In conversation with 'Krav Maga' crusader Eyal Yanilov

One look at Eyal Yanilov, and you know he isn't just another tall guy with an exemplary fitness regimen. His body, lithe and wiry at the age of 58, would give one that impression, but a look of calm awareness in his eyes sets him apart. Not surprising, since Yanilov is the global Grand Master and co-developer of the Israeli martial art form Krav Maga. In Mumbai to hold a seminar on combating knife attacks with the students of the Indian unit of his self-defense school Krav Maga Global, Yanilov demonstrated his craft as passionately as he spoke about it. But first thing's first. What exactly is Krav Maga?

"Krav Maga is a modern, integrated system of self-defense, fighting tactics and third party protection based on natural responses," Yanilov shares, insisting that it's basic techniques build one's ability to deal with different kinds of stressful situations. So is it an esoteric cousin of wrestling, or judo? Not quite. While boxing and judo are "styles bound by competitive rules, the Krav Maga's aim is to disable your attacker under any situation, or protect a third party from similar agression". Meaning, if you put a Krav Maga trainee in a boxing ring, he won't outbox the boxer. He'd simply "kick the balls, break the knee and run away!"

Yanilov, having amassed this knowledge first hand from the founding father of Krav Maga, Imi Lichtenfeld, for twenty-four years until his death in 1998, realized over the years a need for structuring and systemising his teacher's "intuitive genius" which once combined military experience with street fighting styles to "give solutions to specific situational problems". So in 1994, after juggling a slew of careers that included working as a communication engineer for the Israeli army, teaching Krav Maga to his tutor's younger students, training elite paratroopers, working as an assistant professor at a university and even setting up the country's first call center, he gave in to the lure of pursuing his pet passion full-time.

But for all the cool ball-kicking talk, one mustn't imagine Krav Maga to be a tool for aggressive behaviour, Yanilov cautions, reminiscing about his first brush with the form at the age of 15. "In fact, the ideal Krav Maga trainee is one who manages to avoid confrontations. But if there is a need to deal with danger, it will see you home safe " he shares. Apparently, this danger could range from knife, firerarm or terrorist attack, robbery, carjacking, home invasion, hostage situation or even a violent ex-partner.

It took Yanilov years of improvisation to ensure that a substantial part of the world's population--old, young, men and women, is equipped to protect themselves and their loved ones in the face of such dangers. Fanning out from Israel, and later USA, to various parts of Europe including Sweden, Finland and Norway, Yanilov's umbrella institution Krav Maga Global and parallel online training venture MaxKravMaga has now reached out to enthusiasts in above 60 countries. The man has trained over 20,000 instructors in the last few years alone. "Imi bore the child called Krav Maga, now it's up to me to take it through high school and college," he says fondly of the "constantly evolving" form.

To keep up with changing times, Yanilov had to break down the form into styles best suited for the trainees' special purposes. For example, for civilians, there are three broad levels--Practitioner (1-5), Graduate (1-5) and Expert (1-5), while Krav Maga for the military, special forces, undercover agents, or VIP-guards are designed keeping in mind specific professional needs and the risks associated. Add to that the unlikely benefit of Krav Maga in improving one's focus, problem-solving skills, lifestyle and their control over the mind, body and subconscious. Perhaps that's why an emerging section of his patrons are corporate bosses, who "manage, under stressful conditions".

Suddenly, I realize how much Yanilov managed to do in the three hours during which I met him. Training students in new techniques, demystifying Krav Maga for a rookie, teaching said rookie a few moves, and cracking jokes while at it. When a student hesitated over Yanilov's instruction to kick him, the global master from Israel quipped, "Don't worry, I'll survive". Touché.