In case you missed this on the official page! It’s been a few years since Elite has offered one of our Survival Camps, so I want to be sure that the many students who have joined the schools since the last camp have a full understanding of why they should do their best to participate. EVERY student who trains in Krav Maga or self-defense of any kind should strongly consider participating in this retreat, and here’s why: A well-rounded self-defense education must include both an understanding of basic survival skills as well as taking martial arts skills off the mat and into the world. The majority of our training in martial arts takes place in a sterile environment. Unfortunately, it’s quite unlikely that you will be on a mat in the instance you ever need to truly protect yourself and your loved ones. We initially learn and practice skills indoors in a well-lit, climate controlled, comfortable, low-stress environment in order to build our knowledge, but eventually we have to practice in a more realistic way in order to achieve something close to mastery. Taking martial arts outdoors is a great way to start to mix up training and step outside of our comfort zone (while still training in a safe and fun way). In addition to practicing martial arts in the woods, students at camp will also learn some of the basic essentials for survival, such as how to build a fire, procure water, construct a shelter, read a map, and perform basic first aid (we have also covered snares, knot tying, and camouflage, among other things). You may wonder what some of these skills have to do with martial arts, but they are actually very closely tied to protection and life. The truth is that none of us dictate what happens in the world. While it’s common to imagine you may need self-defense skills to prevent a mugging at an ATM or to stop a home invasion, the scope of situations where you may need protection skills is actually very broad and very unpredictable. What if there was some kind of natural disaster? Humans devolve into the basest versions of themselves more quickly than we would like to think, and defense could be very necessary. Or maybe there’s a medical emergency and you need to quickly stop someone from bleeding. Maybe there’s an earthquake and there’s no way to get water or cook food for an extended period of time. Perhaps your car goes off the road in the dark on the way to Mammoth and you need to keep injured people warm and alive through the night. The possibilities are vast, and the more knowledge you have the more likely you and your loved ones will make it through whatever hardships or emergencies are thrown your way. The preparation for these events is truly what self-defense is about. Elite offers these camps/retreats because we consider it our responsibility to offer our students the most well-rounded self-defense education possible. Take advantage of it!! Call the school or talk to any of the staff if you have any questions! Hope to see you all there, Katie
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 01:39:27 +0000