WOMEN KRAV MAGA & SPARRING IS THIS A HELPFUL TOOL FOR TRAINING OR ARE THE RISKS BIGGER THAN THE BENEFITS?

ARTICLE AUTOHOR: EMMANUEL MANIOS | IKMF EXPERT 2

1 | Intro

I will begin in a general way and try to get more specific during the process of this essay. Although, some can consider this to be backwards it is OK with me. It is commonly accepted that sparring necessary for a complete training procedure at least after a certain point and level including civilian training. In this sense even to dare to suggest that it does not concern half the population of this planet is at least as far as I am concerned an immodesty. Therefore, it is safe to reach the conclusion that indeed it helps.

2 | Personal opinion according to personal experience

One might imply that we do not acknowledge body and muscle differences between the two genders. Obviously, this is not the case.

There are ways such as SLOW FIGHTING or SEMICONTACT or putting LIMITATIONS to the STRIKING (number or kind) in order to introduce sparring into the life of women in a mild and safe way. If we accept the above to be beneficial and at the same time by accepting the differences between the two genders we can reach a point of great importance to me.

An informal separation based on experience is a division not between genders but among women themselves. The ones who attend regular KRAV MAGA classes and the ones who aim to attend a STAY AWAY course. As far as I am concerned the question if sparring fights benefit or not women is entirely about this later sub category.

At this point it would helpful to examine the benefits of sparring:

• It enhances the understanding of distances of the attendees while unarmed fight. At the beginning the practitioner always starts in the air and after proceed with punching bags, shields, focus mits, thai pads etc.. The final repercussion of the above is physical contact. Always with the necessary protective gear such as mouth guard, groin protection, headgear, gloves, chin guards etc...
• It perfects timing. Fighting is interactive. During sparring we are not the only ones who strike but so does the opponent. In this sense we are summoned to regulate the movement and the flow to our benefit. It is a matter of space and time. The appropriate moment (time) to be in the right spot (space). A fragment of a second too fast can be early, a fragment of a second too slow can be late. It is all about slightly marginally changes.

Grasping these slightly marginally changes and the understanding and the ability to response to them is for me the most important thing sparring has to offer. In one word, accuracy.

Besides that, the benefits are almost uncountable:

• It increases self confidence;
• It strengthens concentration;
• It improves discipline;
• It exercises the entire body, muscles, cardio respiratory and nervous system;
• It decompresses and entertains;
• It coordinates the body and improves balance;
• It develops respect to our co partitioners and to our fellow men;
• It prepares us psychologically and naturally toughens us. A typical example of the above mentioned is stamina and the ability to overcome pain. Which can be applied to various aspects of life in very helpful ways;
• It emotionally benefits with the release of aggression in a controlled manner.

With light sparring, focus mits etc the physical contact will and can allow women to release and free productively rage in a controlled way at the same time. Rather than keeping aggression within them it externalizes it.

As far as the disadvantages are concerned, obviously a potential injury is the case.

This brings us back to the basic / initial question if sparring / fights can push women away so I will return to the informal separation based on my experience. Between women who attend regular practice and the ones who attend the STAY AWAY class. It is clear that one of the reasons leading them to this choice is the fear of getting injured. STAY AWAY equips women in gentle, smooth and efficient way. It also expands the social base of Krav Maga by addressing women who in other circumstances would not pursuit Krav Maga in the first place. The success is double.

On one hand it essentially helps women and on the other hand it expands the social base of those who desire to start Krav Maga.

Regarding the question if sparring can push away women from Krav Maga, instructors should not omit that Krav Maga gives tools which can be used such as:

• SLOW FIGHTING (slow - gentle and most important of all no injuries)
• SEMI CONTACT (it has speed - but no full power/contact
• PUTTING LIMITATIONS to the striking variety for example only hand, only legs etc

This way the practitioner knows pretty much how the blows will come so they have less anxiety. The above mentioned combined with sufficient safety gear create a safe environment in order to avoid injuries.

In Greece due to the financial crisis many of us are forced to do two jobs. My second occupation is bartending. Currently I own a café bar with other four friends of mine. But, I have been doing this job almost 15 years now. Many tend to consider these two jobs as having nothing in common between them. However, through the years I have seen plenty of incidents which concern, include self-defence. More specific to our concern which are women one thing that has made a big impression to me is the way they “freeze” when they accept a hit. This does not concern all but the majority of women in my opinion. I am not referring to the intensity of the blow but to the phycological aspect. It seems as if they do not believe that this situation is happening to them, how can it happen in a public space? etc...

Therefore, I have reached the conclusion that it is important in controlled circumstances, with head gear closed in front, chests etc to take some blows. Not in an attempt to turn them into MMA or Mui Tai fighters but out of respect to them, to assist them to deal with the shock, the fear and the anxiety. In order, for them to understand with their own experience what it looks like, almost. At least to be prepared in the best possible way for this surprise.

3 | Conclusion for implementation

Necessity defines our actions and through our actions we learn. If only we could theoretically exhaust this matter talking about it and fully prepare a woman for an attack and for the use of any physical violence. Unfortunately, this can not be done. And those of us that have had a broken rib, a nose, an ear drum or being groggy after a blow or have lost our breath after a blow in the liver area know very well that it cannot be done.

To conclude, the benefits are bigger than the disadvantages. So, it is a challenge for us instructors to implement sparring / fighting in the life of women without pushing them away from Krav Maga.

ARTICLE AUTOHOR: EMMANUEL MANIOS | IKMF EXPERT 2

https://kravmaga-ikmf.com/articles/women-krav-maga-sparring/