Kasmin Fernandes tried her hand and the rest of her at the lethal Israeli martial art of Krav Maga, which can help you fend off offenders and flab
Kasmin Fernandes tried her hand and the rest of her at the lethal Israeli martial art of Krav Maga, which can help you fend off offenders and flab
A man has his hands wrapped around my neck. I swiftly pluck the assailant's left hand from my throat and strike his eyes and face with a "cat's paw".
He is stunned, leaving me enough time and room to deliver a headbutt or well-placed thump to his solar plexus. I'm learning the rudiments of Krav Maga, an Israeli self-defence system that is fast catching on with Mumbai's women for its practicality.
It involves learning fist-fighting, eye-gouging, testicle-kicking even a bit of ear-pulling. It's rough, tough, down and dirty. And it's mostly enjoyable; sometimes painful, occasionally exhausting, frequently enlightening.
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Krav Maga's ethos is that ordinary people can learn how to defend themselves using distraction techniques and simultaneous blocking and striking and part of its principle is that it is easy to apply. The actual art lies in "retzev" meaning continuous momentum.
At the all-day workshop I attended, about six women met in a circle. The teacher, Amar Sukhi, is a black belt in martial art forms Pentjak Shilat and Shaolin Kempo, and has trained in Shito Ryu, Hsing I and Pa Kua.
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The muscular charmer is the only Indian instructor certified by both, International Krav Maga Federation and the Commando Krav Maga Association.
Besides, he is MD of SPS (Security & Personnel Services), the top security training firm whose Thane branch hosted the workshop.
Amar demonstrated how to get out of a headlock or from being pinned against the wall, or how to wrest yourself from someone who is holding you down and inviting his cronies to kick you in the head.
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Then the class tried the moves, using the aggressive counter-measures necessary for a hard-knock, real-life situation. Later in the afternoon, we used rubber knives and plastic guns to learn knife and gun-defence techniques safely.
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Krav Maga, Hebrew for "contact combat," is the creation of Imi Lichtenfeld, an activist who fought with a paramilitary organisation during Israel's 1948 war for independence.
He wound up teaching self-defence to members of the Israeli army, and developed a system based on the instincts and reactions he honed as a street fighter warding off anti-Semitic attacks while growing up. He incorporated moves from boxing, Muay Thai, Aikido, Judo and Jujitsu.
"While some Krav Maga movements are loosely based on martial arts motions, the system focuses more on function than form and has little in common with more traditional self-defence disciplines," says Amar. Students don't wear uniforms, meditate or bow.
They are taught to avoid a fight if possible, but there is no great emphasis on peaceful resolution. Although it's billed primarily as functional self-defence, its cardiovascular benefits were obvious from the sweat dripping from our flushed faces.
Where to learn Krav Maga:
1. Security & Personnel Services conducts sessions thrice a week. At SPS House, 135/7 Kolshet Road, Thane (W). Call: 25895460
2. Sadashiv M holds weekend classes at St Joseph Primary School, First Floor, Hill Road, Bandra (W). Call: 9892121542
| Krav Maga expert Amar Sukhi's self defence tips |
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Always be on the alert: Be aware of dark areas and those from where an attacker can suddenly emerge. Prepare yourself by looking for potential paths of escape, should you need one. |
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