Krav Maga “Sparring” and the IDF

I recently came across this link, promoting a Krav Maga Competition held by the Israeli Defense Forces: IDF Sparring I found it interesting, on several levels. Some years ago, Fit to Fight® developed and promoted a competition called, The Arena (one of the images used to promote the event has been displayed here). The competition was comprised of four person teams, who would compete in kickboxing, grappling, shooting and an obstacle course. We invited participants from all organizations, training centers and backgrounds. We had exactly ZERO sign up, outside of Fit to Fight®. The things we heard, indirectly of course, went something like, “we do Krav Maga, we don’t compete”, “you can’t compete in self-defense”, “what we train for is real fighting; you can’t have rules”, et al. Many of these people and groups are also the same that promote “training with the source”. So, imagine my confusion when I saw many of these same folks sharing this video from the IDF, as if it were something fantastical to hold. Now, around the same time we were promoting this event, I posted an article entitled, “You Can’t Spar Krav Maga” (see below), which attempted to poke holes in some of the typical things we are accustomed to hearing about how Krav Maga is trained, versus how “sport” fighting is trained. It, too, was met with a good deal of derision, by many of the same folks. Since the time of event and the article, Fit to Fight® Krav Maga has evolved and adopted many of the principles and movements from our SPARology program, so one actually can spar Krav Maga, in the Fit to Fight® program, and we are very honesty about what it is (and what it isn’t). It seems the IDF has done similarly. So, a few things: know what you are training and why are you are training it. Make sure the material matches the message and that both match your goals. Understand that because it is foreign or strange or uncomfortable to you, that does not make it wrong. In fact, in many cases, that means you should likely look into it more. If you stay inside of your bubble, your comfort, your sphere of influence, it will be very difficult to improve. Train hard, the fight of your life is coming, but it won’t schedule an appointment.

YOU CAN’T SPAR KRAV MAGA

Krav Maga Fight Class. Krav Maga Sparring Class. Krav Maga Kickboxing Class. Krav Maga Groundfighting Class. Krav Maga Grappling Class. Wow, these sound like fun! However, what exactly do they mean? How is a Krav Maga Fight class different than a regular Krav Maga class? In a Krav Maga Fight class, do you get to put into application all of the cool things you learn in regular Krav Maga classes? Is this your opportunity to gouge eyes, bite ears, stomp heads, hit with chairs and run like hell, because Krav Maga is for the streets? I mean you can’t tap out on the streets; no referees, no rounds, no rules! Wait, you mean we wear headgear, shin guards, mouthpieces, groin protection and boxing gloves? There’s a timer? There are rules in Krav Maga Fight Class? Well, at least we’ll do it in the parking lot, with glass and curbs and bad guys’ friends and stuff, right? No, it’s on the mats? Well, still, at least it’s a Krav Maga Fight Class. I mean, it’s not Muay Thai or MMA or Brazilian jiu-jitsu or something like that. No disrespect, the sport stuff is cool and all, but we train to survive, not for belts or points. Now, this would be humorous, if it was not a common refrain repeated in Krav Maga training centers throughout the world, on an almost daily basis. How many of you have ever seen a Krav Maga Fight Class that wasn’t much more than kickboxing with groin shots? What about that makes it Krav Maga? What about that makes it NOT kickboxing? So, the dirty little secret is, you (I, we, them, they) CAN’T SPAR KRAV MAGA. Therefore, let’s be intellectually honest about this. Let’s talk about what Krav Maga is AND what it isn’t. Let’s train in a great self defense and combatives program (such as Krav Maga), along with a sound fighting program. Be honest. Most Krav Maga training, whether you want to admit it or not, is lacking in real resistance and there is very little in the way of the spontaneity that comes with an actual fight. Look, throwing a javelin doesn’t make you a hunter, and if you can’t fight a guy without a knife, what makes you think you can fight a guy who has one? So, train in Krav Maga. Done well, it is a tremendous self-defense program. However, don’t be so quick to discount the value that comes with live training found in combat sports. Don’t be afraid to get uncomfortable. Embrace other methodologies, otherwise, how do you, your instructor or “your” system improve? Cross training is a beautiful thing. After all, what if the groin kick doesn’t work?