News>Krav Maga training gives Airmen the combat edge
Photos
Airman Jason Crawford breaks a choke hold from Senior Airman Kyle Simone while attempting to disarm him during Krav Maga training recently at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. One of the techniques taught to the Airmen during the training was to successfully disarm an attacker without being harmed. Airman Crawford is assigned to the 823rd Base Defense Squadron, and Airman Simone is assigned to the 23rd Security Forces Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Joshua Green)
A Krav Maga instructor observes an Airman attempting to break a choke hold during a recent training scenario at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Krav Maga is the official self-defense system of the Israeli defense forces. Base defense and security forces squadrons have applied the techniques to better prepare Airmen for combat defense. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Joshua Green)
by Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
23rd Wing Public Affairs
5/11/2011 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) -- Recognizing the benefits of self-defense in an evolving Air Force mission, base officials here recently hosted a Krav Maga instructor course.
Krav Maga, a fighting technique used internationally by law enforcement and military members, teaches users how to naturally react against an armed attacker.
"We train law enforcement and military to be able to deal with violent offenders they may encounter while remaining aware of their situations and staying calm," said Jon Pascal, a Krav Maga instructor and Los Angeles County sheriff. "Krav Maga combines effectiveness with simplicity, so every technique is a natural reaction from the body."
Each student is put under heavy mental and physical stress to create a life-like situation, a Krav Maga instructor said. So when the time arises and that training is needed, it happens naturally.
During the competitive instructor course, military members and local law enforcement officers were trained to teach their own members the techniques. The seven-day instructor course includes six days of practicing the techniques, he said. On the sixth and seventh days, the members also practice instructing skills and techniques.
Each instructor will take what they learned back to their squadrons to teach and help prepare their fellow members to defend themselves, both at home station and while fulfilling combat roles during deployment.
"With Krav Maga, the techniques are instinctive," said Special Agent Bobby Cumby, from the Office of Special Investigations Detachment 211. "Krav Maga teaches normal reactions to get out of physical situations without thinking. This makes it easy to learn and to teach to large groups.
"More and more Airmen are put on security details and convoy missions downrange," Agent Cumby said. "It's important that Airmen know what to do and be able to react instinctively if someone pulls a gun on them."
The students are taught to think before they act, not just defending themselves, but using the right defense whether the attacker is using their fists or a weapon.
Some of the basic principles of Krav Maga are to counter as soon as possible or to attack the target preemptively, Mr. Pascal said. It also teaches counter techniques targeting the body's more vulnerable points, such as the eyes, jaw, throat, groin and knees.
"Krav Maga is so widely used because the training is set up to be used by any person," he said. "No matter the age, body size or gender, the techniques used can still help combat the attackers."
Krav Maga was developed by Imrich Lichtenfeld as way for the Jewish community to fight off Nazis and fascists gangs in 1930s Bratislava, according to an article from the Krav Maga Association of America. It was adopted by the Israel Defense Force in 1948 and by U.S. law enforcement agencies starting in 1987.
Comments
5/13/2011 9:58:25 PM ET Gee fellows, couldn't we just read what the article says? I quote, ...said Special Agent Bobby Cumby from the Office of Special Investigations Detachment 211. "Krav Maga teaches normal reactions to get out of physical situations without thinking." So N, the article says they get out without thinking. Wouldn't it be better if official Air Force communications were internally non-contradictory? Can't we ask for a higher standard of writing? Might A1C Benroth learn something from a gentle criticism? I sure have in my career.
Charles D Phillips LtCol USAF Ret, Houston Texas
5/13/2011 3:40:58 PM ET Mr. Phillips, the point of the article is that the students think before they act. When they do act it comes naturally and instinctively. No contradiction.
N, Houston
5/12/2011 12:57:57 PM ET Let us not get too thin skinned here. Perhaps A1C Benroth would be irritated by my comment and I am sorry that it would have that effect. Any criticism should be directed at the editor - probably a TSgt or MSgt who should be reading the stories before they go out. As the son of a career USAF journalist and an occasional writer I know that journalists have to develop a tough exterior. But we also have to read official releases from an independent observer's point of view. And we have to be open to people's opinions - the AF is not immune to review.
charles D Phillips LtCol USAF Ret, Houston Texas
5/12/2011 12:27:22 PM ET Mr. Phillips, Airman Benroth is a journalist taught and trained by some very talented instructors at the Defense Information School. If you think you can write better then by all means volunteer at your local public affairs shop and offer your expertise.
PB, US
5/12/2011 10:18:36 AM ET Someone should read these and make sure they make sense. In various paragraphs, they state teaches normal reactions to get out of physical situations without thinking and be able to react instinctively, but it is contradicted when they say students are taught to think before they act. So which is it? Are the students discouraged from thinking or not? They also say to attack the target preemptively. In other words, attack someone in case they are about to attack you. This is just over-enthusiastic people talking, repeating sales phrases. They should ask a journalist to review this before it is published.
