Copyright 2002 The Columbus Dispatch
The Columbus Dispatch
June 12, 2002 Wednesday, Home Final Edition
SECTION: FEATURES - ACCENT & ARTS; Pg. 01F
LENGTH: 1194 words
HEADLINE: NO HOLDS BARRED ;
Israeli system of self-defense practical, not pretty
BYLINE: Kristy O'Hara, Dispatch Accent Reporter
BODY:
Fists punch the air.
Legs snap toward the groin.
Elbows seek a vulnerable target.
"Harder! Put your whole body behind each move," the instructor commands.
High-powered fans do little to cool the 80-degree room, in which the white T-shirts are drenched with sweat. The punches become fiercer.
"Hwah!"
"Ugh!"
"Aaah!"
The grunting and groaning echo throughout the room.
"Time!" the instructor yells.
The chorus of panting slows as heart rates return to normal.
The students rush to their water bottles.
The scene at the Dublin Martial Arts center isn't that of a typical martial-arts class.
An Israeli form of self-defense called Krav Maga is quickly gaining in popularity thanks to the Jennifer Lopez film Enough .
"A lot of people saw that new movie and said: 'What is that? What did she learn?' " said Miranda Wallace, 27, of Columbus. "This is only my sixth class, but when I first started there were only eight people in my class. Now there are 25."
Krav Maga, a Hebrew term for "contact combat," is designed to fend off an attacker -- by any means necessary.
"We don't teach anyone to go kill, and we don't teach to go looking for trouble," said Mark Slane, a Krav Maga instructor and Dublin Martial Arts co-owner.
Imi Lichtenfeld, who was born in Czechoslovakia, developed the defense for the Israeli military in 1948.
Seeking a system easy enough that men and women ages 18 to 55 could learn, he based the techniques on childhood experiences with fascist thugs in his Jewish neighborhood.
Lichtenfeld adapted Krav Maga for everyday use in 1964.
After training under Lichtenfeld, Darren Levine transferred the system to the United States and in 1983 founded the Krav Maga Association of America.
"It's easy to learn, easy to remember, and you try to make it your natural body reaction," Slane said. "If you're in a chokehold, your hands are automatically going to go to your neck."
Krav Maga differs from other martial arts in that it lacks rules, uniforms and traditions.
"Nothing is off-limits," Slane said. "Many are used to doing tae kwon do, where there are uniforms and bowing. With Krav, we just wear shorts and shirts."
Powell resident Matt Zieg, who has studied tae kwon do and jujitsu, prefers Krav Maga.
"It's not very artistic. It's more quick, dirty, and get out," the 30-year-old said. "You're not learning flowing moves. You're learning how to defend yourself."
Many martial-arts black belts would lose a real fight because of the unstructured environment.
To simulate realistic conditions during training, Krav Maga instructors play loud music and dim the lights.
Dublin Martial Arts offers four levels of training, with varying degrees of speed and technique. Basic self-defense is contained in the first level.
Krav Maga is part workout, part confidence-builder, said Denise Balnoschan, a Dublin Martial Arts co-owner and instructor.
Students participate in grueling "spirit drills."
"Drills are meant to wear them out," Slane said, "to tell them they've got to keep fighting."
Jason Stegall, 26, of Columbus finds the training stimulating.
"Rather than getting pooped out, I can go 100 percent," he said. "I can't believe how much fun it is."
Columbus resident Jon Herman, who has taken classes for a year and a half, appreciates the motivation from instructors.
"When you've hit the wall in the middle of spirit drills, you've got an instructor pushing you," said Herman, 30. "You're within your comfort level, but you're always being pushed to the next level."
Thanks to the classes, he said, Herman has lost 15 pounds and developed more energy.
After taking classes for three months, Travis Petry, 20, of Reynoldsburg has a heightened awareness of his surroundings.
"I'm always thinking of situations in my head, like 'If someone came around this corner, what would I do?' " he said.
Most students want to learn how to defend themselves.
"A year ago I was attacked," Wallace said. "If I had learned some skills, the outcome would have been different."
