Introduction:
Israel - is a small nation surrounded by enemies. It is a country in a constant state of warfare where members of society need to develop specific skills to enable it to survive as a separate, independent entity in a hostile environment. The Israeli Mandatory Service Law requires all 18 year olds to serve in the army – 3 years for boys, 2 years for girls. But preparation for military service actually begins much earlier.
Military concepts and the values they give rise to, are deeply embedded in society and create the framework to encourage excellence, a sense of mutual responsibility, team work and the concept of helping your colleagues – all of which are characteristics of combat service in the IDF (Israel Defense Force). Over the years, serving in a combat unit has been considered as the ultimate ambition by the majority of Israeli youth. Israeli youngsters begin to prepare themselves for combat service from as young as 14, both physically and mentally, and dream of volunteering in one of the IDF special elite units, which are considered among the most professional and courageous of their kind in the world.
It is a commonplace saying in Israel that you go into the army a boy and come out a man. The heavy responsibility placed on the young persons’ shoulders and the expectations of the society they live in – to protect home, family, friends and society and to represent their country with honor – inevitably results in acquiring a degree of maturity that changes their lives forever.
Contrary to popular opinion, it is not only Jews who serve in the IDF. Israel is a heterogeneous, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country. In addition to the Jewish majority, army recruits every year also include representatives from the Christian, Bedouin, Circassian and Druze communities. They each bring with them their own culture and a different background and history, and the army becomes a melting pot for this wide range of ethnicities. New recruits undergo combat training, lasting from a few months to a year and a half, during which they learn how to react in situations of stress and pressure, uncertainty and numerical inferiority, how to work together as a team, to be responsible for one another and above all, even in conditions of warfare, to retain their humanity and to maintain self-control.
Amnon Maor, Director of the Maor Israel Self Defense Center, served in IDF combat service for several decades, graduated from special elite units and has many years experience in training and qualifying combat soldiers. Maor has developed his own unique program, combining specific self defense capabilities adapted to everyday life in the modern world, and developing physical and mental strengths to prepare for life in a better society. The Seven Stages program is studied over seven years – one year for each stage – at the critical developmental age range of 10 to 17. It is effectively an integral way of life enabling young people to mature into adulthood - in good health, physically and mentally strong and with the ability and desire to help those around them.
Tradition used to dictate that the male partner in a couple was responsible for providing the family’s keep and the female partner for raising and educating the children. But in today’s western world, with both partners involved in their separate careers, children are often left at home without supervision or discipline and on that basis must find their own way in the world.
Although the Seven Stages program is equally suitable for adults and police officers, it was primarily developed for children and young people with the aim of encouraging them to become better citizens, while focusing on a constructive and goal-directed environment.
The program begins at age 10, a period when children can be molded but at the same time are ready for mental and physical challenges and development. It is also possible to begin the program two years earlier, at age 8, in which case the two intervening years are spent on preparing for the program itself. Each year represents a stage in the program, imparting values appropriate to that age, including mental and physical ability and conduct, starting with physical activity, nutrition and the effective use of leisure time.
The program focuses primarily on defense, without encouraging an aggressive approach. Children who grow up with this program absorb values that later become an integral part of their lifestyle. They are accustomed to a calm state of mind, an inter-connection between body and spirit reinforced by correct nutrition, sport, movement, coordination, risk assessment, problem solving, fast, creative thought processes and an anticipation of different scenarios. A child who grows up with a strong grounding in values and a meaning to his life, has no need to go looking on the street for quick thrills like alcohol and drugs. Training on the program takes the form of games designed to develop agility (of movement and thought), strength, control, timing and anticipation of the opponent’s moves, all of which increase the enjoyment and interest level of the training.
The Maor self-defense exercises are divided up according to age and stage of development. The first four years concentrate on the acquisition of basic skills and technique, while in the three later years the program is more advanced. Since the program throughout is taught at the appropriate level for each group of students, with an emphasis on humility, there is no ranking as is customary in other martial arts. Students at the basic stages wear a white T-shirt printed with the Center’s logo in blue, while students at the more advanced levels wear a blue T-shirt with the logo in white. At the advanced levels, the trainees receive combined strength training in the gym, to reinforce both body and mind, to enhance self confidence, correct use of force, and maturity. Later stages cover modes of defense in the face of dangerous scenarios on the street, such as confrontations with a knife or gun, and the implications of dangerous situations are emphasized, with a focus on helping others in distress, a mass attack on an individual, the preference of flight over confrontation, floor exercises, how to absorb blows and different body holds. Since education is a cornerstone of the Seven Stages program, students also attend enrichment lectures and seminars given by experts in violence, drugs, smoking, alcohol abuse as well as how to cope in a variety of situations.
Much emphasis is placed on understanding technique, including the purpose of each exercise and why a particular movement is recommended – all this is aimed at encouraging the students to think for themselves and avoid impulsive, automatic action. In countries and regions where students can expect army recruitment, the advanced stages will include designated pre-recruitment reinforcement training.
Almost any means available to us in our everyday environment can be used for defense in the event of an attack. As part of the program, students will receive training in resources developed and manufactured exclusively by the Center for the purpose of self-defense. These include Stick 14, Stick 16 and a self-defense ring as well as the use of commonly available defensive items, such as umbrellas, canes, bags or cellular phones.
All training is co-educational, with boys and girls learning side by side; however, due to the physiological differences of flexibility, strength, psychology and instincts between the sexes, there are different types of fitness training and exercises.
The Center closely follows the progress of every student, including feedback which is delivered to the parents. A final test is held at the end of each stage, in which students have an opportunity to display skills acquired during the year and are awarded a final grade.
The Seven Stages program has also professional and financial implications. Students who successfully pass all stages of the program may undergo a basic trainers’ course, and after a year of serving as assistants to advanced trainers, they may then start their own courses or schools to teach the Seven Stages method under the control and supervision of the Center.
Summary:
The Seven Stages program offers students a full range of physical training, mental and physical empowerment and a development of values that have application not only in emergencies or stressful situations, but as the basis for a lifestyle. A more confident, stronger, able and mature person will acquire the right approach to a considered use of force, the knowledge and skills to enable him to cope with stressful situations with self control and forethought. It is this kind of person who will be best equipped to contribute to a better society and a safer environment for us all.