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Skiprr wrote: I know we're trashing Paladin's original post with wild topic drift, but to sorta "topicize" this I'd say, with what experience I have and what I know today: for someone who has never had extensive empty-hand training, I'd suggest leaning toward Krav Maga, and it sounds like Haganah, also. I've trained in neither--so it goes against my background and I say this relatively uninformed--but I've read and observed a bit. As a practical approach to modern-day confrontations, the Israeli systems get my conditional nod.

Most schools let you watch classes. Do so; not just once, but a few times. If you get what you'd consider a hard sales pitch on the first visit, be very wary.

John Peek with the Houston Haganah will let you attend 1-2 weeks for free before you sign on. When I started the Houston Krav Maga, it was the high-pressure sale routine - "if you sign up today you get the big discount, but once you walk out the door, the price goes up"

That includes trophies. Personally, I'm extremely suspicious of trophies displayed in a dojo or kwan. They result from organized competition, which implies sport. Not a bad thing, but I wouldn't be interested in sport, or its trappings, if I were looking for hand-to-hand training to support my handgun carry. (FWIW I did compete a bit in the '70s; had Joe Lewis give me an unconditional beat-down once where, if I'd been a middleweight rather than a heavyweight, I might have had Chuck Norris do the honors. )

This is one of the factors that drew me to Haganah (and Krav too) - it's not a sport. They both teach very practical, street-tested techniques. No katas, no forms, nothing showy, just quickly delivered deadly force.

Then ask about firearms.

Basic Haganah includes unarmed defense against an armed attacker (knife and gun). John teaches knife fighting. There is a firearm syllabus, but it's not taught in the Houston area to my knowledge.

Run if you can.

But if you can't run, be decisive and aggressive.

Very much the Haganah philosophy

Keith

I'll second the recommendation for John Peek's Houston Haganah. It's a very practical system that doesn't depend on superior strength. It also doesn't pussy-foot around. It teaches very lethal empty-hand techniques.

As to John, he's a very patient and kind instructor with the safety of the students at the forefront. He folds in the knife fighting course as part of the men's training. Knife and gun defenses are taught to all.

My current schedule doesn't allow me to attend any more, but the website for the Houston group is http://www.fight4selfdefense.com/Home.html. The general website is http://www.fight2survive.com/fight-system.html

Keith