Levine, who introduced the system in the United States, works as a district attorney in Los Angeles.
He frequently sees surveillance tapes in which victims curl up in a ball when attacked instead of defending themselves.
"You've got to attack, attack, attack, until you can get away," Balnoschan said.
Amy Weilbacher, 25, of Powell started taking the classes to feel more comfortable by herself.
"The best part is realizing you have more strength, no matter your size," the 5-foot-4 Weilbacher said. 'It's good to know if I'm in trouble I can protect myself or at least have a chance to protect myself."
Some women take the classes to feel more sure of themselves; some men do so for the same reason.
"I'm more confident. I know my physical limits and how to use my height," the 5-foot-5 Petry said. "They drill me with a taller guy, so I learned to use elbow strikes to the groin instead of trying to reach for the head."
Beginning classes focus on learning to punch correctly -- like boxers.
Students enjoy the punching drills for the stress relief, Balnoschan said.
"They like hitting the mitts and seeing themselves improve," she said. "They can take it (stress) out here and not take it home."
Zieg began taking classes in April, after hearing about Krav Maga from Israeli friends.
"It's a great stress reliever to throw someone down," Zieg said. "Taking out some aggression makes you feel better and relax."
Though not as structured as other martial arts, Krav Maga requires mastering techniques.
Weilbacher initially struggled with her elbow hits and kicks.
"It takes getting used to letting your body take control," she said.
Classes for beginners, offered twice a week, are coed.
"As a female, you can see the strength of a male," Weilbacher said. "And for a male, it's good to fight and protect yourself the right way."
As for the movie, Slane said, Lopez executes the moves -- particularly the choke defense -- correctly.
She plays a wife who turns the tables on her predatory husband.
The actress, who trained with Krav Maga expert Wade Allen, did most of her stunts during filming.
That the film has inspired more people to sign up for classes heartens Wallace, who hopes that interest doesn't wane after the appeal of the movie does.
"Hopefully it's not a fad," she said, "because it's serious -- and protecting yourself is a serious matter."
The Columbus Dispatch
June 12, 2002 Wednesday, Home Final Edition
SECTION: FEATURES - ACCENT & ARTS; Pg. 01F
LENGTH: 1194 words
HEADLINE: NO HOLDS BARRED ;
Israeli system of self-defense practical, not pretty
BYLINE: Kristy O'Hara, Dispatch Accent Reporter
BODY:
Fists punch the air.
Legs snap toward the groin.
Elbows seek a vulnerable target.
"Harder! Put your whole body behind each move," the instructor commands.
High-powered fans do little to cool the 80-degree room, in which the white T-shirts are drenched with sweat. The punches become fiercer.
"Hwah!"
"Ugh!"
"Aaah!"
The grunting and groaning echo throughout the room.
"Time!" the instructor yells.
The chorus of panting slows as heart rates return to normal.
The students rush to their water bottles.
The scene at the Dublin Martial Arts center isn't that of a typical martial-arts class.
An Israeli form of self-defense called Krav Maga is quickly gaining in popularity thanks to the Jennifer Lopez film Enough .
"A lot of people saw that new movie and said: 'What is that? What did she learn?' " said Miranda Wallace, 27, of Columbus. "This is only my sixth class, but when I first started there were only eight people in my class. Now there are 25."
Krav Maga, a Hebrew term for "contact combat," is designed to fend off an attacker -- by any means necessary.
"We don't teach anyone to go kill, and we don't teach to go looking for trouble," said Mark Slane, a Krav Maga instructor and Dublin Martial Arts co-owner.
Imi Lichtenfeld, who was born in Czechoslovakia, developed the defense for the Israeli military in 1948.
Seeking a system easy enough that men and women ages 18 to 55 could learn, he based the techniques on childhood experiences with fascist thugs in his Jewish neighborhood.
Lichtenfeld adapted Krav Maga for everyday use in 1964.
After training under Lichtenfeld, Darren Levine transferred the system to the United States and in 1983 founded the Krav Maga Association of America.
