Fitnesspoint, a fitness and wellness centre, on August 10, hosted the debut of Krav Maga — a self-defence and hand-to-hand combat system that emphasises practical, realistic techniques derived from various martial arts, focusing on real-world situations and instinctive movements. Krav Maga differs slightly from other martial arts such as Taekwondo, Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and boxing. It was developed for the Israeli military in the 1940s and is now widely adopted by law enforcement agencies and civilians worldwide. ALSO READ: Fitnesspoint adds martial arts, professional athletes programmes The debut session, held in the aerobics room of Fitnesspoint’s Remera branch and led by Hardi Sebanani, a certified Krav Maga instructor, covered both awareness and prevention strategies. Participants were introduced to the fundamentals of Krav Maga, including its philosophy and purpose. The session continued with training on understanding threats, practicing situational awareness, and learning how to avoid becoming a target. Practical Session 1 focused on Krav Maga basics, that is, fighting stance and movement, escaping from various grabs (wrist, shoulder, choke), and using voice and posture to de-escalate threats. Practical Session 2 involved defensive manoeuvres and strikes, including palm, elbow, and knee strikes, as well as defence against common attacks. Participants trained with partners in controlled scenarios, covering crisis response and legal considerations — including what to do after defending oneself, how to report to authorities, and the legal dos and don’ts in self-defence situations. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s Ntwali qualifies for 2025 World Karate Championships Why should one have Krav Maga basics? According to Sebanani, the world is not a utopia; therefore, people can be violent, engage in sexual or child abuse, or commit any kind of bullying at social gatherings, especially in schools. Thus, learning such basics could help someone remain fearless and safe in the event of a spontaneous incident. “Everyone needs to be safe wherever they are. We train people not to win points as in other martial arts, but to master the combat system. You train your body movements to face conflict confidently. It’s self-defence, that’s all we need. It’s the art of survival,” he explained. Sebanani added that whereas other martial arts use centuries-old tools, most of which are no longer in use, Krav Maga requires modern weapons such as guns, firearms, rifles, and more, making it relevant to today’s needs. The session was attended by martial arts enthusiasts, some of whom already practice Karate, Taekwondo, and other disciplines. They were eager to add new layers to their existing skills, and everyone is encouraged to join for both fitness and sport-like exploration. Nadia Urwibutso Uwase, a mother of three, was among the participants and expressed her love for the new art in town, noting that as one masters it, one begins to love and appreciate oneself, in terms of fitness, appearance, and posture. “Women love to spend some time in front of a mirror. It’s bad when you don’t have confidence in yourself; you feel like something important is missing. Krav Maga helps boost your confidence, and that’s what defines us as women. I encourage everyone, especially females, to try it. It helps you both mentally and physically, as you become more protective,” she said. Uwase, 29, wants to set an example for fellow women, some of whom might be too shy to take the first step. Kevin Ganza, 16, a student at EFASE Secondary School, was introduced to the art by Sensei Sebanani and quickly fell in love with it, alongside his passion for Karate. “Krav Maga is very important. I’m enjoying it so much. It’s effective. This can help anyone, regardless of age. I encourage everyone to take an interest in it, because no one knows when an attack might happen,” he said. Elvis Bugingo, who regularly practices Karate and serves as the secretary general of the Rwanda Karate Federation, attended the session and encouraged everyone to try Krav Maga, whether they practice martial arts or not, because it is effective anytime, anywhere. “Most of the rules in Krav Maga, when applied in Karate, are considered mistakes. But in Krav Maga, these ‘mistakes’ are effective. This means that anyone can participate; you don’t need to have a background in other martial arts. It’s both a sport and a form of self-defence,” he said. Bugingo commended the discipline for adding value to already established martial arts, noting that it will particularly benefit those who cannot commit to similar arts that often take longer to master. “It’s short, but important,” he added. The sessions are held weekly over the weekend at Fitnesspoint’s Remera branch opposite the Amahoro Stadium.
