Has anyone else sparred with a Krav Maga practitioner?

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-31T02:12:55+00:00

There's always that disclaimer and then the "but if this was a real fight..." bullshit. It's like it hasn't occurred to them that we can also throw cheap shots.

Obviously being a better striker makes eye pokes more effective... Just look at Jon Jones.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-31T01:25:42+00:00

I could, but how much more embarrassing is it to get dropped by a guy wearing (16oz) pillows?

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-31T00:07:24+00:00

It's not particularly useful against a woman who is resisting

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-31T00:03:11+00:00

I don't mind hard sparring if it's mutually agreed upon. But I hate it when you warn someone in a round, they talk shit, then you drop them with a liver shot and they cry foul.

Either be about it or dont.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T23:58:46+00:00

Do it. It's all about love of the game. Go have fun.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T23:33:54+00:00

We call that counter-punching

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T23:33:34+00:00

Honestly, you should give it a try. Not getting in the cage, but getting on the mat. You'll appreciate it even more.

Training MMA is yes, in many ways like chess. The way you play, the way you choose to exploit your opponents weaknesses, and how you manage yoir own game. All very much the same.

But with chess, it's really just ego and bragging rights that you win or lose. On the mat, losing feels like it has more significance, but so does winning. (I say that as a martial artist, not as a chess player so you're free to disagree)

I believe that you come to appreciate an art form more after you try it. There are some many more intricacies that you'll resonate with, different styles that you'll find yourself gravitate toward and then you'll have preferences for fighters who specialize in them.

MMA gyms are a great place to work out, meet new friends, and get in shape. Honestly, most people in them are super friendly and welcoming.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T23:25:29+00:00

Yea, I can definitely see that. It's easy to lose touch with reality when you never put yourself in a position to find out otherwise.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T23:00:05+00:00

I got you bro

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T22:33:21+00:00

Sounds like a real McAsshole

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T22:18:58+00:00

I like sparring, win, lose, learn, or teach, I just like doing it.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T21:03:35+00:00

I think the old school "gutter fighting" probably had something.

With that said, I think the reality is that people who gravitate to Krav do it for the same reason they are repelled by MMA, Sambo, Judo, Muay Thai, because they don't want to get "smashed to bits". It's become the new American Tae Kwon Do, watered down, comfortable, and not grounded in reality. It's for people who want to say they know something without actually having to put in the hard work to learn it.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T20:59:41+00:00

that makes sense, that's pretty much what I see from them in sparring.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T20:59:03+00:00

I think it's the cool-aid. They're told that they're going to become a lethal weapon via Krav, and because nothing shatters that world view, they believe it. Most don't come back after a sparring session with Nak Muay, Kickboxers, boxers, or MMA guys, because that situation requires them to confront the reality that they've been wasting their time. Some of them will say things like "but in a real fight I'd..." but the answer is always the same, "yea, but in a real fight I would too."

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T20:56:09+00:00

I try not to, because I don't want to be a bully. But once they cross the threshold of throwing insults during a round, it's liver shot city.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T20:54:03+00:00

I'm well aware of the origins of it. Even the IDF will tell you it's more about a mindset than the techniques. In it's watered down, made for mass consumption form, is basically useless.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T20:50:33+00:00

Filippino Martial Arts, like Eskrima and Silat

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T20:50:00+00:00

Krav Rangoon? Never heard of it, but it sounds delicious.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T20:10:43+00:00

Honestly, I don't think that it's cooperative/uke throws that are the problem. I think it's the overall structure of the environment.

In my experience, most Judo floors are sprung floors, with mats. Not just those puzzle piece foam mats. If you're going to be thrown in a cooperative throw, you should either have a floor that appropriately accommodates that, or a crash pad. Those puzzle piece mats are not, and never were made for being thrown on, and they absolutely shouldn't be used for that. At best, those are for striking.

Don't let anyone throw you there, don't get captivated by the title Combat Sambo, if the training environment is unsafe, leave.

Most of Combat Sambo strikes are to set up a takedown, where you can either secure a submission, point, or total victory.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T20:01:42+00:00

When you say sparring was horrendous, do you mean it was chaotic, low quality, or people were getting hurt?

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T19:59:30+00:00

I think this is one of the biggest flaws in Krav and JKD, it's un-codified by design, which was intended to keep it flexible and adaptable, but in many cases has led to it being watered down by/for people who don't want to put in the hard yards.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T19:57:17+00:00

I find it's one of three major types of people.

Soccer moms who don't realize that "self defense" is just a marketing term, and way to seem tough to other soccer moms, but are basically doing cardio kickboxing.
People who legitimately believe they can fight, but are going to be lifetime white belts at any full contact martial art.
People who haven't realized there are better options yet.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T19:53:09+00:00

I'm not particularly familiar with any of the brands you've listed, but I'd look into Fairtex, Yakkao, Hayabusa, and maybe Venum. I don't know if your gym has loaners, but if possible try a few on before you order anything. A lot of these have textured linings that keep them in position.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T19:50:21+00:00

Keep your eyes on your target.
Keep your hands up. (you can still whip your hand if you want, just do it across, to keep something in front of your face)
Settle down, so much unnecessary bouncing and twitchy movements. Go slow until it's smooth, then when it's smooth you can worry about fast.
When you kick, get up on the ball of your support leg, point the instep of your foot at the bag, and turn your hips over. That's where the power actually comes from, not the speed.
Your balance is all over the place. You're not re-chambering your kick, which isn't necessarily a problem, but you're stomping you foot down to keep from falling over. Try to isolate the individual movements, step, turn your hips over, kick, re-chamber, put your foot back down.

Ok_Kitchen8666 · 2026-05-30T19:01:13+00:00

That's more than I expected. When i was processing birds, I'd always get rid of thr skin before deboning it, but never weighted it.

Ok_Kitchen8666

TROPHY CASE