wrestling takedowns. The purpose is not to gain points, as in a sporting
match, but to get the attacker in a weak position as quickly as possible.
Practitioners are taught to restrain attackers through arm bars, which at-
tempt to hyperextend the elbow joint unless the attacker submits, or by
twisting the wrist joint until the attacker is in pain. At advanced levels,
choke holds, which attempt to cut off the supply of air or blood to the
brain, are taught. Choke holds are powerful techniques that enable a
smaller person to endanger a larger one.
Krav maga is also unique in that students are taught to take advantage
of material objects that may be at hand for aiding in a self-defense situation.
One of the theories behind krav maga is that ordinary objects can be turned
into weapons, if only for a few seconds, to provide a critical advantage to
the person being attacked. Women who carry purses are taught to initially
throw them at an attacker to off-balance him and provide a few additional
seconds to escape or attack. Objects such as ordinary writing pens can be
turned into weapons, and practitioners are taught how to use them as such.
In addition to the martial benefits of studying krav maga, students are
introduced to an effective form of exercise. A krav maga workout exercises
the body in every way, from intense stretching to aerobic and anaerobic
conditioning. Even though the art can be studied by people of all ages, the
serious participant will become more physically fit through the intense
training that the art demands.
Krav maga is a martial art that is intended to be self-defense in its
purest form. The art is not intended to change the individual to conform to
the system, which is expected in many traditional Asian martial systems.
Rather, the art conforms to the unique personality and body structure of
the practitioner. Every human is physically different, and krav maga teach-
ers realize this. The primary goal of practitioners is to become aware of
how to defend themselves. This involves learning how to best use the situ-
ation to the advantage of the practitioner in accordance with the unique
abilities of each individual. Krav maga is also expected to instill in its prac-
titioners a sense of confidence, calmness, and mental readiness to respond
to danger situations. The only criterion for inclusion in the art is usefulness
to one’s survival. Practitioners take the tools they are given through the art
and adapt them to their own needs.
The effectiveness of the art can be seen in the growth of the demand
for instructors. Krav maga is now the official martial art of many police de-
partments and special operations units in the United States. In an ironic
twist, it is also the martial art of choice for many special military units and
antiterrorist teams in European countries, including France, Finland, Swe-
den, and Germany. The reasons cited for the popularity are the effective-
ness of the art and the ease with which it can be learned by practitioners.312 Krav Maga