Page 21 - Complete Krav maga : the ultimate guide to over 250 self-defense and combative techniques

Tina defends against a bearhug.

As instructors, we know that we must start with actual techniques. If we give
students abstract principles, they will have nowhere to begin their training. This
would be like plucking the strings of a guitar, describing music theory, and then
handing the instrument to a new student and asking him to figure out a song for
himself. He would feel lost. Instead, we teach him the notes, we help him build
simple songs and chords, and soon he understands that the variations of those

notes and chords are nearly limitless. So it is with defensive tactics: We start
with a basic structure so that information can be delivered effectively. By the
end of his training, the student will be able to grasp the theory and make his own
music.

Fewer Techniques That Solve More Problems

Our approach has always been to find one general movement that deals with as
many variations in the attack as possible. It is absolutely impossible to create one
unique defense against every possible type of attack. Life just doesn’t work that
way. If we teach you 300 defenses against 300 attacks, you’ll put this book
down, go outside, and be assaulted by attack No. 301.

Instead, we try to create one movement that addresses as many variations as
possible (using principles as discussed earlier). This yields a simpler, more
refined system that is easier to recall under stress. The simpler the system, the
more decisive your actions will be because you will not be confused by options.

There is a well-known theory in the study of human movement and reaction

known as Hick’s Law or the Hick-Hyman Law. Essentially, this law states that
the more choices a human being has to a particular stimulus, the longer his
overall response time will be. Extended response times are a bad thing in self-
defense situations. Therefore, we want to reduce overall response time. There are
two ways to do this: a) train more and b) simplify the system.

There is certainly nothing wrong with training more. The more you train, the

better you will be. However, Krav Maga is designed for those who cannot train
more, and even if you do have time to train, you will still benefit from a refined,