finishing a fight as quickly as possible. Attacks are aimed at the most vulnerable part of the body, and training is not limited to techniques that avoid sever injury.
“Students learn to defend against all variety of attacks and taught to counter in the quickest and most efficient way.
“We therefore teach students to target attacks against the body’s most vulnerable points such as the neck throat, face, solar plexus, groin, ribs, knee, foot and fingers.”
Hayes says that in SA it has become important to learn how to maintain awareness of your surrounding while dealing with possible threats.
“This will allow you to look for escape routes, and even become aware of objects that could be used to attack or defend with.
“We, therefore, offer training in situational awareness to develop an understanding of ones surroundings, learning to understand the psychology of a street confrontation, and identifying emotional threats an attack occurs.
“The most common misconception is that you cannot fight back in an attack. During the demonstrations to the EBI members, the instructors of true Krav Maga showed that anybody, no matter your age or gender, can fight back.”
For more information, visit www.golani-eastrand.co.za
