Optimize your Krav Maga by Building Tactics into your Techniques
I’m watching an advanced programming student as he defends a straight stab, and I see something that is often times overlooked in setting or initiating a defense.
That is…ensuring that (a) every tactic and (b) margin for error that can be naturally and logically built into the initiating posture (assuming you have a known threat) be accounted for and practiced in training. Basically, I’m asking the students to set-up or initiate in a manner that builds and retains tactics into the defense.
In this case, the defender has his hands set closer to his chest than he would in fighting stance, and he’s taken a shorter (almost hidden) fighting stance while his arms frame his center mass as a target. However, the palms of his hands are rotated such that the attacker can fully see all of his palms and fingers – so much so that as he makes his initial hand movement towards the incoming knife, he must quickly rotate his palm to the attackers hand/wrist. This process causes the defender to create more left/right motion than is optimal AND creates a sort of slapping effect upon redirection of the attacking arm.
I stop him, and while I point this out to him, I can see the light bulbs coming on in his head, his partner’s head, and the group training next to him. I further explain how to set-up or build-in tactics during initiating movements or motions that should be trained into the student through both (a) deep understanding and (b) repetition. This allows the tactic to become part of the defense without the student having to moderate or develop the tactic in real-time during high stress events.
Check out the video below. I’m reviewing a couple of examples that should get you thinking. Think of each initiating movement as an opportunity to increase your margin for error and enhance powerful tactics as part of your defensive responses.
As always, walk in peace…
