It’s one thing to learn about Israeli Krav Maga and it’s another to walk in its path. Therefore, in an ongoing quest to bring consistency and authentic knowledge to the Krav Maga, David Kahn has assembled the following glossary of terms.
It’s important to note that while some defenses, tactics and scenarios will seem to be identical to those of other marital arts — all are unique. No one marital discipline should be compared or a fighting style’s respective effectiveness be seen as transferable from one to another. All disciplines (when taught properly) are unique in the way they are executed, drilled, and how they are used ‘in the moment.’ Lastly, this glossary will allow you to better understand and explore Krav Maga’s intricacies. Nothing will better prepare you than training properly with the right tools and instruction.
Active Shooter: Someone using a firearm to actively shoot unsuspecting people (usually civilians). Motivations may be personal, a sense of injustice, politically, and/or religiously motivated.
Active Stabber: Someone using an edged weapon to actively stab or slash unsuspecting people (usually civilians). Motivations may be personal, a sense of injustice, politically, and/or religiously motivated.
Fear arms the body to physically survive by providing protection to internal organs and a force multiplier (through adrenaline) for defensive actions. The body is adrenalized causing vasoconstriction while blood pressure increases. Hormones are immediately injected: adrenaline/nor-epinephrine and cortisol. Blood sugar levels spike along with elevated heart rate to increase blood flow for increased physical exertion capability, The body’s immune system is thrown into high gear. Endorphins are released to temporarily mitigate pain. Hormone levels (cortisol) are affected by high stress, impairing memory. Hence, the importance of an instinctive/conditioned response for self-defense. Instinctive (re)action harnesses adrenaline.
Alan Feldman (senior Krav Maga blackbelt) is one the original martial arts instructors who received a scholarship to train in Israel in an intensive program to harvest American instructors. Alan began teaching Krav Maga in the Philadelphia area in 1981. Alan is certified by the ministry of education in Israel and is one of the highest ranking American instructors. Training directly under Krav Maga founder, Imi Lichtenfeld, and his top ranked instructors, Alan has taught thousands of civilians in numerous schools, colleges, organizations, and agencies in addition to founding the first privately owned Krav Maga school. A member of the Israeli Krav Maga Association and recognized as a senior black belt instructor, Alan is committed to the proper expansion of the system in the U.S. and around the world and has qualified several American instructors. Over the years Alan was featured in many publications and was most recently interviewed by NBC Channel 3 News, Philadelphia.
Surprising an opponent.
Five elements comprised within:
A key tenet of Krav Maga is to attack whatever targets the opponent presents. The kravist learns to laser in on these anatomical targets of opportunity. Within the range of possible targets are anatomical points that yield especially effective results—maximum effect. Some of Krav Maga’s emphasized anatomical targets:
The Arimi “clothesline” strike is a powerful inner forearm strike using the radial bone targeting the opponent’s throat, neck, or nose.
For ground survival Israeli Krav Maga uses a few simple armbars that enable a kravist to dislocate an opponent’s elbow or worse. To damage or break a joint, you simply force the joint in a direction it is not evolutionarily designed to go. Joints move in six basic directions, including extension, flexion, supination, pronation, adduction and abduction. To inflict maximum damage with an armbar, place as much distance as possible between the applied force (one’s grip) and the fulcrum (one’s inner thigh). The opponent’s arm is the lever. The goal is to damage the opponent’s elbow ligaments and tendons by forcing the elbow joint to bend beyond its natural anatomical limits. A forcibly applied Straight Armbar stands a strong chance of dislocating the elbow.
The Israeli Krav Maga curriculum places heavy emphasis on the ability to recognize, avoid, and/or preempt physical conflicts. Developing recognition of pre-violence indicators along with impending attacks is instrumental to Krav Maga. The obvious and best solution is to remove yourself from the situation before an impending attack can take place. Generally, human behavior is overwhelmingly predictable. Therefore, you must identify what are normal human behavior patterns and what are anomalous behavior displays. Someone, for example, constantly looking over his shoulder should merit enhanced scrutiny. Or, as another example, an unknown person trying to subtly get close to you warrants immediate attention. Further, you need to distinguish what is crucial information versus what is non-crucial.
[0] – Definition forthcoming
[-1] – Definition forthcoming
[-2] – Definition forthcoming
[-3] – Definition forthcoming
[-4] – Definition forthcoming
[-5] – Definition forthcoming
Related to a Hammerfist, a fighter uses an outside clubbing movement to strike the opponent either with the fleshy underside of the fist or, alternatively, with the top two knuckles of a fist’s backside.
The ability to maintain one’s balance or stability along with fluid movement.
The defender should remain on the balls of the feet to move in any direction from any kind of stance.
When delivering a straight or roundhouse kick, the padding of the foot by curling the toes upward is used to make impact.
When delivering a kick, this is the leg used to pivot and slide to generate power while supporting the body upright.
An opponent wraps his arms around the defender’s torso or both arms and torso from the rear or the front effectively hugging the defender.
