״הקרב מגע נתן לי ביטחון ורוגע״: המניעים של מתאמנים ומתאמנות לבחירה באימון קרב מגע והגורמים להתמדה באימון לאורך שנים

Krav Maga is an Israeli martial art that requires intensive physical training,which provides the trainees with high self-defense skills against various threats, on both the physical and mental levels. The discipline developed as a method for the Israeli security forces, and later reached the general public as a combat method focused on self-defense in real-life situations. The purpose of the present study was to examine the motives for starting training and to identify the factors that contribute to long-term adherence to training among veteran Krav Maga trainees (women and men), as well as to examine the relationship between the personal life experiences of the trainees and their choice to train in Krav Maga. The study included interviews with 12 male and female trainees and focused on their motivations for training and the effects of the training on their personal lives. The findings of the study show that the training meets diverse needs of the interviewees – ranging from the physiological to the emotional level – and that all the interviewees feel that the Krav Maga training improves their self-confidence. The findings of 21Ethe study also show that despite the different life experiences of men and women, within the context of starting and adhering to training there are no differences in their motivations.