Roanoke Self Defense Classes Blog

Warning ROANOKE: All Self Defense Classes & Krav Maga Classes are NOT created EQUAL

Message to Roanoke residents. Why tombstone target drills in Krav Maga and Roanoke Self Defense Classes is the wrong way to learn Self Defense Tactical Strikes.

Krav Maga is a self-defense system that has gained popularity around the world due to it being publicized as being practical and effective in a real-life situations.

One of the most widely used training methods in Krav Maga is the tombstone target drill, where practitioners strike a stationary target held by a partner in a predetermined pattern. While this method may seem effective at first glance, it is not the best way to learn self-defense striking tactics, as it does not teach correct muscle memory for the striking tactics and does not cause the stressors of real self-defense situations.

The concept of muscle memory is crucial in self-defense training, as it allows practitioners to react instinctively in high-pressure situations. The muscle memory developed through repetition of drills and techniques enables practitioners to perform them without having to think about each step consciously. However, in the case of the tombstone target drill, the muscle memory developed is flawed, as it only teaches practitioners to strike a stationary target in a predetermined pattern, usually below shoulder level, and striking the attacker in the chest.

In a real-life self-defense situation, the attacker is not going to stand still and wait for the victim to strike. The attacker will be moving, trying to avoid the victim’s strikes, and may even be armed. In such a scenario, the techniques learned through the tombstone target drill may prove to be ineffective. Furthermore, the muscle memory developed through the drill may cause practitioners to strike lower then the anticipated target and teach the practitioner to react in a predetermined pattern, which may not be suitable for the situation at hand.

Another issue with the tombstone target drill is that it does not cause the stressors of real self-defense situations. In a self-defense scenario, the victim is likely to experience a surge of adrenaline and other stress hormones, which can affect their ability to react appropriately. The tombstone target drill does not replicate these stressors, since the attacker cannot grab, strike or use a weapon which means that practitioners may not be adequately prepared for the real thing.

To be effective in self-defense situations, practitioners must be able to perform techniques under stress. This requires training that replicates the stressors of real-life situations. For example, drills that involve live drills with a partner that resists or practicing techniques against a live opponent who will react to the strikes like an attacker would in real life which can help develop the ability to perform techniques under stress. These types of drills also allow practitioners to adapt to the changing conditions of a self-defense scenario, which is crucial for success.

In addition to developing muscle memory and the ability to perform techniques under stress, effective self-defense training also involves situational awareness. Situational awareness is the ability to perceive and understand the environment around oneself and identify potential threats. In a self-defense scenario, situational awareness can be the difference between avoiding a dangerous situation and becoming a victim.

The tombstone target drill does not promote situational awareness. Practitioners are focused solely on striking a stationary target or they do drills with multiple partners holding tombstone targets and they don’t react to the other partner until they bump them with the target. That could be to late in a real attack because that bump could be a knife stabbing them or a stick cracking them across the back of the head.

while the tombstone target drill may seem like an effective training method, it is not the best way to learn self-defense tactics. The muscle memory developed through the drill is flawed, as it only teaches practitioners to strike a stationary target in a predetermined pattern. The drill also does not replicate the stressors of real self-defense situations, which means that practitioners may not be adequately prepared for the real thing. Effective self-defense training should involve drills that develop muscle memory, the ability to perform techniques under stress, and situational awareness. Practitioners should seek out training that replicates the conditions of a real-life self-defense scenario.

A SELF DEFENSE PROGRAM AS CLOSE TO REAL AS YOU’RE GOING TO WANT IT TO GET.