Frequently Asked Questions

• Why self defense?
  Many says that they do not need to practice a martial art because they are peaceful people who always avoid conflicts. Partly they are right: avoiding the conflict is the best method of defense, but ... what happens when conflict cannot be avoided? You may have no place to run or you have to stay to defend a family member or a friend. In such expreme situations most people hang or panic...
• Is it violent?
  Practicing self-defense system does not require you to become a violent person, but rather: it helps to know yourself better and develop your skills to face in the best way the crisis. It allows you to remain calm in these situations, to react only to the extent necessary to protect yourself and have do as little harm as possible to those around you. Basically, the more you are better prepared, the less you need to make use of force.
• What style should I choose?
  The best choice for a self defense system id Krav-Maga. The efficiency and beauty of Krav-Maga consists in the absence of rules, direct philosophy, short and realistic movements. Since the emphasis is on technique, this system can be practiced and used effectively in short time by everyone: children, women and men, with or without experience in martial arts, with or without fitness. Krav-Maga is ideal for women who must deal with a much bigger and stronger aggressor.
• What is the origin of Krav-Maga?
  Krav-Maga was invented during and after the Second World War in Israel by Imi Lichtenfeld, in order to prepare for battle, in the shortest time, recruits of the armed forces or guerrilla. Thus, Krav-Maga techniques are suitable for defense and survival in real conflict conditions. Although it's true that other martial arts helps you defend yourself, they are based on strict guidelines designed to protect you and your opponent. These rules does not exist in Krav-Maga, which allows you to handle a real conflict, in which case no rules apply.
• Who practices Krav-Maga?
  Because of it's efficiency, Krav-Maga is taught in the army and special forces (police, gendarmerie and security protection, etc.) of many countries. EU imposed teaching Krav Maga in the special forces of all EU countries, including Romania! Although created for the military, Krav-Maga is taught also to civilians, which can often be caught in conflict situations: in the street, in a pub, etc.
• Why should I practice Krav-Maga?
  The main advantages of practicing Krav-Maga are:
  • you become more confident in your own forces.
    If necessary, you can effectively defend yourself and the people around you.
  • you create and maintain a good physical condition.
    Techniques taught trigger all your muscles and every joint in your body.
  • you reduce daily stress by engaging in physical activity that detaches you from all the problems.
• What does Krav-Maga contain?
  Krav-Maga teaches you to face a conflict, both physically and mentally. You will learn that size and strength are not the most important advantages but calm, the techniques and especially the accuracy with which they are applied. Among the techniques taught are: fallings, rollings, punches, elbow strikes, hand edge strikes, sickle punching, kicking, bottlenecks with the hand / forearm, hugs, holds on hands / shirt / hair, police holds, ground fixation, striking with stick, knife attack, gun threats, etc. It teaches the techniques of attack, but the focus is on defending techniques of the above listed attacks. The ultimate goal is to defend, but to do it effectively we need to know how we will be attacked and must be able to fight back if necessary.
• Philosophy of Krav-Maga
  Krav-Maga teaches you to avoid conflicts, but in case you have no other choice you become a fighter for survival. The immediate goal is to neutralize the danger, which is achieved by short movements, fast and efficient, aimed to the sensitive body parts of the opponent. The use of more or less aggressive techniques depends on the attac type and the number of aggressors. Are essential the proper application of the techniques and the psychological preparation for conflict: they can ensure your survival in a conflict with a more powerful, faster, practicing any martial art enemy.
• The BUKAN School of Krav-Maga
  Imi's direct continuer is Yaron Lichtenstein, who founded under Imi's supervision the BUKAN School of Krav-Maga in Israel. It is the only school in the world who continue to teach the same techniques and philosophy of Krav-Maga, as I have been created.
  Unfortunately, after Imi's death several schools of Krav-Maga emerged in the world. Increasing demand for Krav-Maga has generated an increasing number of people who claim to teach Krav-Maga - many of them don't understand the spirit of Krav-Maga or did not benefit of proper training. It's even worse that some instructors have changed techniques, unwilling to admit that they did not remember correctly or to sell them more easily. Whatever these changes, Imi would not accepted them and we must not accept them too.
• How can I learn?
  We invite you to subscribe to the regular or intensive courses! We accept students of all ages, men and women, regardless of physical fitness, with or without experience in (other) martial arts.
• Do you organize training courses in other cities in Romania?
  All branches from Romania of the BUKAN School are presented here »»»
  Courses offered by other persons or schools are NOT recognized by the BUKAN School of Krav-Maga.
• Do exist other Krav-Maga instructors in Romania?
  All active Krav-Maga instructors accredited by the BUKAN School in Romania are presented here »»»
  Any other instructor who claims that teaches Krav-Maga is NOT recognized by the BUKAN School of Krav-Maga, and he possibly teaches modified version (and less effective) of Krav-Maga!
• Where was born Imi Lichtenfeld (the founder of Krav-Maga)?
  If you search on internet, you will find two locations: Bratislava and Budapesta. The person that worked longer with Imi and who is it's direct continuator is Yaron Lichtenstein, and he says that Imi was born in Bratislava. So, our official poit of view is that Imi was born in Bratislava! When Imi was born, Bratislava belonged to Hungary and only later became the capital of Czechoslovakia.
• Why do exist several Krav-Maga schools?
  Imi had several disciples, which trained longer or shorter time with him. After that, some of them established their owm Krav-Maga schools, changing the Krav-Maga techniques and priciples tought by Imi. Ther are also people that opened schools without having any previous relations with Imi... The main reasons are two: 1) they tried to make KM more salable by changing the initial spirit and techniques, and 2) they forgot in time some techniques and they started to practice them in a wrong way or just replaced them. The only school that keeps unchanged the KM techniques and spirit is the BUKAN School from Israel.
• Which is the main difference between BUKAN School of Krav-Maga and the other schools?
  The fidelity in keeping unchanged the techniques, principles and the spirit of Krav-Maga, as promoted by Imi. The BUKAN School is the sole one that helds the trainings in white kimonos and uses the colored belt system. The BUKAN School was founded in Israel, under Imi's direct supervision! No instructor from ourdays has the combat experience gathered by Imi, so it could not make efficient changes to the techniques invented by Imi.
• Which one is the official website of Krav-Maga?
  Each Krav-Maga school claims that it has an 'official' website with information about Krav-Maga. These websites represent the vision of the owner associations about Krav-Maga and none can claim that has a more 'official' website about Krav-Maga than the others. Although, the association that has the most credibility is the one from Israel, which continues directly Imi's activity.
• Can you open a Krav-Maga school in another city?
  In order to open a Krav-Maga school an instructor is required. Normally, it's training last for several years, but we organize periodicaly, in Romania or abroad, intensive courses for instructors. Read information about the intensive courses »»»