Latvian soldier instructs US paratroopers in Krav Maga

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Allen | First Lt. William McDermott and Pfc. Blake Shelkey, paratroopers with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade train with Sgt. Andris Lubejs from the Latvian Army’s Recon Company as he demonstrates proper counter-attack and evasion techniques using leverage and strikes to vulnerable areas of the body like the throat at Adazi Military Base, Latvia, June 5, 2014. The 173rd Airborne has approximately 600 paratroopers deployed to the Baltic nations and Poland as part of a series of unscheduled land-forces exercises to demonstrate solidarity with NATO allies. (Photo by Spc. Seth LaCount, 126th Press Camp Headquarters, Michigan Army National Guard)  

AI, LATVIA

06.08.2014

Courtesy Story

Michigan National Guard

By Spc. Seth LaCount
Joint Force Headquarters, Michigan National Guard

ADAZI MILITARY BASE, Latvia - Paratroopers with the Scout Platoon, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, recently participated in Krav Maga martial art and self-defense system training June 5, 2014, here with the Latvian Army.

Krav Maga is a martial art developed by the Israeli military that consists of a wide combination of techniques. Along with realistic fight training, Krav Maga is known for its focus on real-world situations and extremely efficient and brutal counter attacks to escape danger.

Sgt. Andri Lubejs, assigned to the Latvian Army’s Recon Company, led the training. Lubejs, an eight-year veteran in the art, trained Soldiers in one-on-one fighting techniques as well as methods to fend off multiple attackers.

“Typically when you’re faced with a life threatening combat scenario, you have that intuition about what you should do, but we’re actually learning practical techniques on how to respond to an attack,” said U.S. Army Spc. Sean Quigley, an assistant team leader in the platoon.

In order to neutralize opponents’ attacks as quickly as possible, many of the counter attacks in Krav Maga target vulnerable parts of the body. Lubejs taught the paratroopers proper defense against knives and pistols, and how to use fast counter attacks to the throat and groin to escape harm.

“In my experience, U.S. Army combatives focuses a lot on close, ground combat and Krav Maga works more on evasion techniques and creating distance,” said 1st Lt. William McDermott, the platoon leader for the scouts. “I think the two different styles work in perfect tandem together and this training is a perfect addition to our repertoire.”

The collective martial-arts training was part of a 55-hour course and upon completion the paratroopers were certified in Krav Maga level one.

• Date Taken: 06.08.2014
• Date Posted: 06.08.2014 05:31
• Story ID: 132453
• Location: AI, LV