I recently signed up for a self-defense class, and I have been loving it. I initially signed up for safety reasons since I am living by myself for the first time in an on-campus apartment next year. However, as classes are continuing, I am enjoying self-defense more and more.
The self-defense class I signed up for is called Krav Maga. Krav Maga is a self-defense system used by men and women in the Israeli Defense Forces. Unlike other martial arts, Krav Maga focuses solely on defense and escaping dangerous situations. It combines techniques from a variety of different sports, including boxing, wrestling, and aikido. Krav Maga was started by Imi Lichtenfeld in Czechoslovakia to protect his people before World War 2. This system was adopted by the Israeli military in the 1930s. It focuses on using your opponent’s strength to your advantage. This means that regardless of how much bigger or stronger someone is, you can still get out of the fight.
On my first day of class, I learned how to escape if someone grabs my arm. I was not only able to practice with the coach, but they also gave me drills to practice with a punching bag. Even after just one lesson, I felt much more comfortable and safe because I knew that I have some knowledge on how to defend myself in case anything happens. Especially as a woman, having self-defense training allows me to feel more powerful and confident. It is very rewarding to see myself get stronger after each lesson.