"It's easy to learn, easy to remember, and you try to make it your natural body reaction," Slane said. "If you're in a chokehold, your hands are automatically going to go to your neck."
Krav Maga differs from other martial arts in that it lacks rules, uniforms and traditions.
"Nothing is off-limits," Slane said. "Many are used to doing tae kwon do, where there are uniforms and bowing. With Krav, we just wear shorts and shirts."
Powell resident Matt Zieg, who has studied tae kwon do and jujitsu, prefers Krav Maga.
"It's not very artistic. It's more quick, dirty, and get out," the 30-year-old said. "You're not learning flowing moves. You're learning how to defend yourself."
Many martial-arts black belts would lose a real fight because of the unstructured environment.
To simulate realistic conditions during training, Krav Maga instructors play loud music and dim the lights.
Dublin Martial Arts offers four levels of training, with varying degrees of speed and technique. Basic self-defense is contained in the first level.
Krav Maga is part workout, part confidence-builder, said Denise Balnoschan, a Dublin Martial Arts co-owner and instructor.
Students participate in grueling "spirit drills."
"Drills are meant to wear them out," Slane said, "to tell them they've got to keep fighting."
Jason Stegall, 26, of Columbus finds the training stimulating.
"Rather than getting pooped out, I can go 100 percent," he said. "I can't believe how much fun it is."
Columbus resident Jon Herman, who has taken classes for a year and a half, appreciates the motivation from instructors.
"When you've hit the wall in the middle of spirit drills, you've got an instructor pushing you," said Herman, 30. "You're within your comfort level, but you're always being pushed to the next level."
Thanks to the classes, he said, Herman has lost 15 pounds and developed more energy.
After taking classes for three months, Travis Petry, 20, of Reynoldsburg has a heightened awareness of his surroundings.
"I'm always thinking of situations in my head, like 'If someone came around this corner, what would I do?' " he said.
Most students want to learn how to defend themselves.
"A year ago I was attacked," Wallace said. "If I had learned some skills, the outcome would have been different."
Levine, who introduced the system in the United States, works as a district attorney in Los Angeles.
He frequently sees surveillance tapes in which victims curl up in a ball when attacked instead of defending themselves.
"You've got to attack, attack, attack, until you can get away," Balnoschan said.
Amy Weilbacher, 25, of Powell started taking the classes to feel more comfortable by herself.
"The best part is realizing you have more strength, no matter your size," the 5-foot-4 Weilbacher said. 'It's good to know if I'm in trouble I can protect myself or at least have a chance to protect myself."
Some women take the classes to feel more sure of themselves; some men do so for the same reason.
"I'm more confident. I know my physical limits and how to use my height," the 5-foot-5 Petry said. "They drill me with a taller guy, so I learned to use elbow strikes to the groin instead of trying to reach for the head."
Beginning classes focus on learning to punch correctly -- like boxers.
Students enjoy the punching drills for the stress relief, Balnoschan said.
"They like hitting the mitts and seeing themselves improve," she said. "They can take it (stress) out here and not take it home."
Zieg began taking classes in April, after hearing about Krav Maga from Israeli friends.
"It's a great stress reliever to throw someone down," Zieg said. "Taking out some aggression makes you feel better and relax."
Though not as structured as other martial arts, Krav Maga requires mastering techniques.
Weilbacher initially struggled with her elbow hits and kicks.
"It takes getting used to letting your body take control," she said.
Classes for beginners, offered twice a week, are coed.
"As a female, you can see the strength of a male," Weilbacher said. "And for a male, it's good to fight and protect yourself the right way."
As for the movie, Slane said, Lopez executes the moves -- particularly the choke defense -- correctly.
She plays a wife who turns the tables on her predatory husband.
The actress, who trained with Krav Maga expert Wade Allen, did most of her stunts during filming.
That the film has inspired more people to sign up for classes heartens Wallace, who hopes that interest doesn't wane after the appeal of the movie does.
"Hopefully it's not a fad," she said, "because it's serious -- and protecting yourself is a serious matter."
