Krav Maga is the fighting system of the IDF (Israeli Defense Force), and as military service is mandatory (possibly formerly) for able bodied Israeli men, it's designed to be highly effective and fundamental, with a high emphasis on fitness in order to overwhelm an attacker.
Calling Krav a martial art is putting lipstick on a pig, but we are proud to be the pig. There's no gui, bowing, chanting or a belt for every color of the rainbow. It's not really slick or pretty like Asian martial arts or jiu jitsu, but rather it's practical for street fighting and is therefore non-competitive.
So, to address the assertion that Krav is ineffective against someone who is a trained fighter, that is terribly false. Krav is actually more effective against trained fighters because most trained fighters are trained to compete, not for a street fight. A basic combative of Krav is a kick to the groin. Even if the kick doesn't land, it creates a reaction that most trained fighters are not conditioned for. However, the odds that you will be attached by a trained fighter on the streets is far less than a drunken a-hole in a bar or a thug who wants your cash.
I chose Krav because I felt the real life applications were the far greater than other martial arts. I am a former wrestler and football player, now fire fighter who found myself working security at a club in Detroit after college. Ending a fight ASAP and Weapons defense we're very important elements that I wanted incorporated into my training, and Krav offers that. Again, it's fighting and defense system of the Israeli Military.
Krav is also the basis for many law enforcement techniques. As I train at a center outside of Detroit, we have many local police, military personnel and border patrol / federal agents at our training center.
If anyone ever says "this or that is the BEST martial art" then stop listening and move on. A best over all martial art doesn't exist. The best martial art / fighting system is the one that is best for a specific situation at a specific time. Krav works well in the street, but is worthless in any competitive forum.
If you're looking for fitness, immediate practical application without felling like you're being inducted into a cult with robes, belts and chanting in foreign languages then I would highly recommend Krav Maga (assuming you have quality training center near you).
Search Krav Maga World Wide for more info. That will take to the national training center on the west coast, which was founded by one of two men to be given a teaching diploma by the actual founder of Krav Maga. They have a listing of KM World Wide training centers around the country. I train out of Krav Maga Detroit. Check us out at kravmagadetroit.com.
Hope that helps.
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