Interviews With Successful People - Raphael Yadgaroff - Krav Maga Instructor
Krav Maga mainly focuses on self-defence. It was designed in such a way so that the teaching part can be done quickly, and both trainers and trainees do not have to invest a lot amount of time. This is still used by Israeli forces. This technique makes one efficient in self defense skills which is based on natural movements of the body and can be used in everyday's life, and it helps to deal with attack in the fastest and effective manner. This technique got its origin from street-fighting skills and with time it got refined for civilian, police and military applications.
These Training classes run only for a few months, and can be practiced by both adults and children. The only prerequisite to join the classes is to have passion towards this martial art form. People from all walks of the society are aware of the benefits of these training classes. The growing number of crimes in the society and the insecurity surrounding the common lives are the factors that drive people towards it's training classes. Earlier, it's training classes were restricted to the minority of the population that were keen to be employed in armed forces or police departments, but today, this martial arts form has become an essential skill to be acquired by anybody for self defense.
It's Training classes provide training on a variety of fight patterns that will prove to be highly effective while fighting your enemy. The training classes give specialized training on various self defense tactics against common attack types like choke holds, arm grabs and bear hugs. It also teaches the basics of fighting, for example, identifying the vulnerable areas of the enemy and attacking that part of the enemy's body. Further training is given on competitive handling of weapons such as guns, knives and sticks.
What Motivated You To Study Martial Arts?I started Krav when I was about 15 or 16. Basically I just decided that I would get some training in and learn to fight. I got into a fight in Primrose Hill in London, and I realised I had no clue what I was doing. I found out that my biology teacher was an instructor, so I spoke to him and started a class. It went pretty well from there. I found I had a natural talent for it.Why Krav Maga? Well, it was a system that he taught, and I also looked into it after that. It looked like a very good system to work with, a reality based fighting system. I didn't want to do a martial art. I had done karate when I was eight, and I couldn't connect reality to it. I was in a karate lesson, and it didn't go out of the lesson. When I was doing Krav, it was all about when you're in the street and when someone comes up to you. It seemed more practical, so I chose Krav.
You Have Competed In Cage Fights And Grappling Competitions, How Did This Come About?The chances are that if you name a martial art, I have done it. I have studied Karate, Brazillian Jui Jitsu (BJJ), Nin Jitsu, Krav Maga, Muay Tai, a different style of Krav Maga, Shoalin Kung Fu, Boxing, Kick Boxing, S.P.E.A.R system and other reality based systems, I think there are a couple more in there, but I can't remember them off the top of my head.I have always found that MMA, linked with Krav Maga, works very, very well, especially because, at the end of the day, MMA is still very all around. It's stand up grappling and groundwork. With Krav Maga and its movements and ideas, they together make a very effective system. That's why I keep doing it, the cage fights, the grappling competitions and the training.
Also, realize that many martial arts centers have KM classes, but may not have "Krav Maga" in the name of their school. Fitness clubs or gyms may have KM classes as part of their programs as well.Another good resource for KM schools are the association web sites. Check out Krav Maga Association of America and look under "locations." You will find over 240 training centers across the country. You can also do a similar search at the Krav Maga Federation site. And the Worldwide Directory of these Clubs has an excellent listing of classes and studios.
What Kept You Going During The Set Backs? With Krav Maga especially, the idea we try to teach our students has kept me going: the idea that you could have your arm broken, and if you need to keep fighting, with a broken arm, then that's the position you're in, and you don't have a choice about it. I have had knee operations. I have torn rotator cuffs. I have had bones taken out of my hip and put back into my knee. At the end of the day I think, "If I get attacked today, and I have got to protect someone I love, then I am going to have to fight like I am now". There is no point trying to take it too easy, but obviously training is still training, so you do have to be safe.At The Beginning Of Your Career, Who Were The Most Supportive People Around You At The Time? My two best friends, Ben and Alex, were the most supportive. I started Krav Maga with them, so naturally having two of your best mates do it, they were people I spent all my time with going to the classes. We kind of made each other go. I was also very good friends with the biology teacher, and seeing him in lessons, as well, made me want to go more to Krav Maga. He would say, "Come on! Come down!"
