Credit – Gage Skidmore, Patty Jenkins, Chris Pine & Gal Gadot at the 2018 Comic-Con International 3, CC BY-SA 2.0
Gal Gadot has made the DC character Wonder Woman her own, not only in terms of her depiction of Diana Princes’ alter ego but also her mastery of Krav Maga, an Israeli martial art.
Gadot first appeared in the DC Universe as the Wonder Woman character in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Her character was popular enough to earn a film dedicated to her, the 2017 release of Wonder Woman, soon to be followed up by Wonder Woman 1984. However, the former Fast and the Furious actress is not just combative in the films, she has mastered Krav Maga and is as able to protect herself just as efficiently as the DC character she is famous for portraying.
Gadot served her time in the Israel Defense Forces, which has the discipline as part of its basic training. The style dates back to the 1930s and is a derivative of the street fighting style of Hungarian-Israeli martial artist Imi Lichtenfeld. It was initially developed to give the Jewish population a method by which to defend themselves against anti-Semitism. Whilst it teaches pupils to avoid conflict as much as possible, once engaged it is pointed towards being aggressive and bringing bouts to a close as quickly as possible.
Do not expect to see Krav Maga competitions and tournaments though; this style was not invented for in-ring confrontations. Instead, it has been developed from moves seen on the battlefield and is very much a discipline focused on protection and resolution of conflict and danger. Whilst it does contain punches and strikes, not unlike Muay Thai and Kung Fu, it is not regulated by rules or regulations and has a wider move set designed to adapt to the different dangers that may be presented to the individual.
Gadot admitted on the Late Show with James Corden that she knows Krav Maga, confirming it was taught to the Israel Defense Forces. No doubt, her understanding of the martial art has helped her develop the Wonder Woman character for which she is becoming increasingly famous. Her profile has risen sharply by being involved in the films, with the popularity of the DC Universe exploding in recent years. Gadot’s portrayal of Wonder Woman has catapulted her, and the character, into contemporary pop culture. Her imagery has been used and adapted across several platforms, including gaming. Aside from direct ports to console and PC, other online platforms have found the character popular enough to base titles on. There are a couple of titles on Foxy Games, one of which is Wonder Woman, which leans heavily on the character. Other depictions can be found across mobile devices, boasting either multiple characters from the DC Universe or specifically the character herself.
That overwhelming response to Gadot’s portrayal of Wonder Woman, and the increased exposure across a range of media, has led to her being linked with another well-known franchise. No doubt aided by her understanding of martial arts, there have been calls for her to be the next Indiana Jones, picking up the mantle from Harrison Ford. Ford is set to appear in his fifth and final Indiana Jones film in 2020, with speculation mounting that the sixth film will use a new actor or actress, and take a different direction.
With her knowledge not only of Krav Maga but also other martial arts such a BJJ, Gadot would be a natural fit for the role. If she were cast as the intrepid explorer, she would create a Lara Croft hybrid of sorts for a new generation and would be an interesting prospect for fans of both characters.
