Krav Maga Self Defense Techniques

Krav Maga is an Israeli system of self-defense based on a set of realistic and intuitive movements. Meaning "contact combat" in Hebrew [see Reference 1], Krav Maga is practiced by the Israeli military, law enforcement entities across the U.S. and by civilian practitioners worldwide wanting to learn techniques for defending themselves. From basic punches and kicks to higher-level gun and knife defenses, Krav Maga offers highly effective self-defense techniques for both beginners and advanced students.

  1. Basic Strikes

    • The cornerstones of Krav Maga self-defense techniques are basic strikes such as punches and kicks. The system includes straight punches (jab and cross), hooks, upper cuts, body/liver shots and palm heel strikes to a variety of targets. In addition, Krav Maga has a system of six different elbow strikes.

      There is a similar variety of kicks, including groin kicks, round kicks, vertical front kicks, side kicks and back kicks. Along with kicks, Krav Maga students also learn to deliver knee strikes to an attacker, usually aiming for the midsection or groin.

      All of these self-defense strikes can be delivered to multiple targets on a person, from a variety of angles to the attacker. And in addition to delivering them as a self-defense technique, students also learn how to defend against them, in the event of an actual attack.

    Chokes, Bear Hugs and Headlocks

    • Common attacks include chokes, bear hugs and headlocks, so Krav Maga trains its students to defend against them. There is a defense for choke from the front, back and side, in addition to being choked while simultaneously pushed or pulled. Bear hug defenses similarly cover all angles -- front and back -- but also include defenses for being lifted off the ground.

      Headlock defenses include bar arm and carotid headlocks, as well as reverse headlocks, where the attacker is in front of the victim, who is bent at the waist. As with the basic strikes described earlier, each of these techniques are practiced from both a standing position and from a disadvantaged position on the ground.

      For all of these situations, Krav Maga trains the student to recognize the attack as it comes on and respond aggressively, following the initial defense with multiple counterattacks.

    Weapon Defenses

    • Advanced self-defense techniques in Krav Maga include gun and knife defenses. Gun defenses encompass handgun attacks from all angles of the body, both close and at a distance, as well as long gun. Advanced students also practice hostage scenarios, where they have to defend themselves in particularly compromising situations. Krav Maga gun defenses adhere to the "R.C.A.T" philosophy: redirect the weapon; control the weapon; attack and take the weapon away.

      Self-defense techniques for knife cover all scenarios: to the body, the throat, from a distance, advancing, overhand, underhand and straight stab. The defense for knife includes punches, kicks and a variety of methods for taking the knife, depending upon the attack scenario.

    Training Drills

    • Krav Maga self-defense techniques are learned and practiced in high-intensity, realistic scenario training drills. These are frequently done when the defender is tired and disoriented (from loud music, strobe light, multiple attackers, etc.), and repeated to the point of becoming muscle memory. If you can do them when exhausted and stressed, the theory goes, you can respond appropriately if and when a real attack occurs.

      The techniques are relatively simple to learn and have been proven to be highly effective. They can be learned and practiced by just about anyone, independent of size or physical strength.