To celebrate the international release of Krav Maga – Combat Mindset & Fighting Stress – we are delighted to be joined by Eyal Yanilov and Ole Boe – the incredible authors of this revolutionary new training guide. And if you thought Krav Maga was only for die-hard martial-arts practitioners or the special forces, think again – this guide can be used by any of us looking to combat stress, especially during these challenging times.
Krav Maga – Combat Mindset & Fighting Stress is available globally – NOW!
Meet the authors, Master Eyal Yanilov and Dr Ole Boe as they answer some of our questions. Thank you so much for joining us, Eyal and Ole!
Krav Maga – Combat Mindset & Fighting Stress is receiving great feedback – what led to the writing of this book?
The need to bring our unique knowledge and experience to the public. Our mission is to elevate people’s ability to deal with aggression and stress and secure and improve their lives in general. Mental preparation is a major pillar for that, and dealing with stress is a cardinal factor.
Mental preparation includes the developing of: combat mindset (courage, determination, perseverance, etc.); focus and concentration of mental and physical resources; developing the ability to relax and defuse destructive emotions (fear, anger, frustration, jealousy, etc.)
The two of you have written together before – what about your writing partnership do you think makes it so successful?
Ole and I have been interacting together over 20 years. As a high-ranked military officer and instructor, Ole took the Krav Maga instructor course with me, to complement his academic and military/special forces experience. Then, several years ago we decided to create a special course for instructors, how to teach their students (as well as corporate executives and military/law-enforcement personnel) the ingredients, skills and components of the mental preparation. We wrote a manual for this course and as we saw how good we worked together, we decided to bring this knowhow to a wider audience.
This book appeals not only to Krav Maga practitioners but anyone wanting help to fight stress. Could you tell us more about this and who you had in mind when you wrote the book?
Who doesn’t face stress on a regular basis? Everyone does. From school kids to university students; soldiers and first responders, managers and leaders, those of us who have to answer so many emails, phone calls and text messages, complete tasks to strict deadlines, or prepare SHABBAT DINNER for the in-laws. Then of course we are in these times of pandemic.
Some will find that the combat mindset section is more important, others would like to learn relaxation or concentration techniques and drills. Our minds are the captains of our ships, the pilots of our airplanes, the chiefs of our lives. All of us need to train our minds.
Who doesn’t face stress on a regular basis … Our minds are the captains of our ships, the pilots of our airplanes, the chiefs of our lives. All of us need to train our minds.
This book is billed as revolutionary in its tone and encompassing the spirit of modern Krav Maga. What makes it so revolutionary? And what is modern Krav Maga?
The modern Krav Maga is an integrated system of self-defense, fighting and combat, and third party and VIP protection. We prepare out trainees mentally, physically, technically and tactically how to prevent, avoid, deescalate or deal with any kind of confrontation, whether physical or not. It is revolutionary as it takes human experience and knowledge of fighters and commanders from ancient and modern times, integrates it with today’s cutting-edge science and experiments to bring top level knowledge and unique experience in one compact package, never presented publically before.
Sports people seem to be exploring Krav Maga as a system to help them achieve their goals. Is this to do with mindset?
Absolutely. For example, with our training we uplift an individual’s courage and confidence, self-confidence and self-efficacy. It’s all in the mind.
With our training we uplift an individual’s courage and confidence, self-confidence and self-efficacy. It’s all in the mind.
Who else can benefit from reading this very unique book?
Practically everyone. For example:
- Managers will learn how to overcome stress, quiet the mind, and improve physical fitness
- Students will find many techniques and drills on how to relax, focus and increase confidence, especially before tests and work deadlines.
- First responders and members serving in governmental units will find every page relevant to their daily job or their high-risk missions.
- Even parents and kids will find functional-games that were originally developed for the special forces but which have been modified and converted. These address their need to play and interact together, not only to have fun but also to benefit from enhancing the character, improving interpersonal relations, alertness, reaction time, trust in each other and much more.
Eyal – we understand you are the only person in the world to hold the highest professional Krav Maga grade and the founder’s diploma of excellence. How old were you when you starting learning Krav Maga? How long have you been practising and teaching it?
I started before I turned 15 years old, it was 1974. At the age of 17, I was already a certified instructor. I started teaching professionally, 6-10 hours per week during my university study (electrical engineering). I started educating instructors in 1981 when I was only 22 years old and training anti-terror, undercover and military units when I was 26. I’ve never stopped training and teaching since I started.
Ole – can you describe your military and academic background and experience?
I am a graduate of the Norwegian Defense Command and Staff College, and served for many years as an operational officer in a Norwegian military special unit conducting VIP protection, hostage rescue, and close combat. I have also served in the Norwegian Army, Air Force, Navy and Home Guard in different positions. My military training has taken me to different parts of the world from Congo to Cambodia on different operations and missions.
I have also spent a lot of time teaching close combat and combat mindset training to military Special Forces and police special units around the world. I previously also served as an instructor at the Norwegian Military Academy (NMA), where I taught leadership to army officers, and as an instructor of military leadership at the Norwegian Defence University College (NDUC).
Do people need to go to Krav Maga classes alongside your book or can they get all they need from the book itself?
The book describes mental preparation, training and conditioning combined with some physical and technical elements that support those mental aspects. Parts can be practiced by oneself and parts need partners. It would be good to have an instructor to monitor, correct and enhance as you progress and to ensure ongoing training is safe.
If you were to describe the biggest benefits to someone reading your book and implementing your advice, what would they be?
Developing the abilities to know oneself better, developing courage and confidence, self-control and the ability to control emotions and to function better under stressful conditions.
… developing the abilities to know oneself better, developing courage and confidence, self-control and the ability to control emotions and to function better under stressful conditions.
Is Krav Maga a good form of exercise to keep fit?
Definitely. It improves stamina, coordination, flexibility and mobility, and you will also increase your power and strength. At KMG for eg, this is all done in a fun and fantastic way, through constant interaction with individuals to whom you develop trust and act with intense cooperation.
It improves stamina, coordination, flexibility and mobility, and you will also increase your power and strength.
Would you recommend Krav Maga for women?
For sure we’re suitable for women at all ages. For all the above reasons as well as also being great for self-defense, giving women the tools to identify, defuse and deal, if needed, with violent confrontation. Acquiring the physical and technical skills gives mental strength, self-confidence and courage. Those in turn change the trainee’s posture and way of behaviour, and that practically repels a potential “predator”. Predators look for soft targets, and KMG training simply makes you a hard target which most predators will not attack.
Predators look for soft targets, and KMG training simply makes you a hard target which most predators will not attack.
Thank you so much for talking to us, Eyal and Ole!
You can read more about Krav Maga – Combat Mindset & Fighting Stress here – and link through to where to buy your copy.
Krav Maga – Combat Mindset & Fighting Stress is available globally – NOW!