Level 1: Yellow Belt — Approved testing after nine months*
Core fundamental expectations** for yellow belt students are as follows (but not limited to):
Level 2: Orange Belt — Approved testing after 24 months
Core fundamental expectations* for orange belt students are as follows (but not limited to):
Level 3: Green Belt — Approved testing after 36-42 months
Core fundamental expectations* for green belt students are as follows (but not limited to):
Level 4: Blue Belt — Approved testing after 60-66 months
Core fundamental expectations* for blue belt students are as follows (but not limited to):
Level 5: Brown and Black Belt — Approved testing for brown belt 96 months and blackbelt invitation only
Complete understanding of* for brown and black belt students are as follows (but not limited to):
*Testing approval is different for everyone and is highly dependent upon attendance, aptitude, attitude and overall proficiency
**In all circumstances per belt there are (literally) hundreds of additional moves; tactics; mindsets and programming (many of which are the intellectual property of the IKMA) that we insist upon. Shown here is a base foundation for glossary education only. In most all cases of these core fundamentals there’s the defense to each taught per belt rank.
Redbelt — The highest krav maga rank (Grandmaster) currently held by Grandmaster Haim Gidon
For optimum effect, cant one’s head to use the incisors to tear the attacker’s flesh. Biting may be the default tactic when you are choked or grabbed in such a way that no other combative is available. Remember, the Krav Maga curriculum emphasizes using whatever means are at one’s disposal to defeat an attack.
Boaz Aviram is the third in lineage of Israeli Defense Force Fighting Fitness Academy Krav Maga instructors, specializing in teaching the most advanced Krav Maga applications to special operations units, and conducting Krav Maga Instructor’s training program certification. He has taught security personnel of the Israel Aviation Authority, as well as numerous US and European federal and local law enforcement agencies. He is certified by Israel’s Wingate National Sports Institute as a Krav Maga Senior Instructor, and a coach.
Evading an attack (usually a strike of some sort) by moving one’s body away or off the line. Note, a body defense does not involve a deflection of an attack.
The Body Shovel Punch targets the stomach or internal organs. The hip rotation is similar to a straight punch.
As you strike, move the entire body in concert to use one’s entire torso. As you propel all of one’s strength and body weight through the strike, you’ll maximize one’s strike’s impact.
Brace/Brakes: A position on the ground where the defender rolls slightly onto his side to place his bottom leg’s heel on the opponent and his top leg’s shin to push the opponent away to create distance or kick the opponent. The position prevents the opponent from gaining a mount or maneuvering between the defender’s legs (sexual assault.)
Imi Lichtenfeld’s home town where he began to develop Krav Maga.
Exhale as you deliver the strike. Some people like to use a blood-curdling cry as they strike. Either technique—the cry or exhale–will prepare one’s body for both delivering a strike and receiving a strike. Exhaling facilitates oxygen transfer to one’s muscles, tempers one’s movements to keep you in control, and creates a vacuum to defend against a counter-strike.
The Bucket Takedown or Te Guruma is a potent takedown that allows you to strike the opponent’s groin from the rear, while dropping him face down onto the ground. This technique can be used as a follow-up to many techniques, including an outside block against a hook or the sliding punch defense.
Learn one elemental technique at a time and then build on it over time.
Krav Maga defenses against carjackers with firearms follow the system’s core disarming principles. A few essential scenarios begin to develop the Krav Maga practitioner’s training development. The key is to react and disarm having exited the vehicle and at the opportune time.
A wrist takedown forcing an adversary’s wrist to move against its natural range of motion usually combined with tsai-bake for added power. Cavaliers are designed to use your powerful hip muscle groups and body weight to torque an opponent’s wrist to take him down while establishing strong control over the weapon for removal. There are two types of cavaliers frequently used in Krav Maga. Cavaliers are preceded by retzev combatives against the assailant including full force strikes to the groin, neck, eyes and other vulnerable opportunistic targets.
In Krav Maga parlance, there are two types of Choke Holds, known respectively as “air chokes” and “blood chokes.”
Krav Maga emphasizes instantaneous chokehold releases by relying on the body’s natural instincts to immediately pluck at a choking implement which is combined with a simultaneous or near simultaneous counter-attack.
Krav Maga’s choke defenses build on instinct and are particularly illustrative of Imi’s practical approach to self-defense. Most people, for example, will reach for their throats when choking on a piece of food. Similarly, if a garment is too tight around one’s neck, you will automatically pull down on the constricting material to give one’s self breathing room.
Krav Maga’s choke defenses again build on instinct and are particularly illustrative of Imi’s practical approach to self-defense.
Krav Maga’s choke defenses again build on instinct and are particularly illustrative of Imi’s practical approach to self-defense.
The Chop is a strong combative that can be utilized on whatever opening one’s opponent gives you, especially the carotid artery, windpipe, throat, neck, and nose. It may also be employed to target internal organs such as the kidneys, spleen, and liver.
There are two basic types of chops:
Chop Front and Rear Chop Combinations: A highly effective combination involves an Outside Chop followed by an immediate Inside Chop targeting the same anatomy point.
In a superior clinch position, one opponent can trap the opposing opponent’s head and torso making both attack and defense difficult while maintaining his own combative options, primarily elbows, short uppercuts and hook and shovel punches, knee strikes to the groin and midsection (especially switching knees and roundhouse knee shots), locks, chokes, takedowns, and throws.
Clampdown: Locking down the opponent’s arm or wrist.
