WHAT IS KRAV MAGA
“The truth is causing damage to the attacker is your goal. You’re either trained or untrained, you can defend yourself or not. It’s as simple as that.” – Rhon Mizrachi
A street fight is not confined to a weight class, hands are not wrapped to protect fists, and there is no referee to decide when a fighter is too injured to continue.
Training at Rhon Mizrachi's Krav Maga Federation school in New York City teaches students the skills needed to end an attack as quickly as possible.
Practitioners train with the assumption that attackers are bigger, stronger, and have “friends.”
Principles of Krav Maga include:
- Target your opponent’s weaknesses-never use power against power
- Always strike vulnerable targets
- For every defensive maneuver there is a simultaneous offensive technique
Students of Krav Maga learn a multitude of self defense techniques and strikes, including defenses against sticks, knives, guns and multiple attackers.
Realistic training is emphasized, and sparring is an important part of the curriculum; practitioners learn to "neutralize a threat " as soon as possible.
Training in Krav Maga, self defense training, is learning that in a fight the victim must be able to turn the tables quickly. Once they are attacked they are no longer the victim, now the victim becomes the aggressor.
KRAV MAGA is the most effective martial art in existence for self defense- that's exactly what it was created for
Krav Maga techniques teach striking vulnerable targets (any place on the body that can not be strengthened) but that can be easily damaged i.e. throat, eyes and groin , and that for every defensive technique there must be an immediate strike.
Defense and offense must be combined.
The art utilizes the parts of the body that are best used as weapons; kicks, elbows, knees, punches and other strikes. Unlike other martial arts or combat sports there are no rules in Krav Maga, we cannot compete as Krav Maga practitioners.
Learning the art of Krav Maga requires dedication and hard work. Training requires both physical and mental concentration.
Krav Maga Federation students are committed and dedicated to their training, instructors and fellow students.
“It may seem difficult at first but everything is difficult at first.”
– Miyamoto Musashi
Krav Maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld implemented the belted system (White through 5 Dans of Black Belt) in order to indicate rank in the art of Krav Maga.
The Israeli military and Law Enforcement community train in the combat style that was originally created by Imi Lichtenfeld. Civilians train in the martial art that he founded.
Testing for rank allows instructors to determine a students knowledge of and ability in Krav Maga techniques. Because advanced material and sparring become more intense and aggressive, testing also ensures that students have the skills required to move forward safely.
No one is handed an undeserved rank, and we expect the best from every student specific to that individual’s ability.
WHAT DO WE TEACH
PERFECT FOR WOMEN
In a street fight attackers don’t “fight fair” – neither does a woman who’s a trained Krav Maga practitioner.
It’s a choice, to be able to defend yourself or not. Women who train with the Krav Maga Federation choose to be trained.
Based on the understanding that any attacker will be larger and stronger than the victim, not using power against power is a fundamental concept of Krav Maga.
The initial concepts created by founder Imi Lichtenfeld are:
- Expect anything – there are no rules when you are being attacked
- Use the body’s natural reflexes in the defensive motion
- Defend and attack in the minimum time required
- Use the body’s natural weapons as well as ordinary objects
- Exploit the human body’s most vulnerable spots
- Target your opponent’s weaknesses-never put power against power
- Take no defensive action without an offensive action
- Avoid injury
Given the concepts above, Krav Maga remains the best self defense for women. Having the ability to physically defend one self gives a level of confidence and empowerment that carries over into all aspects of life.
“You’re either trained or untrained, you can defend yourself or not. It’s really as simple as that.”
– Rhon Mizrachi
PRIVATE ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING AND SEMINARS
All KMF instructors teach private one-on-one sessions and small group classes. Master Rhon Mizrachi teaches large seminars as well.
Seminars including intensive training in specific material and often focus on:
- Active Shooter and Tactical Awareness
- Knife defenses
- Gun defenses
- Multiple attacker scenarios
- Women’s self defense
Seminars are catered to the client and may be held at Rhon’s New York City school location, other martial art schools, Universities, and for religious organizations.
To discuss and schedule a seminar or private class please contact us.
FITNESS AND ATHLETIC ABILITY
Through Krav Maga training students develop the fitness necessary for effective self defense; each student is encouraged to maximize his or her own specific ability.
Fitness as a goal for Krav Maga practitioners includes attaining better cardio for endurance, strength for more damaging strikes and flexibility for ease of movement. Training in Krav Maga develops all three aspects of fitness specifically for fighting.
If you are constantly making efforts to improve your ability as a martial artist then you are improving your physical condition. There are many ways to exercise in order to be better at exercising. We exercise to be better at fighting.
There is no fitness level or age requirement to begin training.
Rhon explains “If you consider the fact that thousands of years ago, in order to defend your clan or hunt for your food, you needed to be in peak physical ability, there wasn’t a choice . Since that is no longer a requirement of living, being fit has become an option. For us, it isn’t an option. The better shape you are in the easier fighting will be.”
