Do we offer Krav Maga classes and if not, why not?
SBG Sparks Head Coach Raymond Price is a 25 year veteran of law enforcement. He coaches hand to hand combat including weapons all across the US, please see his other website Forge & Fortify which includes fighting hand to hand where weapons such as guns are present. We asked Raymond his thoughts on Krav Maga:
Raymond, do you offer Krav Maga here at SBG Sparks?
First and foremost, I want to acknowledge and congratulate anyone who is exploring effective martial arts for self-defense, with the intention of protecting themselves, their family, and friends.
However we do not offer Krav Maga sessions, and there are specific reasons for that decision. While Krav Maga has its proponents, we have found it to be ineffective in real-life self-defense situations, as well as in other practical scenarios. One of the fundamental issues with Krav Maga is that its practitioners do not engage in live sparring during their training sessions, which is a critical component for developing effective martial arts skills.
Renowned martial arts expert Matt Thornton, the head of SBG globally, has extensively discussed the importance of live resistance training in martial arts. It is no coincidence that martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling, Muay Thai, Sambo, etc., are showcased in the UFC, whereas Krav Maga is notably absent.
While Krav Maga advocates may argue that their discipline addresses threats involving knives, guns, and other weapons that are not present in UFC matches, individuals trained in the aforementioned martial arts still stand a better chance against armed assailants. Additionally, Krav Maga claims to prepare practitioners for multiple opponent attacks. However, those regularly sparring in live martial arts disciplines have demonstrated a greater ability to defend against multiple attackers compared to those who practice the typically ineffective and stagnant drills or choreographed movements associated with Krav Maga.
As a 25 year veteran in law enforcement with extensive experience in dealing with weapons and assailants, I can attest to the superiority of our training programs in addressing real-world self-defense situations compared to Krav Maga. If you are interested in truly understanding how to defend against such threats, we offer a vastly superior and practical experience.