Where Does Your Drive And Passion Come From? My drive is the idea that it is something that I am good at and also that any day and at any moment, I could be fighting for my life. I don't want to be caught off guard. I am not ready to die. I love my life.Do You Believe In A Higher Power?No, not really. That is a very different question. I don't believe in a god, but the idea that something could be out there. yeah, fine, but I am not religious.Where Does Your Inspiration Come From?It's just from myself. I have always wanted to do it for me. I never wanted to do anything in my life related to my martial arts just to prove something to someone else or for someone else; I will only do it if I want to. Because I am a driven and motivated person, I have always achieved my goals. I said I would have a cage fight, and I have had one. Now I am training for another one. I will do it because I want to. People don't force me to do things that I don't want to because it is not a good mentality through which to live your life.
Imi relocated to Israel in the 1940s and began to teach his combat system. Imi's method was then adopted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as its official hand-to-hand combat style.Over the decades, it has been refined greatly not only for the military and the police but for civilians as well.With the growing number of street crimes, more and more people are turning to learn it as a tool for self defense.The Israeli self defense system is suitable for street crime situations. Its core principle is to finish a fight as soon as possible. Due to this, all attacks under this system are directly aimed on the most vulnerable body parts, such as the neck, groin, knee, armpits and joints.
When I met Raphael, I could see that he was younger than the rest of the martial artists I had interviewed. During the interview, however, I saw someone who was direct, confident, passionate and self-motivated. I sensed that he likes to be occupied and that to do nothing would simply frustrate him. There was also a'rawness' to his nature and a great desire to move forward in his life.I would say that the success he already has in his life, coupled with the mentality that he has, will lead to greater and bigger successes for Raphael.Views From Raphael Yadgaroff,Firstly, I would like to thank Oliver for taking the time to interview me. Oliver is a very good at conducting interviews. His laid back approach and calm attitude puts you at ease and allows you to just answer the questions without worrying about how you sound. I wish him great success in the future.
These Training classes run only for a few months, and can be practiced by both adults and children. The only prerequisite to join the classes is to have passion towards this martial art form. People from all walks of the society are aware of the benefits of these training classes. The growing number of crimes in the society and the insecurity surrounding the common lives are the factors that drive people towards it's training classes. Earlier, it's training classes were restricted to the minority of the population that were keen to be employed in armed forces or police departments, but today, this martial arts form has become an essential skill to be acquired by anybody for self defense.
It's Training classes provide training on a variety of fight patterns that will prove to be highly effective while fighting your enemy. The training classes give specialized training on various self defense tactics against common attack types like choke holds, arm grabs and bear hugs. It also teaches the basics of fighting, for example, identifying the vulnerable areas of the enemy and attacking that part of the enemy's body. Further training is given on competitive handling of weapons such as guns, knives and sticks.
What Motivated You To Study Martial Arts?I started Krav when I was about 15 or 16. Basically I just decided that I would get some training in and learn to fight. I got into a fight in Primrose Hill in London, and I realised I had no clue what I was doing. I found out that my biology teacher was an instructor, so I spoke to him and started a class. It went pretty well from there. I found I had a natural talent for it.Why Krav Maga? Well, it was a system that he taught, and I also looked into it after that. It looked like a very good system to work with, a reality based fighting system. I didn't want to do a martial art. I had done karate when I was eight, and I couldn't connect reality to it. I was in a karate lesson, and it didn't go out of the lesson. When I was doing Krav, it was all about when you're in the street and when someone comes up to you. It seemed more practical, so I chose Krav.
