Our reporter finds out how to give herself a fighting chance if she is attacked...


IT IS the East End of Glasgow on a Friday night and a group of men are engaged in fierce combat. But this is not typical city gang violence - it is the ultimate fight club.

Dozens of students from all walks of life have been flocking to take part in a no-holds-barred self-defence class.

A good kick can work wonders!

GEMMA and I have just been introduced and now she is trying to strangle me again.

This is not my idea of a normal night out, but for the 40 men and women learning Krav Maga, punching, kicking and choking their classmates is all par for the course.

Surrounded by muscle men dressed head to toe in black, it is hard not to feel intimidated. I am 5ft 4in, a wimp and the nearest I have come to close combat classes is ballet.

We start the two-hour lesson with a warm-up - running round the class trying to hit other students on the head.

I am immediately hampered because I can't reach anyone's head because they are all too tall.

But I do my best to hit out while blocking hands flying towards me. It is not easy but there is much worse to come.

Eight of us have never been to Krav Maga so we are taken aside to learn some basics.

First, we are told our immediate line of defence is to run, not fight. If flight is not possible then the next thing is to be aware of your surroundings because we are told predators always hunt in packs.

Then, the knives come out. Well, plastic knives. In pairs, we learn to block stabbing motions with our wrists, while hitting our attacker and ducking - all at the same time.

Just holding the rubber knives feels wrong and seeing one aimed towards me is very unnerving.

It is confusing at first, but then the natural instincts kick in - especially when the knife starts coming towards me.

Back in the main class we learn how to fight off an attacker who is using a choke hold. After John and Simon demonstrate the best way to escape a strangle hold, it is our turn to practise in pairs.

Initially, it seems easy: grab the attacker's wrists and pull them apart while kicking them and pushing them away.

But then John tells us to really strangle one another, so our natural fear responses take over.

We also have to wait for our "attackers" with our eyes shut, ramping up the fear factor and giving them the advantage of surprise.

It is unpleasant and I can't imagine what it would be like in real life, but I manage to fight my "attacker" off.

John was right when he said size does not matter against a few strategically placed kicks and jabs.

Next day, I have bruises on my arms and neck. But I feel more confident knowing if I find myself in a dangerous situation I will have a better chance of defending myself.

CATRIONA STEWART

Krav Maga, which is Hebrew for "contact combat", was developed in the 1940s by the Israeli Special Defence Force, the near-mythical fighting squad.

It is a tactical and practical way of fighting off attackers. But the teachers, John Miller and Simon Dix, make it clear from the start the system is for defence only.

The classes, in Petershill, are not designed to train have-a-go-heroes or encourage violence.In fact, John and Simon make it clear the first rule is to run away wherever possible.

Simon, a mental health nurse, and John, a prison officer, started learning the system to defend themselves at work - and to get fit.

They were trained by Eyal Yanilov, one of the world's top teachers.

More than 200,000 people worldwide practise Krav Maga to increase fitness, confidence and learn skills that will help defend themselves.

Learners are taught to hone their natural responses by kicking, punching, elbowing, butting, eye-gouging and biting any vulnerable part of your attacker you can reach.

You could say it is a fairly no-nonsense approach to self-defence.

The philosophy behind the warrior workout is "protect and survive", so there are no hard and fast rules or sequences of difficult moves to remember.

"It can come across as quite an aggressive system, but the primary aim of Krav Maga is self-defence," says John.

"The classes have to be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, sex, ability or fitness level - they have to be at a level comfortable for you.

"We do not ask anybody to be in any position where they might be uncomfortable.

"We try and make the training as realistic as possible and we graduate it up so that, as the student grows in confidence, we put more pressure on them. We pressure test the training to simulate as best we can the adrenal response.

"Our youngest student is 16 and our oldest 67. We have had people with physical disabilities. Everyone can do it."

For women, the class has potential to be very intimidating. Out of about 40 participants only three are female and the men are physically imposing - I am paired with a nightclub bouncer with muscles to be proud of.

But Simon believes the classes are ideal for women and hopes to set up a female-only class if he can generate the interest.

In fact, the unarmed combat system has attracted a slew of celebrity fans - actresses Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie and Cameron Diaz all do it.

Simon added: "Women can be intimidated when they see a class of men coming along.

"But we have some who attend. One woman told me her biggest hurdle was actually coming to the first class.

"Her confidence is now sky-high and she has gained a lot from it.

"One of the things we are looking at is a female-only class and also at preparing against possible sexual attacks.

Gemma Brindley, from Maryhill, is one of the three women in the class.

The 32-year-old scientist has been attending for four months to learn to defend herself, should the worst happen.

She said: "I would hope to never have to use it but I know now that if I am attacked I won't be useless.

"I can understand why some women would be intimidated by attending, but you can take the lessons as far as you are comfortable with and move at your own pace without any pressure."

Phil Munro is a doctor in the Southern General's Accident and Emergency department.

The 42-year-old decided to start taking Krav Maga classes after seeing several people attacked at the hospital.

Now he feels more confident knowing that if anything happens he will be able to deal with it safely.

Dr Munro said: "I learned karate when I was younger, but I wanted to learn something that was more practical and more self-defence oriented.

"Several people have been assaulted where I work and, while there are no 100% guarantees with these things, Krav Maga would at least improve your chances when attacked.

"The teachers are very supportive and they make it clear your first line of defence is to run away, so there is no encouragement towards violence."

Simon and John run classes in Petershill Sports Complex on Tuesdays from 7.30-9.30pm. For more info or to get involved see www.institute-krav-maga-scotland.co.uk