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Crime and Culture
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
July 30, 2026, Johannesburg, South Africa
I am here to teach seminars, but in between seminars, in between classes, I am listening and learning.
Bruce Lee wrote that we all have the same bodies, whether one is Asian, Caucasian, black, white, Indian, Native American, Middle Eastern, assuming one is in good health our bodies function the same way. Our knees bend the same way, our elbows bend and turn, our necks turn, our eyes, we all function the same way. And therefore our methods of attack will always have something in common. An arm can only function a certain way, a wrist can only bend a certain way, and this provides us with information as to the way a man or woman can attack.
And yet there are differences. Individuals will develop their own unique style of attack or assault. Most women will fight differently than men, unless they are professionally trained in a particular art of fighting. But there is another point which is very important, the culture of crime in each country, and even in each region, and it is crucial that we understand this, study this and train accordingly.
I just received a report from Italy about the nature of crime, broken down into various regions. There are areas where one is very safe, but there are areas where one must be more alert. For example, in some regions, the downtown area is very dangerous, while in other countries it is speciavally the downtown area that is most safe, as the municiplaity has invested a great deal in providing security for this area.
In some areas the trains are the most dangerous areas, and that is where an attack is most likely to take place while in other countries the city has taken great efforts to provide extra security so that the trains are protected. In some countries the main risk comes from terrorism while in other countries it is home invasion, while in another it is street gangs. In some places you can relax at home and feel safe, while in other areas the home is the most likely target.
Thus, it is not only what type of attack will take place but when and where. We cannot be on high alert 24/7 in all locations. We need to know where we must be most cautious and where we can afford to relax a little and let down our guard. This is something we must study in each and every location we visit.
There are also differences in the nature of the attack, and the level of violence. In some places violence will be proceeded by a verbal confrontation while in other places the attack will have no verbal element at all. In some locations there will most likely be a threat or demand while in other places the attack will come out of nowhere. In some areas you will see machetes, in other areas knives of various sorts, while in other areas you will see guns as the main weapon of criminals.
These are all factors we must be keenly aware of: Time, place, type of weapons, number of attackers, nature of attack, intent (random, fun, gang related, hate crimes, religiously motivated, terrorist, sexual, political, social - to impress one's friends).
Our bodies are pretty much the same, and our arms and legs function in the same way, but we must be acutely aware of the cultural and social factors. We must be AWARE and ALERT.
Moshe Katz, 7th dan Black Belt, Israeli Krav Maga. Certified by Wingate Institute. Member Black Belt hall of fame, USA and Europe.
Understand the Israeli Fighting Mentality - Israel a Nation of Warriors by Moshe Katz
What is the cultural background of Krav Maga? What makes it unique? What makes the Israeli military so effective? Why are Israeli security systems used all over the world?
What are the Biblical origins of Krav Maga and who was the first Krav Maga instructor?
What weapons and military strategies did our Biblical ancestors use?
How has Krav Maga developed in Israel and what are its goals?
All that and more in this unique book.
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