You Have Competed In Cage Fights And Grappling Competitions, How Did This Come About?The chances are that if you name a martial art, I have done it. I have studied Karate, Brazillian Jui Jitsu (BJJ), Nin Jitsu, Krav Maga, Muay Tai, a different style of Krav Maga, Shoalin Kung Fu, Boxing, Kick Boxing, S.P.E.A.R system and other reality based systems, I think there are a couple more in there, but I can't remember them off the top of my head.I have always found that MMA, linked with Krav Maga, works very, very well, especially because, at the end of the day, MMA is still very all around. It's stand up grappling and groundwork. With Krav Maga and its movements and ideas, they together make a very effective system. That's why I keep doing it, the cage fights, the grappling competitions and the training.
Also, realize that many martial arts centers have KM classes, but may not have "Krav Maga" in the name of their school. Fitness clubs or gyms may have KM classes as part of their programs as well.Another good resource for KM schools are the association web sites. Check out Krav Maga Association of America and look under "locations." You will find over 240 training centers across the country. You can also do a similar search at the Krav Maga Federation site. And the Worldwide Directory of these Clubs has an excellent listing of classes and studios.
What Kept You Going During The Set Backs? With Krav Maga especially, the idea we try to teach our students has kept me going: the idea that you could have your arm broken, and if you need to keep fighting, with a broken arm, then that's the position you're in, and you don't have a choice about it. I have had knee operations. I have torn rotator cuffs. I have had bones taken out of my hip and put back into my knee. At the end of the day I think, "If I get attacked today, and I have got to protect someone I love, then I am going to have to fight like I am now". There is no point trying to take it too easy, but obviously training is still training, so you do have to be safe.At The Beginning Of Your Career, Who Were The Most Supportive People Around You At The Time? My two best friends, Ben and Alex, were the most supportive. I started Krav Maga with them, so naturally having two of your best mates do it, they were people I spent all my time with going to the classes. We kind of made each other go. I was also very good friends with the biology teacher, and seeing him in lessons, as well, made me want to go more to Krav Maga. He would say, "Come on! Come down!"
Where Does Your Drive And Passion Come From? My drive is the idea that it is something that I am good at and also that any day and at any moment, I could be fighting for my life. I don't want to be caught off guard. I am not ready to die. I love my life.Do You Believe In A Higher Power?No, not really. That is a very different question. I don't believe in a god, but the idea that something could be out there. yeah, fine, but I am not religious.Where Does Your Inspiration Come From?It's just from myself. I have always wanted to do it for me. I never wanted to do anything in my life related to my martial arts just to prove something to someone else or for someone else; I will only do it if I want to. Because I am a driven and motivated person, I have always achieved my goals. I said I would have a cage fight, and I have had one. Now I am training for another one. I will do it because I want to. People don't force me to do things that I don't want to because it is not a good mentality through which to live your life.
Imi relocated to Israel in the 1940s and began to teach his combat system. Imi's method was then adopted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as its official hand-to-hand combat style.Over the decades, it has been refined greatly not only for the military and the police but for civilians as well.With the growing number of street crimes, more and more people are turning to learn it as a tool for self defense.The Israeli self defense system is suitable for street crime situations. Its core principle is to finish a fight as soon as possible. Due to this, all attacks under this system are directly aimed on the most vulnerable body parts, such as the neck, groin, knee, armpits and joints.
When I met Raphael, I could see that he was younger than the rest of the martial artists I had interviewed. During the interview, however, I saw someone who was direct, confident, passionate and self-motivated. I sensed that he likes to be occupied and that to do nothing would simply frustrate him. There was also a'rawness' to his nature and a great desire to move forward in his life.I would say that the success he already has in his life, coupled with the mentality that he has, will lead to greater and bigger successes for Raphael.Views From Raphael Yadgaroff,Firstly, I would like to thank Oliver for taking the time to interview me. Oliver is a very good at conducting interviews. His laid back approach and calm attitude puts you at ease and allows you to just answer the questions without worrying about how you sound. I wish him great success in the future.
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