The Basic Tenents of Krav Maga

Krav Maga is a miltary hand to hand combat system used in Israel and is used by the Israeli Defense Forces, the Israeli special forces, such as the Sayeret Duvedan, Israeli police officers, and numerous other agencies and people around the world for self defense or attack. When translated from Hebrew Krav Maga literally means "Close Combat" and that is exactly what it is. When in combat Krav Maga assumes that no surrender will be given, so a large emphasis of the techniques deal with threat neutralization. Krav Maga is not considered a sport so there are no badges, different levels, or attire, because it can be done while wearing anything and at any level.

A woman showing techniques of Krav Maga

The Basic Principles

Because Krav Maga assumes there will be no quarter crippling attacks to vulnerable body parts including eye and groin strikes, headbutts, and any other brutal and efficient attacks, improvising with the objects in your environment, and maximizing personal safety are emphasized when using Krav Maga. However Krav Maga does stress the need to match the response of your attack to the danger or risk that you are being faced with, so for example, if someone tries to steal your watch you do not break their neck, rather just beat him up. A main emphasis of Krav Maga is to prevent further attacks from your attacker and keeping yourself safe.

The guiding principles for performing techniques are:

Do not get hurt
Quickly neutralize the attacker
Quickly transition from defensive to offensive techniques
Exploit the natural reflexes of the body
Exploit all vulnerable points on the body
Use any available objects as aids
(Keep in mind that these guidelines are for when performing the techniques in combat or a life threatening situation)

The History of Krav Maga

Krav Maga was developed in the 1930's in Hungary and Czechoslovakia by a man named Imi Lichtenfeld, and it was first taught to local Jews in Germany to help them protect themselves against Nazi militias. In 1984 Imi Lichtenfeld moved to Israel became the Chief Instructor of Physical Fitness and Krav Maga at the Israel Defense Forces School of Combat Fitness for 15 years before dying in 1998 in Israel. Krav Maga spread outside of Israel in the 1980s when a grouo of Krav Maga experts travelled to the U.S. and gave demonstrations around the country and at the FBI headquarters, and it has kept growing since then.

Imi Lichtenfeld beating someone up

Videos of Krav Maga

Here are some vidoes that demonstrate the different techniques and uses of Krav Maga

Content Areas

Toolbox

Krav Maga

The Basic Tenents of Krav Maga

The Basic Principles

The History of Krav Maga

Videos of Krav Maga