Why Taylor Swift Uses Krav Maga
I’m sure we’ve all wondered, how does Taylor Swift stay so
fit while fending off the screaming fans and skinny jeans wearing guys?
fit while fending off the screaming fans and skinny jeans wearing guys?
Today, we’ll explore that very topic!
I’m just kidding. I have no idea and don’t care. After the constructive feedback from the last post, I promised
my fans I would return to my bubble and not write anymore Taylor Swift posts, so this blog is not about that.
my fans I would return to my bubble and not write anymore Taylor Swift posts, so this blog is not about that.
Instead, let’s talk about why I chose Krav Maga as the preferred fighting style in the SPECTRE Series.
 |
| Knife takedown |
“I know,” Baxter said
as he calmed down. “But I was kind of
hoping Cal would do some of that Kung Fu stuff on him just for the hell of it.”
“Krav Maga,” Decker
corrected. She frowned at Baxter’s weak
attempt at a joke. “And we certainly
don’t need any of that today.”
“Kung Fu. Krock Macrotch. Karate.
Whatever. That guy just needs an
ass-whipping.”
– Special
Agent Sean Baxter talking to Michelle Decker in AVOID. NEGOTIATE. KILL.
It’s a conversation I’ve had many times before when
discussing my training in Krav Maga. When talking about the Israeli
self-defense system, the responses have ranged from “Say what?” to “So does
that mean you can kill me with a thought?”
discussing my training in Krav Maga. When talking about the Israeli
self-defense system, the responses have ranged from “Say what?” to “So does
that mean you can kill me with a thought?”
In my SPECTRE Series thrillers, main character Cal “Spectre”
Martin is a black belt in Krav Maga, so today I thought I’d go into a little
more detail about it and explain what it is and what it isn’t.
Martin is a black belt in Krav Maga, so today I thought I’d go into a little
more detail about it and explain what it is and what it isn’t.
What is Krav Maga?
 |
| Practicing a defense against a slashing knife attack during class. |
If you’re not one of the people who stumble over the
pronunciation and look at me like I’m speaking Klingon, you’ve probably seen or
heard of Krav Maga in popular culture.
pronunciation and look at me like I’m speaking Klingon, you’ve probably seen or
heard of Krav Maga in popular culture.
On the TV show Archer,
ISIS agents are trained in Krav Maga instead of Karate, with Archer calling
Karate the “Dane Cook of martial arts.” Krav Maga has also been featured in the
hit TV series 24 and in the Splinter Cell video games. As it has
become more prevalent in pop culture, more schools across the United States
have begun to pop up.
ISIS agents are trained in Krav Maga instead of Karate, with Archer calling
Karate the “Dane Cook of martial arts.” Krav Maga has also been featured in the
hit TV series 24 and in the Splinter Cell video games. As it has
become more prevalent in pop culture, more schools across the United States
have begun to pop up.
Pronounced “krahv mah-GAH,” the words Krav Maga are Hebrew for “contact combat.” It is a fighting system
developed by Hungarian-Israeli Imi Lichtenfield as a way of defending the
Jewish quarter against fascist groups in Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s.
developed by Hungarian-Israeli Imi Lichtenfield as a way of defending the
Jewish quarter against fascist groups in Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s.
When Lichtenfield immigrated to Israel in the late 1940s, he
became an instructor for what would later become the Israeli Defense Force. His
tactics focused on real-world situations with extremely efficient and brutal
counter attacks.
became an instructor for what would later become the Israeli Defense Force. His
tactics focused on real-world situations with extremely efficient and brutal
counter attacks.
Although Lichtenfield is the father of Krav Maga, Krav Maga
in Israel has become as common as Karate in Japan, with many students branching
out to form their own derivatives and methods.
in Israel has become as common as Karate in Japan, with many students branching
out to form their own derivatives and methods.
