Practice Makes ... Jump Teams Great

  Training, Training and More Training!

Keeping in tip top shape is important to the Jump Team and it's not as easy as you might think. It takes commitment, dedication and stamina. It also takes a good trainer.

                                                                                                                                                                         

Jump Team Practicing Krav Maga

His name is Joseph Gleed and he’s one of the best trainers around in Krav Maga.  Oh, you haven’t heard of Krav Maga? Well, you’re not alone, but it is fast becoming the training of choice for police forces, the military, and the O.U.R. Jump Team.

The term “Krav Maga” literally means “contact combat” in Hebrew and was first used as a self-defense tactic by the Israeli military.  It is basically a combination of several well-known fighting techniques including Judo, Jujitsu, boxing, wrestling, and more. 

Gleed is a Head Instructor for hand to hand close quarter combat training and holds a 2^nd degree black belt or expert level in Krav Maga from Israel. He ensures his reputation by putting the Jump Team through the toughest training there is, knowing they may need those skills at any given moment during a rescue.

"Their [O.U.R.] training is fairly rudimentary even with the CIA and Navy Seals, said Gleed. "Krav Maga is specific with what they're doing. It's very difficult. It's hand to hand combat. The training is tough and grueling and a lot of people just can't get through it."

The Jump Team actually has many instructors, not only in Mixed Martial Arts, but at the shooting range and in mock real-life scenarios. In fact, there’s a whole mock town they use to create the types of situations they might encounter on a rescue. O.U.R Founder Tim Ballard says it’s a good way to train the Jump Team and about fifty percent of them fail – the first time around that is.  Of course, that’s what the training is all about. Fail now so you can live later.

Jump Team Members at Target Practice

Operation Underground Railroad is currently gearing up for another big rescue and is recruiting new members for the Jump Team. The first members to come on board were former Navy Seals and Green Berets, but Ballard is now inviting others to join him.  Not all have military training. There’s a writer and even a commercial realtor. The most important thing is that he can trust them and that they’re a team player.  Knowing how to fight is helpful; knowing whom to trust is essential.

Whether it’s Krav Maga, target practice or “playing rescue,” keeping up on training and being able to use it instinctively is what makes the Jump Team ready at a moment’s notice to “JUMP.”