Krav Maga is a form of martial arts. It is considered as one of the best martial arts in the world to learn self-defense. It is often referred to as the art of staying alive. Krav Maga is an official lethal method of self-defense and survival system used by the Israeli Defense Forces.
Is Krav Maga good for self-defense? Yes, Krav Maga is one of the better martial art systems in the world for self-defense. This system is based on taking out an enemy or opponent quickly and efficiently.
What is Krav Maga?
Krav Maga is a Hebrew term, spelled as krɑːv məˈɡɑ, קְרַב מַגָּע or kʁav maˈɡa. The two words literally mean contact combat.
The fighting system was developed for and by the Israel Defense Forces. All security forces in Israel have contributed to the development of this form of martial arts in the last seventy years.
Krav Maga combines techniques used in boxing, judo, aikido, karate, and wrestling. It is a realistic fight training program that is imperative for all personnel serving in the Israel Defense Forces.
Israel also has a civilian program. The nation actually recommends all the civilians to get trained and specialized in Krav Maga.
While those who are trained in Krav Maga learn various methods of self-defense, they also become a lethal weapon.
The training makes the practitioners extremely effective at delivering strikes, kicks, elbow, knees, locks, or take-downs on attackers.
Krav Maga has been included in many training programs designed for law enforcement agencies and the armed forces of many countries around the world including the United States.
Krav has become very popular in recent decades due to its portrayal in movies and television shows. The martial art discipline featured in Blood Diamond, Collateral and more recently Skyfall.
If anyone is planning to join the military or law enforcement, then training in Krav Maga is almost imperative as it can be the difference between life and death.
Civilians or ordinary citizens should also consider learning Krav Maga. There are a plethora of benefits and some are beyond self-defense.
Is Krav Maga effective for self-defense?
Krav Maga is one of the most effective forms of self-defense in the world. Many experts consider it to be the most potent and effective form of self-defense.
Krav Maga combines defense and offense, which makes it deadlier or more powerful than other methods of self-defense.
The martial art technique prioritizes neutralizing the threat.
It is not just about avoiding an attacker or trying to endure the blows dealt by someone.
This martial art is about striking back with deadly force so you can escape the bad situation.
This training is a realistic form of self-defense.
There are many different types of martial arts that are for sport or competition. They are not as focused on self-defense or real-life survival type of fighting like Krav.
Many martial arts are good for exercise, mobility, agility, confidence, and strength. Not all martial arts training offers real-world fighting skills.
Krav Maga has one clear objective.
It is to neutralize the attacker or the threat to you or your family. This objective should be achieved as quickly as possible.
Not a sport
This form of martial art is not classified as some kind of sport. Rules do not apply and there is no regulatory body, although training centers offer certification.
Krav Maga aims for minimum injury to your body with maximum punishment to the attacker.
Self-defense, protection, and preservation are as much the founding principles of the discipline as neutralizing the attacker and doing it fast.
Krav Maga training
Krav Maga does not complicate self-defense, unlike some other martial arts that have complex movements and patterns.
There are many different moves in Krav Maga.
- Strikes
- Kicks
- Blocks
- Joint locks
- Chokes
- Takedowns
- Knees
- Elbows
There are preset moves but all of them have been developed bearing in mind the real-world impact of such moves or techniques.
Krav Maga uses continuous motion. There is a kind of explosion of violence.
One of the reasons why this is so effective as a method of self-defense is the violent outburst of blocks, holds, and strikes of the practitioner.
Attackers who are not aware of their victim being trained in this form of martial art are often taken aback, mostly by surprise and also by the brute force of the response. This method is based on simultaneous offense and defense.
No single move exists in isolation. One move that is meant to block an attacker is also a technique to facilitate a blow or strike.
Krav Maga explores the vulnerable parts of the human body and targets those areas when attacking.
Most martial arts do not permit moves that are considered too brutal, such as a kick in the groin, eye-gouging, and striking the throat.
These moves are not only accepted but actually encouraged in Krav Maga.
The purpose is to neutralize the threat, using whatever means necessary. This includes using any and every object or weapon that is available nearby.