One such derivative is Survival (Hisardut) Krav Maga. This
is the fighting style that Cal “Spectre” Martin employs in the books. It is
also the method in which I am both a Certified Instructor and Brown Belt.
is the fighting style that Cal “Spectre” Martin employs in the books. It is
also the method in which I am both a Certified Instructor and Brown Belt.
 |
| Me with Sensei Miki Erez |
Survival Krav Maga
was founded by Miki Erez in the mid 1990s. While in the
Israeli Air Force, Miki Erez was a student of Imi Lichtenfeld in Krav Maga.
Miki Erez studied and earned his 3rd degree black belt in Hisardut directly
under Grandmaster Dennis Hanover.
was founded by Miki Erez in the mid 1990s. While in the
Israeli Air Force, Miki Erez was a student of Imi Lichtenfeld in Krav Maga.
Miki Erez studied and earned his 3rd degree black belt in Hisardut directly
under Grandmaster Dennis Hanover.
In addition, Erez earned his 6th
degree black belt in Mas Oyama’s Kyokushin full contact Karate and World Oyama
Karate under Shigeru, and Yasuhiko Oyama.
Erez incorporated Oyama Karate with more Thai kickboxing into a modified form
of Survival Hisardut, called Survival Krav Maga.
degree black belt in Mas Oyama’s Kyokushin full contact Karate and World Oyama
Karate under Shigeru, and Yasuhiko Oyama.
Erez incorporated Oyama Karate with more Thai kickboxing into a modified form
of Survival Hisardut, called Survival Krav Maga.
This advanced form of Hisardut
is enhanced by the addition of new facets of overall survival, and combat
fighting. It is intended to give its students
the skills, techniques and the ability needed to escape from almost any threat virtually unharmed (including firearms, knives, clubs).
is enhanced by the addition of new facets of overall survival, and combat
fighting. It is intended to give its students
the skills, techniques and the ability needed to escape from almost any threat virtually unharmed (including firearms, knives, clubs).
I was introduced to Sensei Erez in 2009. I had just come
back from my first tour in Iraq, and one of the pilots had been telling me all
about his training in Krav Maga and how useful it could be in real world
applications, especially as fighter pilots.
back from my first tour in Iraq, and one of the pilots had been telling me all
about his training in Krav Maga and how useful it could be in real world
applications, especially as fighter pilots.
At the time, the world had been changing for fighter pilots
flying over combat zones. Gone were the days that a pilot could expect to wind
up as a Prisoner of War, should he end up downed over enemy territory. The
video of the beheading of journalist Nick Berg at the hands of Al Qaeda
terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had taught us that much. An American fighter
pilot captured in Iraq or Afghanistan would be nothing more than propaganda for
them.
flying over combat zones. Gone were the days that a pilot could expect to wind
up as a Prisoner of War, should he end up downed over enemy territory. The
video of the beheading of journalist Nick Berg at the hands of Al Qaeda
terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had taught us that much. An American fighter
pilot captured in Iraq or Afghanistan would be nothing more than propaganda for
them.
My response in country had been to carry extra ammunition. I
always carried five magazines for my Beretta M9 as opposed to the issued three.
It made my survival vest a bit heavier, but it was much better than the
alternative. My plan had always been that I would use every bullet, saving the
last one for myself should it come to that. My flight leads always briefed that
whoever was still airborne would do whatever it took to keep the bad guys at
bay until help had arrived, but at the end of the day, it was a personal choice
to make.
always carried five magazines for my Beretta M9 as opposed to the issued three.
It made my survival vest a bit heavier, but it was much better than the
alternative. My plan had always been that I would use every bullet, saving the
last one for myself should it come to that. My flight leads always briefed that
whoever was still airborne would do whatever it took to keep the bad guys at
bay until help had arrived, but at the end of the day, it was a personal choice
to make.
So the idea of adding another tool to my arsenal seemed like
a good plan. I had read about Krav Maga on the internet and watched YouTube
videos, and it seemed like something I might enjoy. I had also trained in
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in college and Karate as a kid, so I knew it would be both
a physical and mental challenge.
a good plan. I had read about Krav Maga on the internet and watched YouTube
videos, and it seemed like something I might enjoy. I had also trained in
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in college and Karate as a kid, so I knew it would be both
a physical and mental challenge.
