LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
More than 20 military and civilian police officers from the Hampton Roads community participated in a Krav Maga training course at Langley Air Force Base, Va., April 2-8.
The class, held in the base static display hangar, trained participants in the art of Krav Maga, a form of noncompetitive self-defense focusing on striking, wrestling and grappling techniques.
Krav Maga was created in the late 1930s by Imre Lichtenfeld, an Israeli martial artist who developed the practice to defend his Jewish neighborhood against anti-Semitic gang violence in Bratislava. Currently, all Israeli soldiers, including Special Forces units, learn Krav Maga as part of their basic military training.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Corie Flores, a 633rd Security Forces Squadron patrolman, said the training gave students an advantage in close-quarters combat situations against untrained or under-trained enemies.
"It (provides) a lot of practical applications for law enforcement and troops deployed downrange," Flores said. "(The training) is very natural and free flowing. If there's something you don't do right, you can keep going and still accomplish the end result rather than over think the maneuvers."
According to Flores, the students can take the skills back to their units and train other service members in the art, as all graduates of the 7-day course are qualified to instruct Krav Maga at a basic level.
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cody O'Neill, assigned to the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment in Norfolk, highlighted Krav Maga's emphasis on hand-to-hand combat, which he said can be a critical skill set in urban combat environments often encountered during deployments.
U.S. Army Spc. Korvin Jameson, assigned to Fort Eustis' 221st Military Police Detachment, echoed O'Neill's sentiments.
"This will help us most in combat situations. Say for instance you go into a house and you don't know what's going on, then someone comes at you tries to stab you," he explained. "(Krav Maga) keeps you quick on your feet and ready."