Hi all, just finished the Krav maga Academy Scotland's Lanarkshire class in Bellshill. Good to see students from Motherwell, Hamilton, Airdrie and Coatbridge....360's and kick defences tonight (ouch!). As usual, great effort from all the guys. Tough night, hard training, well done!
Off to sunny Fife next for a session with the Kirkcaldy gang. Planning a night of multiple attackers!...happy days.
We spoke a little tonight about some of the principles of the Krav Maga self defence system and how important they are i.e,
- avoiding confrontation if possible
- de-escalation tactics and tools
- taking appropriate, effective action when we have no other choice.
Avoiding confrontation doesn't generally sit well in the Scottish psyche, especially if you're male. It is often interpreted as 'weakness' in our national culture...Wrong, real weakness is the inability to act independantly of peer expectations for fear of being branded cowardly. Most likely by fellow members of a social group who will probably also decide to ignore their innate survival instincts...to fit in. Unfortunately this 'never back down' macho, social expectancy in certain demographics in our country/culture is deeply ingrained. It is also exactly the type of behaviour that will ensure a violent encounter, sooner or later.
Please guys, be smart. If you can, physically avoid a situation. Cross the road, leave the club, get a taxi....whatever.
Give up the wallet, it's only money. Apologise, it's only a word.
However, when all else fails...when we have to take action...when we have to defend ourselves and/or our loved ones. We must do so in a manner that gives us the best chance to be effective, efficient and decisive...thats why we train in Krav Maga.
Our training is for everyone, all walks of life, shapes and sizes, male and female. We train to develop a mindset as well as physical and technical proficiency. Confidence without arrogance is the goal, we are not here to turn already misguided people into more dangerous misguided people. Krav Maga is not for them. It's for the rest of us, ordinary folk who just want to feel more confident in our ability to protect ourselves and our loved ones if we need to..and to go home safely