The first day of
training lived up to everything I had been expecting. I arrived at the address my
squadron mate had given me to find that classes were being held in the garage
of the now retired Israeli. He had all of the pads, mats, and equipment
perfectly lined up everywhere with side-by-side American and Israeli flags as
the backdrop.
training lived up to everything I had been expecting. I arrived at the address my
squadron mate had given me to find that classes were being held in the garage
of the now retired Israeli. He had all of the pads, mats, and equipment
perfectly lined up everywhere with side-by-side American and Israeli flags as
the backdrop.
I shook Miki Erez’s hand and introduced myself. The first
thing I learned is that we shake with two hands, a sign of mutual respect.
Sensei Erez was larger than life – a big Israeli with an awesome mustache and
bodybuilder physique. I would later learn that he had been doing competitions
late into his fifties.
thing I learned is that we shake with two hands, a sign of mutual respect.
Sensei Erez was larger than life – a big Israeli with an awesome mustache and
bodybuilder physique. I would later learn that he had been doing competitions
late into his fifties.
Erez’s story was inspiring. He had been paralyzed from the
waist down in a helicopter accident in Israel in 1973. Although he had been
told he would never walk again, Sensei Erez managed to rehabilitate himself to
the point of not only walking, but later competing in the Israeli Olympics in
Karate.
waist down in a helicopter accident in Israel in 1973. Although he had been
told he would never walk again, Sensei Erez managed to rehabilitate himself to
the point of not only walking, but later competing in the Israeli Olympics in
Karate.
If that’s not enough of an inspiration, he would later
reinjure himself in the 80s while swimming, causing another long rehabilitation
stint in which he defied doctors and got himself walking again. He once told me that later in his life,
a Miami doctor looked at his MRI and X-ray and wanted to operate on him,
saying, “You shouldn’t even be walking right now.” Sensei refused, and although
he walks with a pronounced limp and little to no feeling in his feet, still has
a very functional life.
reinjure himself in the 80s while swimming, causing another long rehabilitation
stint in which he defied doctors and got himself walking again. He once told me that later in his life,
a Miami doctor looked at his MRI and X-ray and wanted to operate on him,
saying, “You shouldn’t even be walking right now.” Sensei refused, and although
he walks with a pronounced limp and little to no feeling in his feet, still has
a very functional life.
When the training finally began, Sensei pushed me to my
limits almost immediately. Although I prided myself as a fitness geek who went
to the gym five days per week, I found myself completely out of shape. The
basic warm up of air kicks, pushups on the fingers, sit-ups, air punches, more
pushups (on the fists this time), and more kicks had me hoping I would make it
through the whole hour and a half without puking – especially since I was
training with a senior fighter pilot that I liked and respected.
limits almost immediately. Although I prided myself as a fitness geek who went
to the gym five days per week, I found myself completely out of shape. The
basic warm up of air kicks, pushups on the fingers, sit-ups, air punches, more
pushups (on the fists this time), and more kicks had me hoping I would make it
through the whole hour and a half without puking – especially since I was
training with a senior fighter pilot that I liked and respected.
As we moved on to the basic moves of the system, I learned
that it was effective because of its simplicity. The system was designed for
any Isreali, of any walk of life, to be able to quickly defend him or herself
and move forward. After all, Israel is a small country surrounded by enemies.
In war, there is no time or ability to retreat. They must be able to neutralize
a threat and move forward. And so I learned the first basic tenant of Survival
Krav Maga: attack your attacker.
that it was effective because of its simplicity. The system was designed for
any Isreali, of any walk of life, to be able to quickly defend him or herself
and move forward. After all, Israel is a small country surrounded by enemies.
In war, there is no time or ability to retreat. They must be able to neutralize
a threat and move forward. And so I learned the first basic tenant of Survival
Krav Maga: attack your attacker.
