STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

A free Krav Maga Self Defense Class for women and girls ages 14 and older will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at Ketchum’s Community Library.

The class will be taught by Tracie Ide, a Level IV certified Krav Maga instructor from Boise.

Krav Maga—from a Hebrew word meaning “contact combat”—is a hand-to-hand combat system. It was  developed by a Hungarian-Israeli boxer and martial artist to defend the Jewish quarter in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, against anti-Semitic attacks in the mid-1930s.

Used by the Israeli Defense Forces, U.S. military and law enforcement agencies around the world, it emphasizes instinctive movements, practical techniques and realistic training scenarios.

It’s not a traditional martial art. But it does utilize techniques inspired by aikido, judo, boxing, wrestling and street fighting skills to defend against chokes, grabs, bear hugs, headlocks and strikes.

The Advocates has organized a Krav Maga class in the valley since 2016.

“I love this class. It’s teaches women how to get in the right mindset to be aware, to be prepared. And it’s important because they walk out feeling confident and empowered,” said Darrel Harris, social change coordinator for The Advocates.

To register, sign up at www.eventbrite.com and search for the appropriate Krav Maga event. Or, call Darrel Harris or Heidi Cook at The Advocates via 208-788-4191 or email Darrel@theadvocatesorg.org or Heidi@theadvocatesorg.org.