Special forces' new form of martial art pulls no punches

THE lengthy disciplines and ballet-like beauty of martial arts such as karate and judo have given way to a brutal new self-defence system called Krav Maga. There is nothing subtle about this kicking, gouging, punching, hair-pulling, head-butting form of unarmed- combat.

But developed by the almost-mythical warriors of the Israeli Defence Forces, it has become the lethal routine of choice for German Special Forces, the French Foreign Legion, American police forces, soldiers - and Hollywood musclemen.

Charlie Sheen's bodyguards are trained in its brutal ways. So are those who protect Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sly Stallone, Sharon Stone, Bruce Willis and Eddie Murphy. Musclemen actors Jean Claude van Damme and Dolph Lundgren are also learning the techniques which have kicked the ancient martial arts back into the history books.

But it is more then just a phenomenon for those who arguably need lean-and-mean street fighting skills to combat the legions of potential crazies lurking on streets worldwide. Krav Maga is now the fitness-regime of choice for bored suburbanites where aficionados swear by the hard-hitting workouts.

Darren Levine has emerged as the guru for Krav Maga and has sold its deadly attractions to the Los Angeles Police Department. His Krav Maga National Training Centre in West Hollywood echoes daily to the thuds, grunts and howls of pain of rookie recruits training alongside streetwise Los Angelinos and corporate hotshots going through their paces.

"When you're fighting for your life," 38-year-old Levine tells his new disciples, "you've got to be as fast and as fierce as a wild animal. You're only goal is to save yourself using whatever you can and whatever you've got." Krav Maga - Hebrew for "contact combat" - is now being taught in San Francisco, Boston, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. German special forces troops have adopted it, as have foreign legionnaires, Spanish riot police and Italian anti-terrorism units.

One hundred America police departments have ditched traditional martial arts methods in favour of it, SWAT teams - elite police officers trained for siege situations - now use it while army instructors now teach it as part of the curriculum for US special forces troops.

"Students are taught how to channel natural fight-or-flight reactions into swift defensive tactics meant to instantly subdue the bad guy," said Levine, a former karate instructor who brought it back to America after learning it from the regimen's grand master, Imi Lichtenfeld, in Israel.

"It is summoning up in a heartbeat what I call a winning warrior spirit. I teach people everything that is illegal in boxing and wrestling and most other 'sports'. I teach them to escape from bear hugs and choke holds, to wrestle away weapons, fight on the ground and fend off multiple attackers. Anything goes, including groin kicks, elbow jabs, head butts, eye gouging and hair pulling.

"There is only one rule - there are no rules." Membership has shot past 1,000 at his LA centre and another one is already under construction - no mean feat in a city of health fads. Levine emphasises that the brutal simplicity of Krav Maga makes it accessible to everybody, not just hard bodies with the physique of Bruce Lee. Linda Siegel, a 42-year-old nurse who attends his LA centre, says: "I have a black-belt in Taekwondo but nothing comes close to the energy burn experienced in Krav Magra. It is incredibly fast-paced and hard-hitting.

"Los Angeles is a city with any number of crazies on the sidewalk. I would recommend this workout to anyone, married or single, because it makes you fit and makes you more lethal than the headcase who has his eye on you."

In an age of five-minute wonders some trainers of the traditional martial arts are sceptical whether Krav Maga has the stamina to go the distance. But Levine asserts that the Hollywood angle - he personally trains the minders-to-the-stars in closed sessions away from the public - and the fact that Krav Maga is easy to master will ensure that it is here to stay.

He added: "Traditional martial arts take years to master and are steeped in choreographed moves and ritualistic practices, none of which are likely to be of much help against a mugger. The fundamentals of Krav Maga can be learned in a matter of months."

The backing of police departments for the routine has done much for its image. Brian Arnspiger, defensive-tactics trainer for the Burbank police department in California, said: "It is saving the lives of police officers on the street and that is the only thing that counts.

"It has also decreased injuries to violent suspects subdued in a struggle. It is quick and simple and allows us to make arrests without having to resort to weapons or excessive physical force. Learn this and you can take on anyone."

Copyright 2000
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