It seemed brilliant in its simplicity. The best defense is a
good offense. My basic police academy used to play on those words saying,
“nothing good ever happens on defense.” I learned that moving forward,
attacking, and moving on were keys to survival. It was a no frills, extremely
effective system that had me hooked from day one.
good offense. My basic police academy used to play on those words saying,
“nothing good ever happens on defense.” I learned that moving forward,
attacking, and moving on were keys to survival. It was a no frills, extremely
effective system that had me hooked from day one.
After surviving the first day, I made it part of my life. I
wanted to be in better shape. I wanted to add the tools of Krav Maga to myself
defense arsenal. I wanted to embrace it.
wanted to be in better shape. I wanted to add the tools of Krav Maga to myself
defense arsenal. I wanted to embrace it.
I started out going to class just on Sunday mornings, but
the more I learned the more I wanted to learn. The more I faced off against
people twice my size and felt defeated, the more I wanted to master it. And so
I began adding days, going from once a week to three days per week.
the more I learned the more I wanted to learn. The more I faced off against
people twice my size and felt defeated, the more I wanted to master it. And so
I began adding days, going from once a week to three days per week.
And then one day after class, Sensei Erez pulled me aside.
He offered me an opportunity – to become a certified instructor in Survival Krav Maga. I had helped him give
seminars to local security firms before, but he wanted me to be able to teach
on my own. It was humbling and an awesome opportunity. I accepted.
He offered me an opportunity – to become a certified instructor in Survival Krav Maga. I had helped him give
seminars to local security firms before, but he wanted me to be able to teach
on my own. It was humbling and an awesome opportunity. I accepted.
I had some leave built up one month, and took the month off
to train. I trained nearly every day, and some days twice per day. At the time,
I was disappointed when he would have me sit down and take notes instead of
physical training, but later I realized that the mental knowledge and
preparation were perhaps more important than the physical side of things.
to train. I trained nearly every day, and some days twice per day. At the time,
I was disappointed when he would have me sit down and take notes instead of
physical training, but later I realized that the mental knowledge and
preparation were perhaps more important than the physical side of things.
Some of these skills would translate directly into Spectre’s
character. Specifically, the concepts of avoidance, negotiation, and then
killing. My second novel is completely based on these tenants. It’s spelled out
in the first chapter, but the theme of the novel is Spectre’s application of
them.
character. Specifically, the concepts of avoidance, negotiation, and then
killing. My second novel is completely based on these tenants. It’s spelled out
in the first chapter, but the theme of the novel is Spectre’s application of
them.
 |
| Receiving my instructor certificate in 2011 |
I graduated with my instructor certificate in late 2011 and
earned my Brown Belt shortly before leaving Miami in 2012. It was bittersweet
receiving that belt, knowing that my time training regularly with Sensei Erez
had come to an end. I was moving on to the Navy Reserve and to Louisiana. I
considered him both a friend and mentor that I was sad to leave.
earned my Brown Belt shortly before leaving Miami in 2012. It was bittersweet
receiving that belt, knowing that my time training regularly with Sensei Erez
had come to an end. I was moving on to the Navy Reserve and to Louisiana. I
considered him both a friend and mentor that I was sad to leave.
 |
| Receiving my Brown Belt in 2012 |
I never quite found anything close to that experience when I
moved to Louisiana. The problem with Krav Maga is that it has become very
commercialized. There are many “boutique” UFC gyms that boast Krav Maga
instruction, when in reality, they’re nothing more than MMA gyms with one or
two instructors who took a one or two day course and received a certificate,
having never actually even met an Israeli.
moved to Louisiana. The problem with Krav Maga is that it has become very
commercialized. There are many “boutique” UFC gyms that boast Krav Maga
instruction, when in reality, they’re nothing more than MMA gyms with one or
two instructors who took a one or two day course and received a certificate,
having never actually even met an Israeli.
