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Frustration Comedy krav maga
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
October 30, 2025, Israel
The stars of Fawlty Towers, that brought us such comic relief and delight
Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales has died aged 93. Scales was best known for playing hotel manager Sybil Fawlty, the long-suffering and domineering wife of Basil - played by John Cleese - in the classic British sitcom.
For those of us who grew up during this great age of pre-woke comedy, this is a loss. The British comedy series, Fawlty Towers, a play on the word faulty, was one of the most brilliant comedies of the era, we also recently said farewell to Patricia Routledge as Hyacinth Bucket of Keeping Up Appearances, another classic British comedy.
Thinking back upon the show that not only brought us so many laughs and comic relief but also expressions that have become part of our lexicon. When I speak with my brothers, we might throw in phrases borrowed from the show, but now part of our speech patterns. " Basil: “Don’t mention the war! I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it all right.”!" Basil: “Can’t we get you on Mastermind, Sybil? Next contestant – Sybil Fawlty from Torquay. Special subject – the bleedin’ obvious.”
But there is a point that is relevant to Krav Maga. The show is filled with situations that go all wrong. Things are planned, and then, things just don't go as planned. Food is not delivered on time, guests arrive after the chef has left, the Health Department inspector arrives a day early and they are not ready, the builders build the wall in the wrong place, the car breaks down when the owner needs to pick up supplies, and so forth and so on.
For some this is hilarious comedy, for others it is nerve-wraking frustration; nothing happens as it should.
The issue is that when your plan is that if everything goes perfectly smooth as planned, everyone shows up exactly when you expect them, the deliveries happen when and how you want them, all is good and fine. But, if something should happen to go wrong, something is delayed, there is any sort of misunderstanding, and boom a "Comedy of Errors", which makes for hilarious TV but not great self-defense.
I was thinking about this as I was watching yet another disappointing self-defense technique on Facebook, with all the "Amazing", comments. Yes, maybe, perhaps, if everything goes perfectly as planned, if the attacker is caught perfectly by surprise, if your strike hits its target every time, if you are able to grab his wrist while in mid motion, if you are able to catch him off balance, if your timing and precision are perfect, if, if it, then....maybe, just maybe, on a good day, it might have a chance of working.
But Fawlty Towers teaches us otherwise. You see, comedy can be educational. The lesson we laugh is because this is life, and this happens to all of us at some point, that is why we can relate. You are running late to an important appointment and just then your car does not start. You need to call the Emergency Road Services, but your phone is down to nearly zero batteries, (because you knew that you would be home soon, so you wasted your batteries chatting mindlessly with a friend).
Fawlty Towers reminds us that this is our lives, faulty, mistakes happen, lack of accuracy, lack of perfect timing, and that is why all these super-duper techniques shown on Facebook are worse than worthless. They are a dangerous disservice to the uninformed public. We call our style the Perfect style of Imperfect people, i.e. Faulty people. We expect things to not go as planned; we build that into the system. It is like when planning a trip, build in possible traffic jam delays, build in bathroom stops, food stops, build in possible road construction, and guess what, you will arrive on time, or early. But assume that everything will go as planned and, you will very often arrive late and then rant and rave how it is not your fault! But it is, because life is Faulty/Fawlty Towers. We must build in those faults. IKI Krav Maga builds in those faults, and that my friends, makes all the difference.
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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