Keysi Fighting Method Techniques

The Keysi Fighting Method (KFM) is a fighting art developed in Europe by Justo Dieguez and Andy Norman. It uses brutal attacks and predatory instincts rather than the calmness of mind and fluid movement prevalent in other martial arts. The fighting art has been featured in several Hollywood productions, and there are several schools open in the United States which specialize in it.

Pensador

The Pensador or “thinking man” technique is a recognizable trademark of the Keysi Fighting Method that sets it apart from other systems. It is a defensive position, where the arms are wrapped around the head in order to protect it as well as the neck and throat. According to an interview with founder co-founder Andy Norman in Bodybuilding, the technique was born from founder Justo Dieguez’s observation of a young boy being beaten while on the floor and curling up in a fetal position to protect himself. Dieguez practiced fighting from this position on the ground, and eventually adapted it to defend himself in a standing position. The Pensador allows a fighter to quickly use his elbows and head to counterattack while protecting vital areas.

Ripping and Tearing

The Keysi Fighting Method was used extensively by actor Christian Bale when filming the Batman Begins and The Dark Night films. He was personally trained by founders Dieguez and Norman, and describes the martial art as “based on animal instinct” and “absolutely vicious” according to movie website Boxwish. He relates that in Keysi, every part of you becomes a weapon, and that some of the techniques involve ripping someone’s nose off or tearing their cheek away from their face. The extreme fighting art of Keysi was also used by actor Tom Cruise in filming Mission: Impossible 3.

Elbows and Head Butts

Because the arms and elbows are raised in the Pensador defensive position, elbow attacks are frequently used in KFM. The close-combat orientation of the art also contributes to favoring elbows over regular punches, and makes the head an effective weapon as well. Self-defense website My Self Defense Journey describes the rotational effect of the Pensador defense, and explains that this magnifies the impact of the strikes in Keysi. The combination of the Pensador, which can confuse or startle an opponent, with fast elbows and head butts make Keysi an effective fighting method.

References:

Bodybuilding: Christian Bale’s Trainers Discuss Unique KFM Fight Method Used in Dark Night

Boxwish: Keysi Fighting Method (KFM) in Batman Begins & The Dark Knight

My Self Defense Journey: A Review of Keysi Fighting Method

Written by Willie Pena. Willie is a martial artist and also runs an educational website called Homeschool Building Blocks.