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Retired firefighter trains responders in Krav Maga

Dana Kaplan teaches the self-defense martial arts to first responders as a way for them to be prepared to protect themselves in case of violence

By FireRescue1 Staff

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A retired firefighters helps prepare first responders for potential violence by training them in martial arts.

NBC San Diego reported that Dana Kaplan, a 27-year fire veteran, trains responders in Krav Maga, a military self-defense martial arts that was designed for the Israeli Defense Forces.

Krav Maga combines boxing, wrestling, aikido, judo and karate and Kaplan said it helps responders be ready for an attack at the scene of a call.

“We train them to be aware of their surroundings so that if somebody walks into our scene especially if we don’t have law enforcement that we’re able to diffuse the situation,” he said.

Kaplan added that the recent fatal shooting of Long Beach Fire Department Captain David Rosa “really hit home” for him.

” I’ve been on many calls in my 27 years as a firefighter where fire arrives before law enforcement,” he said. “You’re not in the mindset of someone shooting at you. It was an ambush, and it’s very difficult to prepare for something like that.”

Part of the training includes learning how to disarm attackers with open, empty hands.

“Our mode in a violent situation is generally to back out and let law enforcement handle it, but there’s some situations where we don’t have a choice,” he said.

https://www.facebook.com/KravMagaSD/videos/1667845463270165/

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