KRAV MAGA FOR CHILDREN
If you are looking for self defense for kids, Krav Maga is the best!
We believe that it is extremely important for children to be able to defend themselves, both for their physical safety as well as for their emotional growth.
Everything we teach is what kids could use if they are in a situation that requires physically defending themselves.
Through training in our classes children develop increased self-discipline, focus and self-confidence while learning to set and achieve goals. As our kids train they also gain self-respect and respect for others.
Teaching a child self defense is an important life skill; our Krav Maga classes give kids the tools to succeed.
WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KMF AND OTHER SCHOOLS?
“What is the difference between Rhon Mizrachi’s Federation and other schools?“ The answer is simple. Rhon.
There are only a handful of people in the world who have a Krav Maga background similar to his, none of them teach in the U.S..
Rhon began his training at the age of 7 under the founder of Krav Maga Imi Lichtenfeld and Haim Zut, and has continued training and teaching since then with over 45 years of experience.
He is not a figurehead of the Federation – he teaches group classes, private sessions and seminars.
Based on Rhon’s level of skill and knowledge as a practitioner, teacher and fighter, a standard of excellence exists throughout his school.
Rhon cultivates the very best instructors, guaranteeing that students are taught the art of Krav Maga at the highest level.
All full instructors of Rhon’s organization have trained under him for at least 8 years; the only way to learn the proper art is to train with instructors who have an extensive background in it.
KRAV MAGA THE MARTIAL ART
THE BELTED ART OF KRAV MAGA
There are shared concepts and techniques between the three main branches of Krav Maga.
Krav Maga for civilian use teaches civilians how to protect themselves in scenarios where they are likely unarmed and have no one to rely on but themselves. What is vital for soldiers and law enforcement is not vital for civilians.
There are 3 branches of Krav Maga they each have a specific focus. The branches are civilian, military and Law Enforcement, each having a very different purpose. The techniques employed, while share concepts such as knife and gun defenses, basic strikes and intensity during training, include vastly different material for each branch.
Krav Maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld originally developed methods of self-defense and hand-to-hand combat for the IDF. Later he expanded the military style and developed Krav Maga for civilian use. The art that he created became a detailed and complete martial art. Imi’s alteration to the art divided Krav Maga ; for military , law enforcement and for civilian use.
Imi chose to utilize the traditional belted/ranking system, White through 5 Dans of Black belt ( beyond 5th Dan is no longer based on techniques/material ).
Testing in rank allows instructors to monitor a student’s knowledge of material and ability to utilize that knowledge in a fight.
“ If your punches don’t cause damage you have a problem. How can you take away a knife, they’ll just take it back.“ – Rhon Mizrachi
What is learned at the white belt level is the foundation for the entire art.
Specifically, this is when proper strikes are taught and the understanding of intent and the aggression required in order to be able to fight- Rhon believes that this is the most important part of the art. Students learn to target the most vulnerable parts of his opponent in order to neutralize him the quickest way possible and prevent him from doing damage.
Attaining higher ranks means that students have shown proficiency in the fundamentals and are prepared to learn more detailed and complicated techniques.
Regardless of having a military or law enforcement background,
Rhon Mizrachi and every instructor of his Krav Maga Federation teach the art of Krav Maga that was created by founder Imi Lichtenfeld.
INITIAL CONCEPTS - "IMI'S METHOD"
Krav Maga concepts are based upon simplicity of movement and conservation of energy. It does not have rules or codes of sportsmanship, because abiding by rules in a real situation is limiting to the practitioner.
"The fundamental motives of the art are: don’t get hurt, be humble, and conduct yourself appropriately (with dignity). Reach proficiency so that you won’t have to take lives."
– Imi Lichtenfeld
- Expect anything – there are no rules when you are being attacked
- Use the body’s natural reflexes in the defensive motion
- Defend and attack in the minimum time required
- Use the body’s natural weapons as well as ordinary objects
- Exploit the human body’s most vulnerable spots
- Target your opponent’s weaknesses-never put power against power
- Take no defensive action without an offensive action
- Avoid injury
MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
THREE DISTINCT CATEGORIES
Civilian
- Martial Art where knowledge and ability is represented by rank/belt
Military
- Basic hand to hand combat is taught to ground troop recruits
- Advanced techniques taught to specialized units ; NAVAL COMMANDO, MATKAL , 669
Law Enforcement
- Police Department including special units ie YAMAM
- Corrections Department including METZADA
- Personal Protection
“What I learn with Rhon is way beyond what I learned in the military. Here we train for the street. It’s not that what I learn now is better – just better for a street fight, I no longer carry my weapon.” – Alon Adelson, Instructor (IDF combat veteran)
While there are shared defenses and concepts, techniques taught to the separate branches of Krav Maga must contain vastly different material and techniques, each branch has a very specific purpose.
Law Enforcement community and soldiers of the IDF are taught techniques specific to their job requirements.
