Self Pro Krav CHILDREN

Urban crime and free violence, to which children areexposed from an early age, are getting more and moreradicalized every day in every corner of the world, implyingan adaptation and an almost permanent evolution for anylegitimate system of civil or professional defense, onpenalty of becoming obsolete and therefore unworkable. Itis clear that, because of the multifaceted nature ofphysical assaults in our days, insecurity has spawnednumerous self-defense systems with varying degrees ofsuccess in terms of realism. The problem in this regard isthe fact that Martial Arts in their application of self-defense, are not adjusted to the reality of the street,where there are no rules or limits.

Recognizing this, learning to defend ourselves hasbecome a necessity, an instinct of conservation

inherent to each of us who love life and ourdear ones. If the source of such sudden

craze seems obvious, what can we do toadjust to the harsh law of the reality,of which the news brings us daily itsshare of horrors? The problem is thatwe want all and we want it now, so

Photos: Edith Levinet

we seek a system that, as under the impulse of amagic wand, allows us to be able to get out of alldangerous situations.Apart from trying to flee whenever possible, thesalvation of our children can only occur through asurvival reflex that must be developed through aregular training on the basis of a realisticapproach, accessible to everyone, regardless ofsize and force, with simple and efficient gestures.Captain Jacques Levinet, with his professional

and martial experience, has created a methodadapted to children so they can get out of suchsituations, a discipline adaptable to the school aswell as to the street, in other words, for both theaggression of another child and that of a grown up.This is an innovative initiative in the subject, whosepedagogy and results have been welcomed bynumerous media and several psychologists andchildren specialists. We wanted to know moreabout this new fighting discipline againstaggression for children.

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Budo International: What doesthe acronym SPKE mean?Jacques Levinet: S (stands for

Self Defense) P (Pro, forProfessional), K (Krav, for FightingSpirit in Hebrew), and E (for Children,"Enfants" in French). This is notKravmaga (whose purpose isessential ly mil itary and doesn'tcorrespond to our self-defense).Confusion arises from the term Kravthat for SPKE means "FightingSpirit" because without a fightingspirit, it's difficult for a child to getahead. Besides, SPKE respects theFrench Criminal Law and it doesn'tdevelop any aggressiveness, butself-confidence. The SPKE methodcomes from SELF PRO KRAV orSPK, a system with a provenefficiency to defend oneself in thestreet in a realistic way.

The SPK was developed by theinternational expert Jacques Levinet,who was recognized Soke 10th Dan

and founder of the SPK by thegreatest masters and expertsworldwide.

B. I.: What is the SPKE method?J. L.: The SPKE is suitable for

young people to f ight againstaggression and gain self-confidence.They are taught how to escapethanks to techniques at their level,based on the survival instinct andthe conditioned reflex, in addition tothe management of speech and theright actions in case of aggression,not forgetting the legal aspect (whatwe can do and what we shouldn'tdo).

Mimicry and repetition facilitatelearning SPKE, thanks to theprofessional experience of PoliceCaptain Jacques Levinet, whoprovides an optimum credibility tothe method according to the law.The SPKE has been internationallyrecognized by the highest ranks ofmartial arts and police experts.

Its pedagogy is specific to awakenalertness in children, as well as trustin the respect to a code of ethics.

A fun-filled program of technicalprogress evaluates the students'work throughout the year, asit is also a new sport. Jointlocks are excluded fromthe method becausechildren are taughtto defendt h e m s e l v e swithin the

limits of their physical capabilitiesand not the way of "Karate Kid".Similarly, priority is given to defenseagainst attacks on empty hands,secondary with stick and knife, butnever against firearms, to stay in thereality of the defense possibilities ofa child.

The SPKE is effective and realisticthanks to some key points:consideration of the instinct ofsurvival, development of theconditioned reflex of defense, thesimplicity of learning so as nothaving to think at the time ofapplying, and an operationalpedagogy thanks to the mimicry inapprenticeship. And we don't forgetto teach children how to explain theirdefensive gesture to justify theirobligation to defend themselvesagainst an unjust aggression.

B. I.: What are thefundamental principles ofSPKE?J. L.: The words "hit" or

"blow" have been removedfrom SPKE in favor of theword "response", tojustify what is forbiddento do. For example,facing astrangulat ion(attack onlife), theg e n i t a lresponse isto l e ra ted ,

but infront of acollar grip(clothing) or

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wrist grab, response to the tibia isenough. This is to make childrenunderstand the criteria of the law,including in self-defense.

