Phil Mac Giolla Bhain speaks to the Krav Maga instructors hoping their Israeli self-defence techniques will make the streets of Dublin a bit safer
Afew months ago in Galway, a man attacked me. He came at me from behind and choked me. He was very strong. I came close to losing consciousness as he squeezed my trachea. Just as it seemed hopeless, I managed to make enough wriggle room for my head to turn just slightly. I sank my teeth into his arm. He screamed in agony and relaxed his grip. This was all I needed. I spun around and attacked his eyes, ears and throat. I must have looked like something from a wildlife film.
A second man was standing a few feet away, smiling serenely like a Tibetan monk. His face beamed approval. After all, I had done exactly as he had asked.
“Nice shred, Phil,” said Patrick Cumiskey.
Patrick is one of the few qualified Krav Maga instructors in Ireland. Meaning ‘contact fight,’ this method of self-defence was originally developed for the Israeli defence forces in the 1930s, and is now taught to military and law-enforcement personnel the world over.
Over those two days in Galway, an entirely new lexicon of gutter fighting was introduced to me. Now when I hear ‘Shredder’ and ‘Crazy Monkey,’ my reflexes react.
Patrick has taught these no-nonsense techniques to the Irish Army Ranger Wing as well as the US Navy SEALs and Delta Force. The essential ethos of Krav Maga is – don’t be a victim. If you doubt yourself in a fight, then you’re outnumbered. It teaches us to use the human body’s natural weapons and reflexes under pressure. The basics can literally be learned, and remembered, in a couple of days.
Whenever we couldn’t remember the sequence of moves, Patrick would ask, “What will you do?”
The answer, in unison: “Just fucking hit him!”
Our instructor smiled like a proud parent.
Back in Dublin, I met a colleague of Patrick’s, Rachel Nolan, originally from Mayo. This 24-year-old business studies graduate cheerfuly describes herself as a “combat chick.” She is working towards full qualification as a Krav Maga instructor. Together, Rachel and Patrick are developing a course known as Female Counter Assault Training. She is convinced that FCAT – Krav Maga tailored specifically to females – will give women the confidence, awareness and skills to deal with life-threatening situations.
“Research shows,” says Rachel, “that if a woman fights back against her attacker, then she has a 98 per cent chance of escaping. The man who attacks a woman usually has a sexual motive; he has a movie in his head about how the whole thing will go. He is expecting a passive victim. If the woman fights back, she changes the script. It spoils the movie!”
The next two-day Krav Maga course will take place on August 8th-9th, and a one-day FCAT course will be held on September 26th. Bow Lane, off St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. 087 239 0398, kravmagaireland.com
Krav Maga! very good on the "Bite", it is a totally natural weapon, easy, simple, & a bite especially if your smaller or not as strong as your attacker - biting is an equalizer!
Self Defense Krav Maga I teach to students at Krav Maga Thailand, "biting" with fierce aggression is a key krav maga technique I teach. Biting causes a "freeze or flinch" in attacker even if only for 1/2 of a second, which can make the difference between successful krav maga defence, street fight attack survival, escape from an even nastier end to attack, robbery, rape, serious injury or victim not to mention the psychological scars that can haunt people for years.
In fact me with 26 years experience in Martial Arts, & 8 years Krav Maga Combatives Self Defense experience, years before as a kid who did not play gaelic nor sports I was bullied at school, discovered at 9 years old biting the bullies, very fast ended the usual after school beating. I encourage anyone to bite, its like carrying a legal bladed knife weapon in your mouth!
Israeli security guards & special force undercover units like Yamam & Dudevan I learned from History Channel TV Human Weapon Krav Maga Documentary featured Itay Gil whose Tactical Krav Maga I am an Instructor with. Israeli Security if on occasion of tackling a suicide bomber solo & rare occasion of no armed back up to shoot bomber, Itay Gil trained them to use "Biting" in certain Tactical Krav Maga Technique on suicide bomber, with fatal result within 2 minutes. Nasty, but taken to another level, that shows now effective biting, as we teach at Krav Maga Thailand is.
Krav Maga advice in my own experience of over 35 situations personally in self defense in recent years, is learn 3 or 4 very simple Krav Maga Techniques Palm Shots, Chin Jabs, Tiger Claws, Eye Attacks, Open handed slaps, distract attacker, spit in attackers face 1/2 second before blasting your fingers into eyes. Open handed Slaps are very good, Patrick teaches them great Slaps which is an amazing skill, that most Krav Maga Instructors do not teach, I learned to slap off him years ago, used them for real.. 300% more power than a punch, & I was/am a kick boxer 4th dan black belt as well as Tactical Krav Maga Defensive Tactics Instructor... Slaps work!
If in Doubt... Bite!
If you are not quite sure How to bite, & cannot get to a Krav Maga Seminar, a no cost way is watch your favorite Jack Russel Terrier in operation & copy the Jack Russel grows & all! You will Bite.. I mean Buy time to escape!
Stay Safe.
Gerry
Krav Maga Thailand
Posted by: Gerry Nolan | August 09, 2009 at 15:48
Every kid's comic book since time began has included adverts for fighting systems stating that they can be learnt in just a few days. It's just as silly now as it has always been. It takes time and effort to learn how to fight not a new miracle system. Sure what else have human beings been doing for the last few thousand years other than fighting?
Posted by: Ian | August 23, 2010 at 15:05