Urban Krav Maga is a self-defence system which has its roots in Israeli Krav Maga as its name suggests. It additionally draws on a variety of other fighting systems such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts among others. The main focus of Urban Krav Maga is on defending the most common street attacks, pre-emptive moves to end a confrontation before it begins and a range of stand-up and ground fighting techniques. As well as hand-to-hand fighting, techniques cover defences against weaponry. Contrary to many other fighting systems and martial arts, the focus is on techniques that can be implemented regardless of strength or size based on leverage and the "surprise effect". As a result, Urban Krav Maga's suitability for women is considered to be higher than that of other self-defence systems; the senior instructors have actually made a whole DVD dedicated to female self defence and fighting larger, more powerful attackers.
Basic principles
Ultimately aiming to maintain safety under all circumstances, Urban Krav Maga is based on:
Avoiding confrontation first and foremost by talking to attacker / defusing situation in the simplest way possible
If it is clear that the situation escalates, executing a pre-emptive attack
Assuming the majority of street fights last a minute or less
Attacks need therefore be short and intense, making use of pressure points like eyes, groin, throat, fingers etc.
Getting out of the situation as soon as the threat is neutralised - students are taught to be aware of their surroundings and likeliest exits
The discipline has a grading system though the focus on such tends to be less than other system; on the most basic level, students will learn to defend themselves from the 10 most common street attacks, how to get up quickly if taken to the ground and pre-emptive moves and strikes.
The organisation has 50 active Urban Krav Maga instructors operating across the UK and international branches in:
United States;
Canada;
Brazil;
Italy;
Greece and
Colombia.
Branches will soon be starting up in Russia and Germany.
DVDs
In 2008, McGill was asked to produce a DVD boxset by the UK producer NAP. The 6-set covers: defending the 10 most common attacks, knife threats and attacks, ground fighting, gun threats and third party protection. Other DVDs include:
a 5-set covering stand up and fighting techniques, their roots in various systems and their applicability to Mixed Martial Arts.
a single DVD covering female self defence and fighting a bigger attacker
a single DVD covering defending yourself on the floor and against knife attacks/threats
Urban Krav Maga has been criticised for being too much like MMA, partly because of the prominent Vale Tudo, Jiu Jitsu and MMA background of Joint Chief Instructor, Negao. In this respect, the reason why Urban Krav Maga draws from these techniques is so as to be able to counter attacks on the ground from those trained in said martial arts; given a large percentage of fights end up on the ground, focus is placed on getting up quickly and safely. Because of the move away from "pure" Krav Maga principles - such as the introduction of pre-emptive moves and striking with the heel of the hand to protect the knuckles rather than punching - the Urban Krav Maga organisation has alienated some in the wider Krav Maga community so such controversies will continue.