My training now is mostly in my own garage. I often invite
friends to train with me, and I teach based on the concepts and techniques of
Sensei Erez. It keeps me mostly proficient and in shape, but I don’t think it
will ever quite be the same. I have also had the opportunity to teach seminars for
local law enforcement, which is challenging and rewarding all on its own.
friends to train with me, and I teach based on the concepts and techniques of
Sensei Erez. It keeps me mostly proficient and in shape, but I don’t think it
will ever quite be the same. I have also had the opportunity to teach seminars for
local law enforcement, which is challenging and rewarding all on its own.
.png) |
| Teaching a seminar for law enforcement |
For now, my training and experience live on through Cal
Martin as he fights, “attacks his attackers” and pushes forward through the SPECTRE
Series books.
Martin as he fights, “attacks his attackers” and pushes forward through the SPECTRE
Series books.
What Krav Maga Isn’t
Krav Maga is not a sport. In UFC and MMA, it usually fails.
The reason for that is that in Krav Maga, there is only one rule – survival.
The reason for that is that in Krav Maga, there is only one rule – survival.
Specific techniques taught in Krav Maga are banned in sport
fighting because they are designed to cause serious or permanent injury. Krav
Maga is a weapon to be used in self defense only. It requires just as much
discipline as owning a taser, baton, OC spray or even a handgun.
fighting because they are designed to cause serious or permanent injury. Krav
Maga is a weapon to be used in self defense only. It requires just as much
discipline as owning a taser, baton, OC spray or even a handgun.
This is the reason behind the Avoid, Negotiate, Kill
concept. If one can avoid a fight, then that is always the preferred tactic.
There is no room for ego in Krav Maga. Living to fight another day without
having to engage the threat is by far the most effective method.
concept. If one can avoid a fight, then that is always the preferred tactic.
There is no room for ego in Krav Maga. Living to fight another day without
having to engage the threat is by far the most effective method.
If that doesn’t work, negotiation is the second best option.
Again, this technique stresses the need for a person to check their ego at the
door. Sometimes people can talk their way out of a situation. If that is possible,
then it allows the defender to fight another day.
Again, this technique stresses the need for a person to check their ego at the
door. Sometimes people can talk their way out of a situation. If that is possible,
then it allows the defender to fight another day.
Finally, if all else fails, Krav Maga teaches to Kill. Kill
their will to fight, kill their ability to fight, or kill them. This is where
the idea of “attacking your attacker” comes into play. Once the decision has
been made to kill, there is no hesitation. The idea now is to quickly and
efficiently stand down the threat through violence and swiftness of action. It
is unlike boxing or MMA where we can accept standing up and going blow for blow
with the adversary. The idea is to use whatever means necessary to end the
fight and move forward.
their will to fight, kill their ability to fight, or kill them. This is where
the idea of “attacking your attacker” comes into play. Once the decision has
been made to kill, there is no hesitation. The idea now is to quickly and
efficiently stand down the threat through violence and swiftness of action. It
is unlike boxing or MMA where we can accept standing up and going blow for blow
with the adversary. The idea is to use whatever means necessary to end the
fight and move forward.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog post. Hopefully this clears
the air and gives a bit more insight into the Cal “Spectre” Martin character.
And if you have to ask, yes, I can kill you with a thought.
the air and gives a bit more insight into the Cal “Spectre” Martin character.
And if you have to ask, yes, I can kill you with a thought.
It was an honor training with Sensei Miki Erez who is now
actively involved in helping those in wheelchairs to stay in shape and improve
their lives. His story is amazing, and if you have time, I highly recommend
visiting http://www.wheelchairfitnesssolution.com/
and checking out his revolutionary new wheelchair training system.
actively involved in helping those in wheelchairs to stay in shape and improve
their lives. His story is amazing, and if you have time, I highly recommend
visiting http://www.wheelchairfitnesssolution.com/
and checking out his revolutionary new wheelchair training system.
Thank you for reading. Stay tuned for the next blog post.