Trained to Fight Episode #7: Interview with Idan Abolnik

In this interview, Idan Abolnik, a former Israeli Defense Force soldier and Krav Maga instructor, doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to his thoughts on Krav Maga. Despite learning Krav Maga during his service, Abolnik argues that the system falls short when it comes to real-world self-defense, especially in close-quarters combat. According to him, Krav Maga teaches techniques that are more Hollywood than reality, focusing too much on aggression and simultaneous defense-and-attack moves that simply don’t work under pressure.

​Abolnik has since developed his own system, Kala, which he believes is more effective for self-defense. The key difference? Kala emphasizes controlling the attacker’s arms before delivering a counter-attack, which Abolnik says is far more practical when you're in the thick of it. He stresses that staying calm and assessing the situation is crucial for survival—something that Krav Maga, with its aggressive approach, doesn’t adequately prepare you for. For anyone serious about self-defense, Abolnik recommends seeking out a system that trains for realistic scenarios, rather than one that sells you on flashy but ineffective techniques.