What is Krav Maga Self-Protect?

Krav Maga Self-Protect (KMS) is a modern and efficient self-defense system. Giuseppe Puglisi, trainer and former member of special units of the police and military, learned both the original Krav Maga as well as its conventional version from Israeli police and military trainers. After observing that this conventional version of Krav Maga needed to be adapted to European norms, he modified the system into its present form as KMS.

KMS is a method for civilians that is strictly oriented towards self-defense. In its extended form it is an effective resource for police and military personnel. The key to KMS’ success and widespread use lies in the simplicity of its techniques and the inclusion of natural reflexes in directly confronting an adversary. The purpose of the training in KMS is to develop situational awareness and learn to apply it during confrontations, as well as to enhance readiness of body and mind. This makes KMS a practical tool for self-defence, and it assures the defender a fighting chance during a violent confrontation.

Are there different Krav Maga systems?

There are different Krav Maga organisations with varied aims and philosophies, whose techniques differ in form and execution.

Krav Maga Self-Protect (KMS) www.kravmaga-schweiz.ch is the largest Krav Maga organisation in Switzerland.
Austrian Krav Maga Association (AKMA) www.akma.at ist our Austrian partner organisation.

What kinds of techniques will we learn?

Krav Maga Self-Protect (KMS) teaches you how to defend yourself against attacks from one or more adversaries. Defence under all conditions and in various situations (e.g., wearing street clothes, in darkness, while sitting or lying on the ground) are demonstrated and learned in order to introduce a dimension of reality. KMS techniques derive from boxing, judo, karate, jujutsu, wrestling, and more. These techniques are modified in such a way that they can be carried out realistically and reflexively.

• Strike techniques (punching, kicking, elbowing, and kneeing)
• Defence techniques
  
• Liberation techniques (from strangleholds, choking)
• Leverage techniques (disentanglement, immobilization, takedowns)
• Falls
  
• Defence from a lying position while on the ground
  
• Knife defence
• Stick fighting
• Stick defence
• Disarming an opponent (knife, stick, handgun)

Who can learn Krav Maga Self-Protect?

Krav Maga Self-Protect (KMS) was designed in such a way that men and women with minimal to no prior training can quickly reach an effective level of self-defence. Thus age and gender play no important role in learning KMS, nor does physical condition. After all, anyone can become a victim of a violent attack.

Particularly, the system provides women with the means they need in order to protect themselves from an assault. As a woman cannot count on the discretion or comprehension of an attacker, she must rely on her own resourcefulness and skills to effectively defend herself and no longer be a victim.

KMS teaches you self-protection skills and situational awareness. Along with simple and effecient defence techniques, both psychological and tactical aspects of potential and actual threatening situations are taught. By boosting your self-confidence, you will learn to manage and de-escalate potentially threatening situations. Both courage and a determination to resist increase your chances of not becoming a victim. Therefore, the risk of getting attacked sinks.

Only individuals over the age of 18 with no prior convictions of violent or capital crimes may learn KMS. We DO NOT train hooligans and street fighters.

Am I too old or not fit enough to learn Krav Maga Self-Protect?

Probably not. Since people of all ages and irrespective of their fitness can become a victim of a violent crime, the techniques in Krav Maga Self-Protect are such that they can be successfully learned even by people whose fitness level is low. Krav Maga Self-Protect is not really a sport but pure self-defence. However, in time - provided that you train regularly - your fitness level will improve, as a pleasant side effect of your training.

You could be too young for Krav Maga Self-Protect, though. Only persons aged 18 and above are permitted to the trainings (go here to read why).