Krav Maga training gives Airmen the combat edge

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  With the Air Force mission evolving, learning a self defense technique can sometimes be beneficial for Airmen fulfilling combat roles during deployment.

Moody recognizes the benefits of self-defense and implemented certain classes such as Krav Maga. Some career fields have already had the chance to participate in Krav Maga, such as Special Investigation, security forces and special operations.

Krav Maga is a fighting technique used internationally and locally by law enforcement and military. The training involves teaching members how to react against an armed attacker.

Each student is put under heavy mental and physical stress to create a life-like situation. So when the time arises and that training is needed, it happens naturally.

"We train law enforcement and military to be able to deal with violent offenders they may encounter while remaining aware of their situations and staying calm," said Jon Pascal, Krav Maga instructor and Los Angeles County sheriff. "Krav Maga combines effectiveness with simplicity so every technique is a natural reaction from the body."

The base recently held a competitive instructor course where military members and local law enforcement were trained to teach their own members the techniques.

The instructor course is seven days and includes six days of practicing the techniques. On the sixth and seventh days, the members practice instructing skills and techniques.

Each instructor will take what they learned back to their squadrons to teach and help prepare their fellow members to defend themselves.

"With Krav Maga, the techniques are instinctive," said Special Agent Bobby Cumby, AFOSI Det. 211. "Krav Maga teaches normal reactions to get out of physical situations without thinking. This makes it easy to learn and to teach to large groups.

"More and more Airmen are put on security details and convoy missions downrange," he added. "It's important that Airmen know what to do and be able to react instinctively if someone pulls a gun on them."

The students are taught to think before they act and to not just defend themselves, but to use the right defense whether the attacker is using their fists or a weapon.

Some of the basic principles of Krav Maga are to counter as soon as possible or to attack the target preemptively. It also teaches counter techniques targeting the body's more vulnerable points such as the eyes, jaw, throat, groin and knees.

"Krav Maga is so widely used because the training is set up to be used by any person," said Mr. Pascal. "No matter the age, body size or gender, the techniques used can still help combat the attackers."

The history of Krav Maga started with the Israeli defense force and was brought over to the U.S. in the early 1980s to instruct law enforcement agencies.