Photo byAustin PachecoonUnsplash

In the golden state of Illinois, tucked snuggly between the flourishing cornfields and the bustling Windy City, a unique group of kids has taken to a most extraordinary pursuit - Krav Maga! Now, you might be asking yourself, ‘What in the haystack is Krav Maga?’ Well, my friend, it’s a type of martial art, a no-nonsense system of self-defense that was originally developed for the Israel military. But here in Illinois, it’s mostly practiced by a league of super cool kids, each with their own nifty code name. Take 'Tornado Tommy,' for instance. He's a freckle-faced nine-year-old with hair as fiery as a summer sunset. He has the uncanny ability to spin like a cyclone, causing bigger kids to topple like bowling pins. And then there's 'Cheetah Charlotte,' a ten-year-old speedster who can dodge punches faster than a tumbleweed in a dust storm. Their leader is 'Captain Cornstalk,' a tall, skinny, twelve-year-old with an infectious grin and glasses as thick as soda bottle bottoms. He may look as harmless as a scarecrow, but when it comes to Krav Maga, he’s a real whiz kid. He's known for his famous 'Corn-on-the-Cob' move. He twirls around like a cob of corn on a drill, sending opponents scattering like crows in a cornfield. In Illinois, Krav Maga isn’t just about punching and kicking; it’s about laughter, friendship, and learning to stand up for oneself. And even though these kids might seem like ordinary Illinoisans, in their Krav Maga classes, they become superheroes in their own right!