Defenses against a clinch attempt, especially, when the attacker is trying to secure the defender’s head and deliver knee strikes.
Clawing: Using the fingers to scratch or gouge an opponent’s eye(s).
If you are attacked unexpectedly by a hail of incoming blows to one’s head, one’s instinctive reaction will be protect one’s self by raising one’s arms to one’s head. Krav Maga builds on this natural reaction.
Any manner of strike, takedown, throw, joint lock, choke, or other offensive fighting movement.
Compound kicks use the same kicking leg epitomize economy of motion by harnessing the momentum from one kick and using it instantaneously to launch another kick.
Nonviolent conflict avoidance is always the best solution. Becoming an accomplished observer helps you resolve a situation before it fully evolves or gets out of hand. By constantly surveying your locale and its dynamics, you will notice at all times who and what surrounds you.
Walking away from a confrontation is a test of mental discipline and moral fiber. For example, if a situation involves someone taunting you, attempting to embarrass you, or assert social hierarchy, take the sensible action and walk away. Should one (correctly) walk away, be sure to disengage with a heightened sense of potential confrontation awareness. Until you are safe, continue to maintain both a mental and physical preparedness to spring into action. Extricating yourself from a potentially violent situation is both wise and pragmatic for myriad reasons including avoiding potential injury to you, your family, and to avoiding criminal and civil liability proceedings.
Use common sense, basic precautions, and a confident demeanor to minimize your chances of being targeted and assaulted. Notwithstanding these preventive measures, accept the possibility of violence targeting you. There are several types of violence including social, criminal, sociopathic, and professional. Statistically, you are most likely to face the first or second categories, social or criminal, respectively. Terrorism usually falls into a blend of the latter two categories. While you need not live in fear, denial is the most common obstacle to taking appropriate action. This is why you must be prepared if you must face down a violent situation. Sharpen your mental and physical skills so you can implement them without thinking.
Krav Maga uses nine different control hold-variations. These are usually preceded by a combative distraction or retzev to thwart the opponent’s ability to resist or undermine the hold.
Right or Left Cross: A straight punch thrown from the rear hand or arm farthest way from the opponent (as opposed to a Lead Punch).
IKMA United States Chief Instructor — FULL DEFINITION HERE
One’s attacker’s dead side, in contrast to the attacker’s live side, places you behind the attacker’s near shoulder or facing the attacker’s back. You are in an advantageous position to counterattack and control the attacker because it is difficult for the attacker to use the attacker’s far arm and leg to attack you. You should always move to the dead side when possible. This also places the attacker between you and any additional third-party threat.
Once committed to a fight, one’s goal is to put one’s self in a dominant position. Never turn one’s back to one’s opponent in any type of fight situation, especially if this puts you face down on the ground, the worst possible position. From this position the back of one’s head and neck are exposed to attack. Nearly as dangerous is if the opponent secures you from behind or “takes one’s back” with his legs pincered around one’s torso or a body triangle clamp where he folds one leg under a knee creating a “figure 4” As with deadside position in a standing fight, optimally you will a side-mount or rear-mount position in a ground fight.
Defense: An active tactic to thwart, block, deflect or ward off an attack.
Be both decisive and quick in responding to a violent encounter. Do whatever is necessary to overcome a dangerous threat.
Deflect-redirect: To parry or misdirect and attack.
Specific weapons designed as tools to kill and maim (firearms, edged weapons, impact weapons, etc.)
Krav Maga uses its principal choke defenses, with modifications, to counter chokes and drowning attempts. A fundamental tenet of ground fighting applies to a drowning situation if the opponent is able to take one’s back: at all costs you must prevent this from happening.
Any designated knife or type of blade or, alternatively, a weapon of opportunity such as a broken beer bottle. Any type of edged weapon that can be used to puncture or slash a person.
Any and every advantage is required to defend against a determined assailant using an edged weapon. A significant number of the population worldwide carries folding edged weapons or some other type of cutting instrument. Kitchen knives are accessible to just about anyone bent on doing harm. Never underestimate the harm an amateur, yet, nevertheless determined attacker can inflict — let alone someone skilled in edged weapons use. Essentially, anyone with a edged weapon in his or her hand could be a deadly threat, particularly if they have no compunction about getting “up close and personal.”
Slashing to the jugular and major arteries is usually fatal, but lacerations to the other parts of the body are generally not. Thrusting wounds are far more dangerous. Puncture wounds of more than 1.2 inches can produce instant shock and seriously damage or shut down internal organs.
It is likely that you will get cut. Of course, try to prevent wounds to your eyes, neck torso, and major arteries. Nevertheless, whatever injuries you might sustain, relentlessly pursue your defense and counter-attacks to end the threat. In short, the longer the edged weapon attack continues, the more your chances or surviving it diminish. Once you successfully defend and neutralize the threat, you must immediately think about triage. Seek professional help right away, and if not available, administer self-triage.
Regardless of the defense you use, even if you are slashed or stabbed, you must continue to fight. In training you will probably get “nicked”, slashed or stabbed. Obviously, the goal is to improve your skill set to avoid being wounded at all let alone fatally slashed or stabbed. Again, if your defense is imperfect and you are stabbed or wounded, it is imperative that you press your defense and counterattack. Remember, you’ll fight as you train, so, try to train, as you’ll fight. If you no longer resist, your attacker will likely continue to administer wounds that will, no doubt, be fatal. Puncture wounds initially feel like strikes and slashes might not be evident until you see your own blood.
