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One of our new guys, a very nice gentle guy, fought off 3 attackers last night one of whom was carrying a blade. Check out his story here:

“On my way home from your class this evening three youths mugged me in the car park outside my flats in Deptford The problem was I had a coat over one arm and a rucksack in the other. The main assailant was waving a knife around. We tussled for a bit – them trying to get my stuff – I made a lot of noise to get an audience from the surrounding flats, got aggressive, didn’t get cornered and fought them off (only the guy with the knife really tried to have a go at me). I didn’t really think there was any point in running (they were all teenagers I reckon – though hoods obscured their faces). The overlooking windows opening and neighbours shouting made them eventually disappear.

Anyway, thanks. A few weeks ago I wouldn’t have had the attitude to deal with the situation. Though I suspect the sensible thing would have been to have let them take my stuff (as the police subsequently observed). I did think about it for a split second but decided to fight. I’m a bit wired now so a few scotches are in order.”

He’s only done 7 lessons so particularly proud of him. Training points;

don’t look vulnerable or distracted, if you’re carrying stuff and both arms are occupied then attackers are more likely to go for you. Scum are like any other predators in the animal world, they go for what they see as the easiest meat.

if you decide to go for it, do so with aggression as extreme as you can, the bad guys often win because they go into a situation already pumped up, the good guys need to be able to get into “fight mode” very quickly to survive; we’d been doing some drills to train this just a few hours before this crap happened to our guy so maybe it helped.

make a lot of noise to attract attention – this can deter the scum as they often want to get in and out as quickly as possible with minimal attention.

The Police will often advise compliance and I can understand this – they see the damage done to some people that fight back. However, if you do comply you can feel like hell for months or even years afterwards, particularly men as it makes us question our manhood etc.
It’s a tough one this as I can see both sides – another problem with compliance is that sometimes the bastards want to hurt you even after you’ve handed the dough over.

Avoidance always the best gig, check out our wee guide to personal safety here:

http://www.kravmaga-eastlondon.com/krav-maga-safety.htm

Well done again to our guy and let’s hope these bastards will soon be long-term guests of Her Majesty.

Stewart

Just done some filming for the DVD company NAP: did enough for a couple of DVDs that they will be sending out to their subscribers. Also, on the video front, currently developing an iphone application and a website on which people will be able to download a range of instructional clips.

Will hopefully be going to Wisconsin in the Autumn to do a seminar at John Lacy’s club in Madison. John is a real asset to Urban Krav Maga and I’m looking forward to training with him again. He has many strengths as an Instructor but the main one – and this is the most important thing re the quality of any teacher – is that he genuinely cares about the progress of his students and believes that they have the right to be taught the very best techniques using the best methods. This is why he has continually looked to develop himself and his training and has done so successfully.

Look forward to getting over there in the “Fall”.

Stewart

Check this out re how one of our coppers was able to adapt the Brabo choke in a very difficult environment:

Adapting Urban krav maga techniques

How many times have you been training and tried a move or technique to find it did not work on your training partner? If it did not work on them you think, perhaps it would not work in a real environment when it counts. This is where you have to adapt the situation or technique to suit you and not get fixed on repeating the same move, which you know does not work for that particular opponent/s.Firstly you need a good grounding in the basics of Urban Krav Maga as a starting point so you know what you’re adapting. When training you will see that most moves in Urban Krav Maga work for everyone, but there are some that work better for heavy people, some favour a lighter more flexible person, male or female. If you find the technique is not working because your opponent is bigger, heavier than you or not as flexible then make it work. Experiment a little with some guidance if needed from the instructor to see what will.
While we are on the subject of adapting lets, but also take into account clothing, yours and theirs. When training we wear a tee-shirt, track bottoms and trainers. The weather could be warm; People in the street wear lighter clothing, which works well for striking and grappling. Most of the time it’s a sweaty partner that makes it hard to grip arms, hands or head. But think when it’s cold or winter you will be wearing several layers of clothing restricting your movements, your assailant is also wearing a thick coat or jacket, several layers, gloves or a hood pulled up. Will the same techniques work when you can’t grab, punch or strike the targets effectively, or will you be able to adapt what you do know too come out on top?
I will recount an experience I had at work where I had a chance to put this into practice.
My colleague and I had a call to a house where a male was drunk and on drugs. The family wanted the male to leave the premises. We escorted him down the stairs (which was feat in its self) and into the waiting ambulance. The male was compliant at this point so I stayed with him and my colleague was going to meet me at the hospital.
On the way he began to shout, scream, howl and wave his arms around and sit up on the trolley and tried to grab the ambulance operator. The ambulance guy grabbed the man’s legs as he was tying too wriggle them free of the trolley straps. I tried to control his arms but it was not happening. We were both sweating and I was having trouble getting a good grip. So I adapted a ground technique that I had been having a go at in training. I wrapped his arms across his chest, using my arms to pull his together, a sort of scarf hold. I then braced one foot against the side of the ambulance to get a little more leverage. I used my left forearm to defend against him biting me (which he tried several times).This also gave me the advantage to relieve the pressure on his chest at intermittent times when he was lucid and compliant. All the while this was going on I was trying to get some help on the radio in the back of a moving ambulance. Eventually my mates arrived and took the p**s at my predicament but did help me out (after laughing). The male was safely taken too the hospital and all was well in the world.
After the incident I reflected on what had happened and saw this as good example of adapting a ground technique in an enclosed hot environment I never expected.
I would not have used this technique with more than one attacker.
If you do end up in a similar scenario where you are restraining a person remember, depending on what technique you are using, relieve the pressure around the chest area if needed, so the person can breathe and apply pressure/pain compliance only if they try to kick off again. (This does not mean when they say “I can’t breathe” or “it hurts” you let go, keep control). This is especially important if the attacker is on drugs or has been drinking. Remember do not compromise your safety; it can take some time until police arrive and you can not rely on the public to help you.

“Adaptation means not clinging to fixed methods, but changing appropriately according to events, acting as is suitable”
ZHANG YU (Sun dynasty, 960-1278) Commentary on the art of war.

Just getting ready for Seni 2010. We’re going to have the DVD sets for sale, Urban Krav Maga t-shirts, rashguards and gloves. We’re also going be selling Beginners Packages Certificates there i.e. the right to attend your first 10 Urban Krav Maga for £60. Looking forward to it.

Stewart

Chuffed at the success of our Aberdeen guys at Honour 2. This was against one of the better MMA clubs in Scotland and, with the success of the Northern Irish guys in MMA, shows that we have developed a system that works in the cage as well as the street. I’m aware that there’s “no rules in the street” etc. but if you can handle the dedicated MMA guys on the ground you should have a chance against the average numpty.