Krav Ma...What?
Krav Maga. Israeli for "badass."
Okay, not really. It means "contact combat."
Krav Maga is a form of self-defense and hand-to-hand combat developed and used by the Israeli military. Because Israel requires military service from (nearly) all citizens, they needed a system that is easy to learn, applicable for all body types, and useful for men and women alike. (Learn more than you probably want to about Krav Maga here.) Today, Krav Maga is used by military personnel, law enforcement, and civilians around the world.
We joke that Krav Maga is all martial, no art. Unlike other fighting systems, Krav Maga is not a sport. It definitely does not have rules. It is intended for combat and street defense. Krav Maga is ever evolving, changing techniques to make them easier to learn and more effective. We borrow from other styles. If it works, we use it.
I'm trained and certified by Alpha Krav Maga International. I endured over a decade of training and many days of grueling, painful testing by my coach Dennis Amato and Alpha head coach Sam Sade to obtain my certification.