The SPKE is a game-orientedactivity - The SPK has recentlyopened up to children for the firsttime in France by creating the

method SPKE (Self Pro Kravchildren), endowed with a specificlearning pedagogy, for women withthe use of scenarios consideringtheir peculiarities, and for elderlypeople, who are taught about thebasic gestures to their reach in caseof aggression. To meet theseobjectives of fun, a playful andmultifaceted program has beendeveloped, according to thepersonality of its practitioners withan educational schedule of technicalevaluations. This knowledge willlevel the work and progress of thestudents throughout their practice tostrengthen their motivation andinterest. Thus, the character ofwelfare has been developed for allsegments of the population, whofind in the practice of SPK a factor ofphysical fullness and indisputablemoral, while family bonding

strengthens for some,since this discipline

is often practiced in family.The SPKE is sociological - Sport

for all and the utility of a regulated,codified and recognized personaldefense, the SPK is therefore opento everybody. It's a method that ispart of a social phenomenon whosewatchwords are efficiency, flexibility,specificity of the methodology, theinteractivity of the civi l andprofessional method of SPK, respectfor the l ife values and goodcitizenship, respect for the law, andsocial integration through thepractice of a sports in relation to theproblems of the city.

For young people in difficulty orsuffering cyclical problems ofconfidence and affirmation of thepersonality, the SPK, through itscode of ethics and respect for thevalues, and adjusting to the reality ofthe aggression, offers a solution tothe current problems of our century.

Without exception, regardless of

race, religion, age, sex or physical disability, the SPKEallows everyone to find the sports way in the fullest andmost honorable sense of the term.

B. I.: What is the ethics of SPKE to teach children todefend themselves?J. L.: Like the Bushido moral code that ruled the

conduct of the Samurai warriors, the SPKE doctrine isconcerned with the preservation of life and human dignityagainst unfair and unjustified aggression. This statement isthe true basic premise of SPKE transmitted through ourteachings in France and abroad. A theory, according to

which, the survival instinct of the man of the XXI centurymust be supply the means of his defense.

The rule in this subject is not retaliation, but alegitimate defense, adapted and realistic to face

aggression, within the limits of law andrespect of others.

The SPKE solves the violentdeviations of human nature in its

aggressive excesses withsome shock treatments in

which the rights andduties of al l arerespected.

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Therefore, thanks to its technical evolution, in constantcommunion with the situations of the actions of modern man,thanks to its ethical and respectable references, the SPKE hasbecome an innovative method of self-confidence and thus of lifefullness for youth of all ages.

B. I.: What is the priority in the SPKE method?J. L.: Beyond the effectiveness and realism of this

formidable method of self-defense, what counts isdeontology and respect. They are key elementsthat should be implemented in every defensivemove so as not exceeding the limits of thelaw, including in self-defense. A practicalexample of SPKE in this area is to neveruse the term "hitting the attacker," but"responding to an attack." Thehypothesis is always to report aposteriori about our actions to theauthorit ies or justice, hence theimportance of having the maximum ofarguments in our favor. Speaking of"responses" in an aggression is apresumption of self-defense, which is not the case when youspeak of "blows". Instilling this phraseology difference in ourcourses and our SPKE training, from an early age, leads to anethical discipline.

B. I.: How do you become an SPKE instructor?J. L.: Firstly, following a SELF PRO KRAV instructor course,

and then a specific course of SPKE, the methodology ofaggression for children is not the same as for adults. SPKEpedagogy is a strong point that must be well learned becausethe instructor, beyond his or her impeccable morality, has anundeniable educational function. Children are not taught in thesame way as adults. Learning to be a citizen at a young age isa constant goal in the SPKE method. This is the declaredphilosophy of this 21st century discipline, symbolized by thesearch for truth, morality and respect. A method exists onlythrough the path that it paves, in the philosophical sense ofthe term.

In conclusion, although the SPKEmethod is effective in case ofaggression, we don't turn ourchildren into a sort of "Rambo" or"Kamikaze". We teach them that fearis natural and that escaping is oftenthe best form of defense. The truthof the spoken word is important, butwhen reasoning fails and the escapebecome impossible, then we must

rely on our skills to defend ourselves.We also emphasize and warnchildren against any act of sexualaggression, giving them radicalmeans to to emerge unscathedwithout suffering lifelong traumas. Atthis particular point, we are helpedby some psychologists to ensure aconstant "feedback" after the traumaof the assault against children.

The SPKE is represented in severalregions of France and abroad withcertified instructors of the JacquesLevinet Academy.

Jacques Levinet - Founder of SPKE www.selfdefenseenfant.comTel. +33467075044

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