There are several "Krav Magas" out there. I tend to break them down into three groups, the Los Angeles group, the New York group and the actual Israeli group-from whence… I know people from each group. Each is not fond of each other, but the other two prosper much indirectly from the ad money spent by the LA group.
Joe Hubbard and I have a friend in England who is a retired Israeli paratrooper and vet of the 6-Day War and more. He told us that his local L.A. branch reps of the L.A. Krav came to see him and tried to get him to “buy into” the L.A. Krav system. He told us that he stopped the two salesmen after one full hour. He told them, more or less “You have been here for one hour and you have not mentioned a single fighting technique. All money business.” He told them to leave. The guy told us that the original Krav Maga concept was really three things that you studied over and over again. These three things were actually three sets of things that you drilled into your muscle memory. Everyone’s three “Krav Maga” were different.
This harkens back too and re-enforces my evolved belief that the world needs good teachers showing many good things, so a person can select the best 3 sets (or more) for their size, body strength and shape.
The good things in Krav? Are the same good things as found in other good systems. It is just their cereal box (their packaging) has a marketing hook to it that catches your eye.
But…Adventure Collins –who started this thread? (Yes, his real name is Adventure!) The blood sucking really doesn’t affect regular students. The vampirism is at the instructor level. It is important that you stay off the couch and work out. You, in and around your neighborhood and work, need to find a regular place to work out and anything is better than couch sitting. You could do worse. It is important that you keep off the couch and active. Just keep an open mind, watch out for bad muscle memory and break a sweat!
As an instructor, in the big picture, I realize it is impossible for me to completely instruct you. You are in California and I am in Texas. I therefore must encourage you to keep growing and exercising as often as possible. I insist that you keep working out, wherever and whenever you can. If Krav is the most practical, realistic material you can find in your “hood?” Get off the couch and go!
You see, as an instructor, when you accept a student “in your fold,” you accept a responsibility for their growth. Not their worship. Not their blanket loyalty. Not for their bowing head to the you-the master. How stupid! You are actually the worker, the slave to them. They are the masters. In order for them to grow they need a lot of exposure. Other people may have a way of turning a phrase, or a method that creates their growth. I need the Krav Magas, the Tony Blaurs, the local Kenpo school, the Thai gym, whatever…all these may help the overall progress of a person in ways that I cannot physically or mentally reach them. I cannot be all things to all people, all the time. I need help.
If you care about the student, you push him…Warn him about the shortcomings, sure, which is why we have to condone some of the bad talk we read on this or any forum-it is educational- but push.
The open system is the supreme system, because it does not declare itself a supreme system. It’s a Zen thing, huh?
God! I love Zen!
Hock
PS: Forgive me if I elaborate on this theme as a blog, it has lots of potential…
