The Indian security forces are being trained in Israeli martial arts Krav Maga to help them counter any action by Chinese troops at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the India and China border
As per reports, around 50 instructors are being trained who will then go on to train the ITBP commandos in unarmed combat
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Krav Maga is an advanced version of martial arts to help the security forces during unarmed combat and places where they cannot fire or carry weapons. It includes a combination of techniques used in aikido, judo, karate, boxing, and wrestling. It is also touted to be the ‘world’s deadliest martial art’
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Hungarian-born Israeli martial artist Imi Lichtenfeld developed Krav Maga. In the 1930s, he taught Jews self-defence techniques themselves from anti-semitic riots that were being instigated by locals in Bratislava. In 1940, he fled to Palestine from his homeland to escape Nazi occupation. Later Imi was asked by the Israeli military system to develop their self-defence system. Krav Maga was developed by Imi as a combination of his experience in street fighting along with techniques of European boxing and wrestling
Footage: Instagram
Krav Maga attacks are aimed at the most vulnerable parts of the body, and training is not limited to techniques that avoid severe injury. It may include Karate strikes, take-downs and throws used during boxing, ground work including aikido and wrestling, and empty-hand weapon defense
Krav Maga was first introduced to Indian forces in 2005-06, when the Special Protection Group that is responsible for the Prime Minister's security was trained in the technique
SPG started providing close security to the PM and trained the commandos in Krav Maga. It was later used for situations where the forces cannot open fire
The Israeli Defence Forces offer a five-week Krav Maga instructor course. It also conducts an annual Krav Maga competition
In India, several centres offer training in Krav Maga along with other forms of martial arts