Note that Krav Maga defenses against a edged weapon, broken bottle, or syringe are principally all the same, however, the removal techniques from the assailant’s grip may differ. Absorb the principals and apply them against variations not covered using good common sense along with a little trial and error if necessary.
This technique tells a would-be assailant that you are trained, hence, its name “educational defense.” The educational defense attacks the hollow of one’s opponent’s neck, one of the most vulnerable areas of the body when it can be reached.
When securing an edged weapon or firearm held by an assailant and pinning it against the his body, the defender moves to the assailant’s deadside creating an angle between the defender’s arm and assailant’s arm where the tips of their respective elbows touch or “kiss.” The defenders’ forearm and assailant’s gun arm create a “V” by the underside of one’s forearm pressing against the topside of the assailant’s forearm.
Elbow Strikes: Elbow Strikes are powerful short range combatives making impact just below the elbow tip (for Elbows #1, #4 #8) or, alternatively, just above the elbow tip (Elbows #2, #3, #5, #6, #7). For maximum power the hips and torso must “explode” through the strike by pivoting/moving on the balls of the feet. It is crucial to understand that while Elbow Strikes are short range combatives, for maximum effect, they require long movements or maximum reach.
Short Movements: A short movement (the opposite of an optimum Long Movement) is an undesirable shortening of the body when using a deflection or strike. In other words, the defender is not extending through the movement and thereby not properly engaging the hips by usually not pivoting on the balls of the feet.
Long Movement: An optimum movement (the opposite of an undesirable Short Movement) where the body is extends at optimum or maximum effective range by properly engaging the hips and pivoting on the balls of the feet.
Krav Maga Founder — FULL DEFINITION HERE
The same distance. This term is usually used when referring to footwork when one foot steps a certain distance the opposite footsteps an equal distance to keep the body in balance with a strong fighting platform intact.
Escape: Used in a traditional sense to denote fleeing from a situation or, alternatively, a tactic where one fighter “escapes” or maneuvers to avoid a lock or other type of attack.
Escape methods are a vital and significant part of the Krav Maga curriculum. Escape is your second choice when avoidance and de-escalation fail. Escape is different from avoidance as the aggressor has already begun his actions and you are actively fleeing.
Evade: To avoid, slip away, or use a body defense to thwart an attack.
Forcibly jamming a finger (usually the thumb) into an opponent’s eye socket to damage or dislodge the eyeball.
You can also strike the eyes with one’s thumbs, penetrating the eye socket. This combative is certainly one of the most brutal and visceral in the Krav Maga arsenal. Use one’s opponent’s cheekbone as a guide to strike with one’s palm heel and then insert the thumb. Krav Maga’s rule of thumb (pardon the pun): if you can find the cheekbone, you can find the eye.
A cervical neck lock orchestrated from the rear when taking an opponent’s back.
Control of the assailant’s head can work against any weapon, however, a handgun could be redirected at you, so you must be both diligent careful to control the weapon as well. Controlling the assailant’s head creates dominant control. Generally, if you control his head, you control his body.
How to fall down properly whether by accident or if you are taken down or thrown.
Farside Leg: Leg farthest from the opponent.
Feints deceive one’s opponent of one’s true intention and force him to react using an improper defense as you follow through with the actual combative. They can be difficult to master, but devastating to one’s opponent if employed properly. The key is to sell the feint by using one fluid movement instead of two. You convince one’s opponent you are going to do one combative, but, instead you do another.
Figure 4: Configuring the arms to wrap around an opponent’s target limb (choke or joint lock) or body or the legs to wrap around the opponent’s torso. The arms or legs of the person performing the choke or lock contort or resemble the number “4”.
A lock or control hold securing an opponent’s arm, torso or ankle to exert pressure. The control hold is enabled by using both of one’s arms on the joint of the wrist, shoulder, or tendon of an opponent. A legs figure 4 may also be applied to an opponent’s torso by hooking one leg across the torso and securing it in the crook of the other leg’s knee.
Finger Eye Claws and Rakes to the eyes can disable an opponent quickly and effectively. The eyeball can be collapsed with minimum pressure and easily scratched. Blinding or partially blinding an attacker sets up retzev follow-up strikes to end a confrontation quickly.
Finger manipulations and breaks are easy to learn. As with all joints, the fingers follow a natural articulation. When forced out of their natural articulation great discomfort ensues. Enough force will disable a finger’s movement by dislocation or break.
(see also Handgun Defenses and Rifle Defenses): If someone pulls a gun on you and does not shoot, he or she wants something. It is possible that he or she may still shoot you, but, not before achieving a desired ends. When possible, compliance with the gunman’s demands is the best solution. Compliance, however, is not always possible; especially, if your instinct tells you the gunman intends you bodily harm no matter what. Of course, carefully consider your options and course of action. Again, there may be situations in which attempting a disarm is impossible and you must comply with the gunman’s wishes.
Firearms are often referred to in Krav Maga parlance as “hot weapons.”
