Krav Maga has a problem - basically everyone in the business is vying for "authenticity" - yet basically credentials can be bought from anyone teaching it. Unlike with traditional martial arts, lineage is obscure. This is the case with Cincinnati Krav Maga as well - since basically they are certified by someone with a school in Israel who passes out certification to those who attend their training course - as it is. And insiders tell me that they are not particularly thrilled with the guy who has certified them either.
Krav Maga was created as a way to teach effective self-defense techniques to Israeli security forces personnel with varying experience and ability levels. Quick, dirty, practical, effective.
Yet, when you ask the folks who run this place, they will tell you that it will take 5 years minimum to achieve a black belt level! Really! Yet a true combatives curriculum will give you a very high level of proficiency (to be able to protect yourself on the street) within 6 months to a year. Looking at those who have been practicing for 6 months at this studio makes you question if they would have any ability to truly defend themselves at all.
So obviously, Krav Maga has become a business - trying to leverage the reputation of Israel as the center of gravity for all things "martial". Thus the difficulty in determining what is real and worthwhile. Furthermore, Cincinnati Krav Maga was once a Karate Studio it seems. I guess the better business opportunity was in the former, not the latter.
The attitude of the instructors and the owner - our way or the highway. Unfortunately, they don't know what they don't know.
If you are serious about learning how to protect yourself, there are much better ways to spend your time and money. read more