Lessons From Hostage/Crisis Negotiators

Gershon Ben Keren

Sun 31st Mar 2013

People often confuse de-escalation as “backing down”, rather than as a means of achieving a desired outcome by non-physical means. De-escalation should never occur without there also being a demonstration of having the capability of being able to also end the confrontation physically. Part of the process of de-escalation, is determining whether the aggressor is willing to resolve whatever dispute there is through non-physical means. If there is no demonstration of willingness, then you know that you have no choice but to make a pre-emptive assault – I say an assault, as it should be all out and continuous, until...Click To Read More

Reverse Knife Slashes, Natural Instincts & Working To Principles

Gershon Ben Keren

Sun 24th Mar 2013

Knife Attacks Last week in class we spent a lot of time practicing reverse knife slashes and discussing how we sometimes have to recover from our natural reflexes and responses, that although keep us safe from the initial assault/attack, may lead us to be in a disadvantaged position for the follow-up or secondary phase of the attack. It is always worth remembering that assailants with knives will almost always recoil the slash or cut, to set up a second and a third attack etc. The standard 360 Block that is common across all Krav Maga systems, is based on the body’s natural...Click To Read More

Interpreting Body Language

Gershon Ben Keren

Sun 17th Mar 2013

Your first alert to danger comes as you move from a non-conflict state to one of being conflict aware; this occurs as your fear system recognizes an action or behavior in your environment that signals the presence of harmful intent – this intent may not be directed at you (that has to be confirmed) but it is present and real. This is the moment you become adrenalized, and it this recognition of your emotional state that lets you know trouble is potentially brewing.  Often we think that this happens in a one single moment, that you shift between these two states...Click To Read More

Adrenaline (Part 3)

Gershon Ben Keren

Mon 11th Mar 2013

The effects of adrenaline on the body are quite severe, which is why our emotional system naturally tries to limit when we become adrenalized. One of the most immediate consequences is that of extreme fatigue; anyone who has done any form of military training knows that the best time to counter an attack that has cost them a position is to immediately try and retake that position, as once a person’s adrenal system recognizes that a goal has been accomplished it will put the body into a state of rest and fatigue in order for it to recover from the...Click To Read More

Adrenaline (Part 2)

Gershon Ben Keren

Sun 3rd Mar 2013

In this post, I want to talk about the “negative” side effects of Adrenaline and also dispel one of the myths that is commonly associated with extreme fear; that of time slowing down. Anyone who has been in a car crash or narrowly avoided an accident, or been the victim of an assault, will recall that “Time Slowed Down” for them – this is referred to as Time Dilation. If such an effect should exist, it stands to reason that it is not actually time slowing down but the brains ability to understand and make sense of the situation speeding up...Click To Read More