If you decide there is no choice but to disarm an assailant you must follow the four pillars of Krav Maga’s firearm defenses:
There are five distances Krav Maga classifies for firearm disarm attempts:
The brain slows down when processing several stimuli or engaged in two thought processes. If you must disarm an assailant brandishing a weapon – in this case a firearm – the most opportune time to act is when the assailant is distracted. He or she may be giving you an order or responding to your entreaty not to harm you. You might also spit in the assailant’s face or use another distraction such as throwing loose change, keys or anything else that is handy to initiate the disarm. Keep in mind, if you do attempt to disarm the assailant, he or she now considers you a deadly threat and will fight as if his or her life is at stake.
Firearms are ergonomically designed for the operator – not someone trying to take the weapon away, especially, if the operator has a two handed vice grip on it. Therefore, whenever possible, you must move deep to the assailant’s deadside. In nearly every instance, the firearm will discharge as you deflect-redirect it because of the assailant’s reflexive flinch-trigger-pull-response. Do not worry about this. Your deflection-redirection hand will not get hurt. Prioritize securing the weapon while simultaneously debilitating your assailant with combatives to the throat, groin, eyes and other secondary targets. As always, your Krav Maga must be decisive and brutally efficient. In addition, you need to secure the firearm in the best possible way reducing the chances of bystanders being shot.
Keep in mind that the assailant’s immediate instinctive or “flinch” response will be to retract his gun and pull the trigger. Therefore, your strategy must also incorporate “time in motion.” Time in motion is the movement pattern where the firearm (or any other type of weapon) is likely to end up as a result of your deflection-redirection and the assailant’s reflexive response. Once again, the need to move deep to the deadside is evident to keep yourself clear of the weapon’s line of fire..
There are two types of handguns, revolvers and semi-automatics, with the latter much more in circulation these days. A revolver uses a rotating cylinder to cycle the next round into the chamber while a semi-automatic uses a spring loaded clip that pushes another round into the chamber as the previous round is ejected. A revolver usually holds 5-8 rounds while a semi-automatic can hold from 8-17 rounds of ammunition. Some high capacity magazines can hold more than 17 rounds. If you disarm a gunman by securing the barrel and his finger is on the trigger, a semi-automatic handgun is likely to discharge.
Krav Maga frontal handgun defenses secure the slide preventing the ejection of the spent round rendering the gun temporarily inoperable. In the case of a revolver, securing it at the trigger guard while wrapping the hand around the cylinder can prevent it from cycling a new round as well. It is best to work with an expert to educate yourself on the firearms operations, especially, to learn how to clear the weapon and make it operational. This ability could be crucial after you have disarmed the assailant and created distance (more about this shortly.) You should learn how to “tap and rack” a handgun to ready it for use or put it “in battery.” When a firearm is not operational, it is called “out of battery.”
Fish hooking: Forcing one of the five digits in an opponent’s eye to yank back on the eyeball.
Flying knee: A (blackbelt or expert level) straight knee strike where the defender jumps on the forward leg to leap at the opponent targeting the knee strike at the opponent’s head using the same leg he initiated the leap.
Counter-attack the vulnerable areas of the one’s opponent’s body including the groin, eyes, and throat.
A borrowed military term, a force multiplier refers to a factor or a combination of factors that increases (hence, “multiplies”) the effectiveness of fighting tactics the ability to accomplish greater fighting efficacy than without it.
Foreleg: The shinbone used to strike or create a barrier to stop an opponent from gaining a tactical position on the ground. (Please see also Brakes/Brace definition).
An essential Krav Maga defensive position on the ground whereby the defender rolls onto his/her side using placing the bottom leg heel and top leg shin against an opponent to kick/gain separation the opponent while not allowing the opponent to gain a Mount or inside the Guard position.
The essential Foreleg Brace where the defender turns on one side to prevent the attacker from mounting or pummeling the defender with upper body attacks. By turning on one’s side, insert one’s top foreleg and knee between you and the attacker to keep her/him at bay as you deliver combatives such as eye gouges and throat strikes. The “brakes” technique disengages you from an attacker who is trying to spread one’s legs or mount you but it can also serve as snare to catch and trap the opponent for transitions into Straight Armbars (and Triangle Chokes, the next technique presented).
The Foreleg Brace also allows transitions into Triangle Choke Holds. Surviving on the ground sometimes means maiming or strangling the enemy.
See: BALANCE
Whether standing or prone, allow you to simultaneously defend and attack leading to seamless combative transitions essential to retzev. The key to evasion is moving out of the “line of fire” or the path of an opponent’s offensive combatives. Positioning oneself to counterattack one’s opponent more easily than he can attack you is most advantageous.
This highly effective defense involves torquing the attacker’s neck using a one hundred and eighty degrees (“tai sabake”) body turn placing enormous pressure on the opponent’s neck as you use one’s turning hips and body weight against the opponent’s neck while securing one of his legs with one’s own leg. This is otherwise known as a neck crank.
Hebrew world for a sliding movement on the balls of one’s feet to carry one’s entire body weight forward and through a combative strike to maximize its impact.
A control hold that forces the opponent’s wrist at a 90 degree angle while trapping his elbow against one’s torso or the ground to create compliance pressure on the wrist.
