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KRAV MAGA HITS HOLLYWOOD!
Author: Ella Morse
In Enough, Jennifer Lopez endures one too many beatings from her husband, then decides its time to do something about it. Her fictional character turns to a real art Krav Maga, the official self-defense system of the Israeli militaryfor a little hand-to- hand help. She learns a few good techniques, which are actually drawn from the systems entry-level curriculum, and proceeds to wage war on her abuser.
Like the woman she portrays on screen, Lopez had never studied a martial art before taking the part. But she had heard that actress Shannon Elizabeth trained in Krav Maga for her role in Tomcats, and after meeting with an instructor to find out more about the system, Lopez was convinced it was what she wanted for the film.
Columbia Pictures then recruited Wade Allen, an instructor at the Krav Maga National Training Center in Los Angeles. Jennifers character isnt meant to be a martial arts superhero,î he says. Shes a woman who marries a man and has a childand ends up being an abused spouse who is forced to take some self-defense classes.
Krav Maga is renowned for its ability to transform an average Joe or Jane into a capable fighter. It is designed for people who dont have the luxury of being able to spend years mastering a traditional martial art. ìIt is a good system for women because its not about teaching them to stand toe-to-toe and hit a man on the chin,î says Allen, who has trained in the martial arts since 1977.
Its about teaching them how to fight smart, not strong. In Krav Maga, practitioners learn to view a confrontation as a no-rules fight. They practice striking the most vulnerable targets on the attackers body while using the environment to their advantage.
Thats essential because female victims are almost always smaller and lighter than their male attacker, and they need to stack the deck in their fa- vor. Kicking the groin, punching the throat, finger-gouging the eyesthese are things women should be thinking of for their own safety in a fight,î Allen says. Its not fancy. Its not necessarily always pretty to look at. But it gets the job done, and thats what she wanted.
The following are four techniques Allen taught Lopez. All of them might not make it into the final cut of the summer release, but you can rest assured they will all function well on the street.
PINNED AGAINST A WALL
If an attacker chokes you from the front while pinning you against a wall, you should raise your right arm to trap his left hand against your neck. Then turn to your left, but as you do so you must drop your left shoulder to avoid inadvertently pushing yourself away from the wall. Next, lower your right arm to shove his hands away from your throat. Push yourself away from the wall as you deliver an elbow strike to his face, thus starting your counterattack.
Escalation:
Once you have removed the threat posed by his choking hands, you can follow up with any number of counters, Allen says. ìYou can break his nose or knock him out with an elbow to the chin.î If you are significantly shorter than he is, a hammerfist might be a better option than an elbow because of the extended reach, he adds.
Advice:
If you ever have to use this technique, do not push off the wall until you are free of the attackers grip on your neck, warns John Whitman, a fourth-degree black belt in Krav Maga.
Otherwise, you will risk injuring your throat. ìAny motion you make to move away from the wall without dealing with the hands first just increases the pressure of his grip,î Allen says.
GRABBED ON THE GROUND
If an attacker knocks you to the ground and bends down to grab one of your feet, you should immediately use your free leg to kick him in the face, Allen says. That will create some distance so you can get back on your feet.
If you have inflicted sufficient damage to be able to escape, do it. If it looks like he will continue the assault, however, immediately adopt a fighting stance so you can defend yourself.
Escalation:
If your kick to the face merely leaves him with a fat lip, you will have to follow up with additional hand and foot strikes. If precisely planted, one of them could knock him out cold or open an escape avenue. Your course of action will depend on your mission, says Whitman, who has also studied taekwondo, wrestling and boxing. ìIn the movie, Jennifer Lopez has to get to safety. But law-enforcement personnel might have to get up and make an arrest.
A soldier might have to get up and kill the enemy. Fortunately thats not the context most people work in.î
Advice:
You are most vulnerable when you are on the ground and when you are trying to stand up after you push the attacker off you, Allen says. ìDont misjudge the amount of time or space youve created to get into a standing position.î
PUNCHED FROM THE FRONT
If an attacker throws a right cross at you, you should redirect the punch using a small hand motion and grab his fist with your left hand, Allen says. Once you have parried the strike, immediately counter with a right cross to his face.
Escalation:
If it looks like he will launch another strike at your head, grab his right shoulder and kick or knee his groin, he says.
Advice:
In planning how you will counterattack, do not think so far ahead that you forget your attackers initial blow, Allen warns. ìIts important to focus on the primary danger, which is defending against the right cross thats on its way to your face, before dealing with your counter.î
BEAR-HUGGED FROM BEHIND
If a thug sneaks up from behind and slaps a bear hug on you, your risk of being lifted and dumped on the ground is great, Whitman says. Therefore, you should strive to begin your resistance while youre still on your feet. Lower your center of gravity by dropping your weight; that will make it more difficult for him to pick you up or even hold onto you. Next, deliver a series of rear elbows to his face. If he shifts his head to the side to avoid the blows, you should be able to reach him using your other elbow, Whitman says.
Escalation:
If the elbow smashes dont have the desired effect, stomp on his instep or smash your heel into his shin or groin.
Advice:
It is important to counterattack immediately, preferably while moving around. ìMake yourself hard to hold onto,î Whitman says. ...
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