Many KMG students worldwide have reported using their skills in dealing with real troubles, according to Chan. In recent days, safer places like Beijing have proven vulnerable to occasional attacks as well. In April, a high-profile incident broke out at a Beijing hotel, where a female guest was attacked and dragged across the hotel in public view, with no one intervening despite her cries for help.
The attack sent shockwaves of fear across China. Self-defense tips soon became an online buzz. KMG China, however, deliberately avoided posting "how-to" explainers online. "Though we are happy to demonstrate our skills, we don't want to be misleading," Chan explained. "Although the Krav Maga system is designed to be easy to learn, you still have to train properly in order to do it well under pressure. We don't want to deliver the wrong message that people could easily survive an attack by simply following what is illustrated in an online post or video."
Chan said knowing what you are doing is important. "Krav Maga is different from martial arts or sports in that it's never going to be about 'winning a fight' or demonstrating fancy moves. It is a self-defense system first, aimed at keeping you safe, escaping and surviving," she said.
"An even more important part of Krav Maga training is how to avoid getting into trouble in the first place." Chan added that as basic common sense, it would be better for women to avoid going out alone or roaming streets that are not well lit. She explained that they don't mean to put restrictions on women's behavior, but that women should know in what way they would fall easy targets for attackers.
"The first reaction to an attack may make the difference between life and death. Usually a person goes into panic, or worse, freezes when faced with a bad situation. KMG's training helps people to improve their responses and teaches them how to strike effective targets and survive," she said, adding that participants of the women's self-defense workshop should keep on training to preserve the diminishing skills.
Growing popularity
Previously working for a Chinese media company, Chan ended up working at Krav Maga after her husband, Von Ng, became the director for KMG China in 2012. While working for the administrative side of the school, she also participated in training and moved up over time. After three years, she decided to take the certification for instructorship in Israel. Now, Chan both manages the school and occasionally teaches alongside her husband, who also serves as head instructor.