Ground and Pound: When a fighter mounts or straddles and opponent to pummel him with upperbody strikes.
The ground side headlock or kesa katame is a hold that establishes a good base by exerting tremendous pressure on an opponent’s cervical vertebrae while also setting up an opponent for retzev ground combatives.
A position on the ground where the defender is kneeling on the ground and the opponent secures the defender between the opponent’s legs with the opponent’s back to the ground. In the Open Guard, the opponent does not cross his legs across the defender’s back. In the Closed Guard, the opponent crosses his legs across the defender’s back. The Z Guard is another name for a defender Brace/Brakes ground positioning of the legs while on his side. (A position on the ground where the defender rolls slightly onto his side to place his bottom leg’s heel on the opponent and his top leg’s shin to push the opponent away to create distance or kick the opponent. The position prevents the opponent from gaining a mount or maneuvering between the defender’s legs [sexual assault.])
An air choke where one fighter traps the opponent’s head and neck facedown to apply pressure to the windpipe using the radial bone.
A deflection or absorption of an incoming strike by bending one’s elbow to touch one’s bicep to one’s forearm. The angle of deflection depends on the strike. For example, to defend against a hook punch or roundhouse kick to the head, position the elbow to cover one’s head with the back of one’s arm parallel to the ground with the elbow tip facing slightly outward. The gunt may also be used to defend against knee attacks by jamming the attacker’s knee with the tip of the elbow.
An elite self-defense organization established in Palestine prior to Israel’s founding in 1948. Also the Hebrew word for “defense.”
Tenth dan and Israeli Krav Maga Association president — [FULL DEFINITION HERE]
Similar to the straight punches, this technique best targets the nose, jaw, or throat. Make contact with the first two knuckles, while maintaining proper wrist alignment. The only difference between a Straight Punch is the angle of the punch, as the elbow is slightly bent all the way through the punch to the point of making contact. The punch allows for you to counter-attack from an “off-angle.”
Hammerfist: An upperbody strike when a fighter uses the fleshy underside of a closed fist to strike.
Hand Defenses against Edged Weapons: Hand defenses are used when (1) the assailant closes the distance; (2) the defender is in a close quarters combat situation; (3) or the defender is surprised by the attack. In other words, you do not recognize the attack early enough to use leg defenses, find yourself in a confined space where leg defenses are not an option, or burst directly into the incoming edged weapon. All Krav Maga weapon defenses, when possible, move off the line of attack combined with defense and attack.
Here are the typical “hands against knife” defenses taught in the curriculum:
Hand and Elbow Groin Strikes are highly effective follow-up strikes to the perpendicular rear elbow, or independent strikes in their own right. Use this strike to target one of the body’s most sensitive areas. One option to strike the groin is using a cupped hand. One may strike a forward, side, or rear-facing opponent. Groin strikes are highly effective against the popular Mixed Martial Arts and Jiu-Jitsu mount and guard positions, if you defend immediately.
The ability to fight with both arms and legs in a coordinated fashion (the foundation of retzev continuous combat motion.)
Hand range defenses are used when the attacker is closer and the defender recognizes the assault with enough time to intercept or deflect the attack. Similar to leg range defenses, the key is using proper timing, target selection, and moving on both balls of your feet to drive your body mass through the aggressor’s targeted anatomy.
Haymaker: A looping hook attack generally thrown by an untrained fighter though the term is occasionally used in fight sports.
A strike using the head targeting the opponent’s eye orbit, temple, nose or chin (not the teeth).
Headbutts can be a highly effective counterattack, especially when you smash one’s opponent’s face by surprise. Targets include the opponent’s temple, chin, and nose.
A simple raised elbow parallel to the ground puts a formidable obstacle and deterrent to one’s opponent delivering a head butt. It also provides you with the ability to strike
The Heel Stomp is a simple and highly effective combative targeting the top of the attacker’s foot or other exposed areas such as the groin, head, and throat (in a deadly force encounter), ribs, kidneys or hands. Note, you can also strike his Achilles if he is kneeling, which will likely hobble him.
To defend against a high sidekick to the head, one can use the inside cross parry punch defense to deflect the kick as you learned against a straight kick to the head. Alternatively, while risky, one may use a deflection underneath the kick with one’s forearm while dropping one’s torso to take one’s head below the kick (a modified #1 block from a 360 degree instinctive defense where you have different blocking positions by moving one’s arms in a defensive circle) to send it upward away from one’s head.
A maneuverable foam pad designed to be held by a training partner for punches, elbows and other upper-body strikes. (See Resources for recommended products.)
Handgun Defenses (also see Firearm Defenses): Here are the typical handgun defense variations:
A grappling or typical street hold when an assailant wraps his arms around the defender’s head or neck usually from the side forcing the defender’s head towards the ground.
One’s back is to the ground with one’s opponent is pincered between one’s legs which are hooked at the ankles.
Hiptoss: Hip throw (usually Ogoshi)
Hook Punches are powerful and can circumvent an opponent’s defense. The punch’s path follows whatever opening or vulnerability one’s opponent gives you. Targets usually include the jaw, cheek, throat, and ear. Krav Maga uses the sub-terms Front Hook and Rear Hook to denote which arm is delivering the punch from an outlet stance.
