Krav Maga Federation

[Dror Bikel]

Dear Friends,

June 19th represents a very important milestone for our Federation. When Rhon first began teaching in the US and we first organized as a Federation (approximately 25 years ago), it was our policy to have all rank tests above the level of blue belt be scored by either GM Haim or by a member of the Professional Committee. That Professional Committee, headed by Uri Refaeli and comprising of high ranking black belts (including Rhon), is authorized by GM Haim to develop and advance our curricula. It is also authorized to oversee all tests at the brown belt level and above. In Israel, three members of the Committee collectively score these high level tests, and the test scores of each student consists of an average of the scores of three Committee members. In the US, we have not been able to provide a three-member test Committee since all of the Committee members other than Rhon reside in Israel. Thus, all of our Professional Committee level tests have been scored by either GM Haim or Uri individually, or, when we were in Israel during the summer of 2008, by members of the Committee. Consistent with our policy of impartiality, Rhon has not tested his own students, particularly at this level.

Significantly, GM Haim recently authorized us to create our own Professional Committee in the US for the purpose of scoring these high level tests. The reason we want a Committee to score these tests is the following: Once students reach this level, they are no longer being tested solely on their knowledge of and ability to execute material. They are also being tested on their ability to perform as martial artists. This includes an understanding of and ability to execute such concepts as distances, speed, timing, levels, continuation, separation, bursting, joint manipulation, take downs, knowledge of vulnerable points, concepts relating to defense against multiple attackers, defenses against sticks, knives and guns, fighting, etc. The skill required to perform at this level warrants an expanded base of scorers. The students need to get it right and, therefore, the scorers also need to get it right.

On June 19th four of our blue belts are going for brown. The test will be officiated by Pete Muldoon (Dan 3), Katrina Kothe-Reynolds (Dan 2), and me. Kat is flying up from Salt Lake City to sit on the Committee. Rhon will call the techniques out. The four students testing will be asked to perform at the highest possible level. Their performance will be graded and, importantly, so will we be as a Federation. Wish us all luck.

[alon]

congrats

I think it's great that finaly we have enough people and the blessing of Haim to creat a committee.

I think that will make our life easier and i think this is a recognition that we have people here which are high level marshel artist and have a deep understanding of the art and are good enough to carry the legacy of Imi Haim (and now rhon) to the futur

Good luck to all the blue belts I can't wait for your test Im sure you will do great.


_________________
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war

[xdred7]

That's great news Dror,

I'm sure that the U.S. Professional Committee will indeed uphold the highest standards of the Federation. Thanks to Grand Master Haim.

Mike Lee
_________________
"...with the jawbone of an ass have I slain a thousand men."

[MELCH]

Rhon, Peter, Dror & Kat,

Congratulations on this great achievement & your appointment to the Committee. You have truly built a school of dedicated professionals that has been recognized for the accomplishment. I believe this will further the advancement of Krav Maga in the USA and on behalf of your students, thank you all for your dedication!

Larry M.

[FrankColon]

Living in a country that consistently produces at least half of the world’s champion mixed-martial arts fighters, I am often asked as to why formal testing for rank promotion is required in our Krav Maga organization. It is often pointed out that the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu, which has produced some of the super-stars of the UFC and other professional fighting championships, does not perform this testing ritual, instead awarding belt rank promotions based on the perception and judgment of the training center’s chief instructor. As soon as the chief instructor (or “Mestre”) sees their student holding their own or beating their higher-ranked sparring opponents, they usually promote their student on the spot (much like Renzo Gracie does, by slapping the fighter on the back with their new belt, during a sparring fight!) or at the periodic promotion event, customarily held at the end of the year.

The way in which I see this is that the Jiu-Jitsu (and other competitive martial arts) method may be just fine for dealing out rank promotions within a combative sport, whose skills in performance are also judged by strict tournament rules which dictate the differences between appropriate and disqualifying sportsmanship behavior. Krav Maga skills, however, as they cannot be judged according to any set of rules (…there are none!), must be judged within the context of the tense and violent conflict scenario under which this knowledge would ultimately be employed. A street fight, for a Krav Maga fighter, is simply one step beyond the level of intensity of our helmet-and-pad-protected full-contact sparring sessions are, albeit that this “one step beyond” takes us into the authentic realm of the life-or-death situation. Our tests (or “Trainee Evaluation and Progress Assessment Examinations”) in Krav Maga must reflect the rigors that would be faced in a confrontation in which one’s life is on the line!

The Krav Maga Haim Zut Professional Committee will guarantee that the techniques, movements, power, and force that a student exhibits during their test should be commensurate with a student’s experience and the rank that they are striving to prove that they now deserve. This is the immediate concern of the actual test. The Professional Committee will also scrutinize the development of impulse control, timing, distance judgment, and the restraint of excessive force or savagery, attributes which are on-going concerns throughout Krav Maga training, as well as (hopefully) throughout our lives.

Emotionally, human beings respond to real-life self-defense situations in much the same manner as we respond to test taking. By placing our bodies and minds through the correct Krav Maga movements and techniques during these formal promotion examinations, we are better preparing ourselves for the real-life violent situations that we may come to encounter on the street. Most often than not, the fear, anger, and anxiety that is felt during and immediately after having to respond to a street attack is almost the same in intensity as those same emotions felt during a long and intense testing session. Formal testing, consequently, is a way of mastering the method of directing and controlling these emotions into a effective, rehearsed-yet-spontaneous manner of defense and attack.

I wholeheartedly welcome the institution of the American Krav Maga Haim Zut Professional Committee and take this opportunity to congratulate Rhon Mizrachi, Pete Muldoon, Katrina Kothe-Reynolds, and Dror Bikel as the pioneering members of this important executive department! I am convinced that the standard of excellence long maintained by Rhon’s dissemination of the Krav Maga Haim Zut principles and knowledge will only improve and be refined by this technically competent and distinguished quality control bureau!
_________________
Frank

The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.
~Muhammad Ali~

[Dror Bikel]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I want to especially thank Uri Refaeli for authorizing us to act as a Professional Committee for the purpose of this test. Uri, this group of students will likely test for black belt before you, so I sincerely hope that all of us will make you proud!