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Gun Struggle Power
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
October 22, 2026, Israel
As a younger man I studied the works of Gung Fu master Lee June Fan, also known as Bruce Lee. I read everything I could get my hands on, long before this new thing called the Internet came about. Every rare book, every magazine that had an article about him, Fighting Arts, Black Belt Magazine, Inside Kung Fu, Inside Karate, Karate Illustrated, if his name was there, I bought it, I read the articles and then I studied the articles. In addition, I sought out a legitime master of Wing Chun from the same linage, Sifu Chun Kwok Chow.
I studied the concepts, the flow, the idea that Wing Chun was created by a woman and that the core of Wing Chun and Jeet Kun Do were not dependent on physical power, but on sound concepts.
One of the concepts that became ingrained in me was how a smaller person can overcome a larger person if he uses correct body mechanics. Lee was a small Chinese man in a society of tall Western men, and yet he proved himself and outdid himself amongst them. He taught how a concentration of focused force can defeat a larger man. He taught how essential it was to practice "Daily Reduction" rather than daily additions, clearly going against the grain of Western society. He taught the concept of Economy of Motion.
All this would eventually become integrated into IKI Krav Maga, not your standard Krav Maga. We believe in these principles and we live them; they match our way of thinking. I see them as logical and sound. And yet, the majority of styles continue to fall prey to the allure of Strength, Muscle, Power. The glamour of Power, Youth, Olympian bodies is an evil mistress that tempts many.
It is the same reason people purchase and waste money on "Muscle Cars", and even have plastic surgery to look muscular. In the 1980s every action star had to put on muscle to play the Action Hero. I know some of the movie producers and directors, I know some of the trainers. The Muscle "look" was essential for the action movie genre, regardless of whether or not a good fighter really needed this.
I watched a video the other day, again, so called, "Krav Maga" or something similar. There was a gun threat. Of course, the victim is played by a petite female while the thug is played by a larger man, such are the requirements of the Neanderthal Arts. (No disrespect intended towards the noble Neanderthals.)
In this video the young woman grabs the gun by the barrel from the hand of the stronger man. She yanks it out, there is no use of body leverage, no use of angles of attack, no use of Total Body Movement, no understanding of the concept of the Relationship of Bodies-in-Motion, just strength. She follows up with strikes and knee kicks and grunts worthy of a wild beast.
The instructor is proud. The video is proudly displayed online. But to me, all that is being displayed is a complete lack of understanding of body mechanics and the reality of danger.
Gun Struggle
During this display of "self-defense" the young woman struggles with the gun. This is always a bad idea because when you are struggling with a gun, it moves around, it is a loose cannon and can go off at any time in any direction. The Attacker might get shot, but so might the Defender or innocent bystanders. This is extreme folly in my opinion.
When I am teaching, if I see a struggle ensue, I always say STOP. If you are struggling, the technique has already failed, and now you are simple engaging in a wrestling match, which is not the focus of this lesson. The gun defense/disarm should not involve a struggle.
In another shared, advertised and promoted video the demonstrator went in the other direction, not so much the use of force but a dependence on extreme precision and dexterity. For this to work you must be highly skilled in the use of fine motor skills under stress, have a lot of luck or make sure the entire scene is carefully choreographed. The success of these techniques is the assumption that the other person will stop and graciously allow you your full turn. The cards are all in your hands, all the time, the fight is one-sided.
You do not have to agree with me. You can go your own way. But my point is that when a technique involves a Struggle, when it requires physical strength to make it work, or when it requires Precision and dexterity under extreme stress, I do not count on such techniques, and with IKI they are rejected.
Live long and Prosper.
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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