The one-two Front-Rear Hook Punch Combination takes advantage of the momentum of one’s body. Begin in one’s regular outlet stance with one’s hands protecting one’s face. Deliver a front roundhouse strike. Then, immediately follow up with a rear roundhouse punch.
The Body Hook Shot combative delivers a roundhouse punch to the torso, primarily targeting the kidneys, liver, and floating ribs.
Firearms
The Horizontal Palm Heel Strike is a highly effective strike to the temple, ears and jaw. This strike is particularly useful, as it uses an open hand, thereby minimizing the danger to one’s knuckles and wrist. In addition, the strike can (and should) be delivered without telegraphing, making it more difficult to spot, and, thus, defend.
Both anxiety and subsequent fear, when triggered in a potentially violent situation, protect the body. Adrenalized strength along with a heightened internal first-aid capability is summoned. When confronting a life-threatening situation, shock can be more of a problem than fear. Fear triggers certain automatic human responses including physical, emotional, perceptual, and cognitive—triggering the freeze/flight/fight reaction. Fear creates time and distance distortions where actions may be perceived to speed up or slow down. Fear, when transformed to panic, can also paralyze. Paradoxically, the human mind may ignore danger when the body is instinctively reacting otherwise. Cognition, or an attempt at reason may override the instinctive recognition of danger. The key is to transition immediately from surprised/fearful to a Krav Maga assault mind-set. The following are some well-documented human responses in a violent situation of which you must be aware:
Human Criminal Violence: A criminal uses violence as a physical tool to acquire valuables. Raw criminal violence is more prevalent in isolated places, which provides privacy for predators. Criminology studies underscore that criminals usually rely more on intent rather than a specific (trained) method of violence. Criminals do not operate using the same set of accepted social beliefs of their victims who respect the social contract and obey the law. The criminal predatory assault mind-set is ruthless. Some attackers view their targets as humans while other sociopath attackers can “dehumanize” or make someone an outsider thereby denying any social contract. “Dehumanizing” can pave the way for violence by distinguishing or rationalizing another person’s humanity away. The attacker need not necessarily be physically skilled. If he succeeds in stunning the victim, he can compound the damage requiring little ability other than targeting the victim’s vulnerable anatomy.
When dealing with an aggressor with an altered mind, rational rules of human behavior do not apply. One solution when dealing with a mentally impaired aggressive individual is to avoid direct eye contact while listening passively and disarmingly. Nevertheless, expect the unexpected and, accordingly, be prepared physically. A sociopath views asocial criminal violence as a useful tool. Pleading with a sociopath usually will not succeed. To counter asocial criminal violence where there may be no quarter given to you, you must break down the attacker’s body. Note: Rape can fall into both criminal and sociopathic categories.
Israel Defense Force (Hebrew abbreviation: Zahal)
Located at the Wingate Institute is Israel’s national sports institute otherwise known as “training base #8” (Bachad Shmoni)
Founded in 1978 by Imi Lichtenfeld and his top instructors, the IKMA is the original governing body for Israeli Krav Maga recognized by the Israeli government. The IKMA is headed by current Grandmaster Haim Gidon, one of Imi’s original students.
Any type of designated (baton) or improvised weapon (ex: golf club, pool cue, bottle) used to strike an opponent. Note the ground, may also be designated an impact weapon when a person crashes into it through a takedown or throw.
Impact weapon attacks can come in many forms. For example, someone can try to smash you with a baton, hammer, crow-bar, impact weapon-like object, bottle, chair and anything onsite an assailant can pick up to hit you.
The three fundamental principals are:
Attacks can come from a myriad of directions, heights, and angles in single swing attacks or multiple salvoes. Impact weapons (along with edged weapons) are often referred to in Krav Maga parlance as “cold weapons.”
Here are the typical variations taught in the Krav Maga curriculum:
(See: WEAPONS OF OPPORTUNITY] Any weapon of opportunity (as opposed to a designated weapon) that is within arm’s reach such as a pen, book, laptop computer,
In battery: An expression denoting a firearm is ready to fire (magazine is seated properly and a round is in the chamber.
An inside defense defends against an inside or straight attack. This type of attack involves a thrusting motion such as jabbing one’s finger into someone’s eye or punching someone in the nose.
Founded in 1978 by Imi Lichtenfeld, the IKMA is the original Krav Maga association now headed by Grandmaster Haim Gidon.
The IKMA has a professional committee of the highest ranked instructors to assist Grandmaster Haim Gidon in curriculum refinement and development.
An adopted Japanese term for a side headlock on the ground also know as a scarf hold.
(see: Figure 4) A grappling hold in which a contestant uses both arms to lock an opponent’s arm in a compromised bent position.
One’s lower body houses the most powerful fighting weapons that you can use at maximum fighting range. One’s knees, shin bones, and the balls of one’s feet (especially when clad in shoes) serve as hard and durable striking surfaces. When you kick or knee one’s opponent, you use one’s body’s largest muscle groups, including the gluteals, quadriceps, and hamstrings. The IDF recognized the need to use fighting techniques that would work for all trainees, especially under trying circumstances. Therefore, low kicks combined with upper body combatives became integral to Krav Maga training. When asked if Krav Maga favored kicks to the head, Imi replied, “Of course we kick to the head, but first we beat him to the ground and then we kick to the head.”
