He has taught krav maga to the Israeli army. Now, Ron Engelman is bringing krav maga to the shire.
Engelman’s Krav Maga Defence Institute will open its fourth studio at Caringbah next month. Krav maga is not classified as a sport or a martial art but as a fighting system.
It was developed from street fighting techniques used against Nazi thugs in Eastern Europe during the 1930s. The Israeli Army later adapted it to train their soldiers to survive in some of the most hostile environments on the planet. Techniques focus on self defence including simple violence de-escalation, defending against weapons and protection against multiple attackers.
“After learning to disarm a knife-wielding attacker, everything else in life starts to seem more chilled out,” Engelman told the Leader from Israel.
“It’s almost like someone reaches out and turns down the volume and your tolerance to stress becomes better. Our clients learn practical self defence skills without the bells and whistles because krav maga [is] unapologetically practical. And I have seen countless people get into peak physical condition and fast training in krav maga since it offers a full body workout in a much more engaging environment than the gym.
“But the number one befit in my opinion is the freedom that comes with knowing that you can handle yourself anywhere you go and that you can keep your family safe.”
Engelman, a Master Sergeant in the Israeli Army and counter-terrorism expect, said krav maga was so effective because of its potential for use in everyday life.
“I believe [that] everyone is entitled to protect themselves and that now more than ever people need to take responsibility over their safety,” he said.
“Our police force is doing the best they can to keep us and our families safe but I believe that as a community it is our responsibility to look after one another.
“Our practitioners learn to use their natural instincts to defend themselves against all common types of violent attacks. There are no rules and nothing is off limits so we must prepare for anything. At the beginner level we teach how to defend against common holds, chokes and grabs, how to defend against an opponent armed with [a] knife or how to defend effectively if you are jumped by several attackers simultaneously.
“At the more advanced levels we teach how to use objects in our environment for self defence, how to disarm an opponent armed with a gun or how to take down a hijacker in a hostage situation. We also simulate realistic situations and environments such as fighting in a car or on public transport. If it can happen in reality, we train it.”
The new studio at Caringbah will include a specific self defence program for women and leadership and confidence-building classes for teenagers.
Engelman said people should not feel intimidated in trying krav maga.
“Krav maga is instinctive and anyone can pick it up. I would say give it a try. I guarantee it will by like nothing you have ever experienced before,” he said.
“It is not focused on winning fights or defeating an opponent. Krav maga is about getting the job done and going home in one piece. And because of this we tend to attract good people who are more interested in learning practical self defence that works than they are in winning fights.”
Details: Krav Maga South Side – 0424 984 762 or kmdi.com.au