Video – Learn the throat punch
Is Krav Maga good for street fighting?
Krav Maga isn’t just good but great for street fighting. The martial art is extremely effective and efficient. It is rooted in the real world, completely adept at actual situations people are likely to face.
It is strictly meant to train a person to survive in whatever scenario one finds oneself in. Krav Maga has actually evolved from street fighting.
Imi Lichtenfeld was the earliest contributor to the creation of this form of martial art. Lichtenfeld was an Israeli-Hungarian martial artist who had extensive experience in street fighting.
Imi was also a trained wrestler and boxer.
He spent a long time defending Jewish people at Bratislava in Czechoslovakia during the thirties against the fascist groups tormenting Europe.
Imi migrated to Israel in the forties and developed what later came to be known as Krav Maga.
Krav Maga uses techniques derived from street fighting, wrestling, boxing, karate, judo and other forms of martial arts.
Since there is no dependence on any specific type of weapon or tool, there is no expected perfect setting,
Krav Maga is one of the most effective methods of street fighting.
Is Krav Maga a good workout?
Krav Maga is a wonderful workout. The training will help you maintain a healthy body, control of your body, strength, balance, agility, and flexibility.
Regular training of this style of martial arts has a holistic effect on the entire body and the mind.
Krav Maga boosts:
- Awareness
- Confidence
- Self-esteem
- Strength
- Endurance
- Agility
It also helps in day-to-day life as practitioners tend to have better form and posture.
Krav Maga boosts blood circulation, strengthens the heart, improves the heart, enhances lung capacity, and also improves breathing.
Can you learn Krav Maga at home by yourself?
You can learn Krav Maga at home but you will need some online-training and video tutorials to master the martial art. The three fundamentals of this method of self-defense are blocks, holds and striking.
There are some basic moves you must learn in Krav.
- Palm strike
- Groin kick
- How to stand to fight
- Basic punches and how to punch
- Basic kicks like stepping side kick
- Elbow strikes
Learning to punch may look rather easy but it is not so easy to do it right. Many peoples punching skills are very weak because they have never been trained. Throwing a haymaker is not proper punching.
Stepping sidekick is an effective move when the attacker is beside you. This move can help you to get away and establish some distance between you and the attacker.
A stepping sidekick requires crossing your leg towards the attacker and then you shift your weight, twist the hips a little. You then kick the threat on the shin, knee, or abdomen with your heel.
A palm strike uses the palm instead of the fist. The palm strike is better than the uppercut punch if you are hitting the skeletal parts of the human body. Aiming a palm strike at the neck or head can be very effective.
Broken ribs in the Toughman contest
I used the sidekick in a tough man contest when I was in my twenties. The guy I was fighting was 30 pounds bigger than me and very good at boxing.
My opponent could not kick he was only a boxer. During the second round, I threw a sidekick and hit him square in the ribs. The fight was only three rounds and I lost on points since this guy was the best boxer in the contest.
The next night I went back to watch my friend who had advanced to the next round. The guy I fought showed up so we talked and I told him he needs to do well since he beat me. He told me his ribs were killing him and he was thinking of going to the hospital.
My friend’s dad worked with the guy that beat me and he told us the guy had 3 broken ribs after getting x-rays. If you do these techniques the right way they work.
How long does it take to get good at Krav Maga?
This is a difficult question to answer and depends on you. For some, 3 months can be more than sufficient. For many, it would take a year or more.
It depends on your present state of health, athleticism, and workout routine. Familiarity with any form of martial arts, wrestling, or boxing would speed up the training.
There are seven levels of expertise in Krav Maga, known as patches or belts.
These are 5 levels in Krav Maga.
- 1st Level – Can take 4 months or more depending on your training.
- 2nd Level – 6 months or longer to get good.
- 3rd Level – 9 months or more
- 4th Level – Another 9 months or more for this level
- 5th Level – minimum 12 months
Conclusion
Krav Maga is an excellent martial art for self-defense. It does not take long to pick up enough skills to defend yourself if attacked.
Anyone can learn this system of self-defense.
You may want to take the training online like the free training we offer. The cost to train online is far less expensive than going to a Krav Maga school.