Kick combinations allow a defender to use the lower body’s powerful muscles and reach to debilitate an attacker. Targets usually include the knee, thigh, and groin. Of course, targets higher on the body are also available, including the stomach, solar plexus, chin, and face. The following four kick combinations are highly effective:
Kicks may also be combined with knee strikes, if one’s first kick does not drive the opponent back. The following five kick and knee combinations are highly effective:
(These are exercises to build the all important retzev.):
The recognition and interpretation of nonverbal body movement including facial expressions and gestures.
A large foam shield designed to be held by a training partner for kicks and knee strikes. (See Resources for recommended products.)
Kinetic energy is the measure of tissue damage you inflict on an impact area. Israeli Krav Maga emphasizes transferring both momentum and kinetic energy through a strong small robust striking point such as the first two knuckles (pointer and middle finger) of the hand, as opposed to all four knuckles. Extreme force driven through vulnerable anatomy creates injury. Combative strikes harvest the largest possible load of kinetic energy to then drive it through the opponent’s targeted anatomy. This is achieved by harnessing the body’s entire body weight to propel it using a balanced movement through the target via a combative strike. The combative strike can only be optimized when you create sound structure, as the Krav Maga combatives depicted in this book demonstrate.
Kimura: An adopted Japanese term for a lock forcing an opponent’s arm behind his back in a compromised position using a keylock hold.
See: Kick Defense
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Often used as a shortened form for Krav Maga. Krav is a Hebrew word for struggle. The Hebrew word “krav” means struggle and was first used in the Old Testament when Isaac wrestled with Gabriel, the angel of death.
A term coined by David Kahn in 2004 found in Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method—for Fitness and Self-Defense to describe a smart and prepared Krav Maga fighter.
Mind of a Kravist: In a physical confrontation, you are likely experience a combined surge of stress, fear, and excitement. Mental and physical conditioning will allow you to harness one’s adrenaline and channel it into action. Mental confidence and toughness provides a decisive advantage in a violent encounter. Hone both one’s mental and physical skills to spring into action without thinking. Only proper training can trigger this fighting response.
Specially developed modified tactics applied to American football developed by David Kahn and Al “Poodie” Carson. For more, read the [FULL DESCRIPTION HERE]
Imi emphasized good citizenship and a strong sense of morality. The following pillars of Imi’s system help summarize his teachings.
Fight positioning determines one’s tactical advantage. Optimally, a kravist or skilled Krav Maga fighter will move quickly to a superior and dominant position relative to his opponent, known in Krav Maga parlance as the deadside
This defense becomes necessary when you do not recognize an incoming low roundhouse kick early enough to defend it otherwise and must absorb the kick.
One of Krav Maga’s essential parry and deflection defenses using a bent arm (approximately 70°) rotation to deflect a linear attack.
Lethality: Defensive tactics that may kill an opponent.
If avoidance, de-escalation and escape fail, the goal is never to waver about resorting to counter-violence in the face of violence. True self-defense focuses not simply on survival, but rather on how to neutralize the opponent. There is no pity or humanity in a visceral self-defense situation provided the counterforce is legally justifiable. Legally, you must be able to articulate what you did and why you did it. One’s actions must be objectively reasonable to allow for an affirmative defense, should you face legal inquiry.
Krav Maga has three core leglock combatives designed to attack the Achilles tendon, ankle and knee respectively.
Krav Maga uses two ranges in combination with body defenses to defend edged weapons attacks: “legs or hands.” Either type of defense and range usually takes the defender off the line of attack in a position to deliver strong-counterattacks, with one exception: the instinctive defense against a surprise underhand attack. As with other Krav Maga defenses, employ a block or deflection-redirection when in the hand range coupled, when possible, with a body defense, combined with effective simultaneous counterstrikes, preferably to the assailant’s throat, groin or eyes.
Here are the typical “leg defenses against knife” in the curriculum against edged weapon attacks and threats:
A straight line attack or defense
Line of Attack: The route or line a combative will travel.
Line of Fire: Where a bullet will travel or a straight line from the muzzle of the firearm.
When you are facing the front of one’s attacker and one’s attacker can both see you and use all four arms and legs against you, you are facing the attacker’s live side.
Lock/ Locking: When a fighter succeeds in immobilizing the movement of an opponent, particularly, through isolating a joint such as the shoulder, elbow, knee or even the head.
SEE: Kick Defense
Momentum is one’s weight combined with how fast one’s limb strikes. The difference between a high-momentum versus high-energy strikes is that high-momentum strikes drive an opponent backwards.
Strikes to the groin with a simultaneous hip buck to the defender’s opposite the shoulder of the groin strike
Four Preferred Krav Maga Offensive Ground Positions: These four positions assume the fight is a one on one situation and you do not fear others attacking you while you are on the ground.
Mule kick is used when the attacker grabs the defender from the rear and the defender’s leg is between the attacker’s legs. The defender simply curls the leg up to smash the attacker in his groin. Another variation of the mule kick may be used when an attacker is behind a defender and the defender curls his leg to smash the attack in the groin (different angle than between the legs variation) or in the face similar to a mule or horse rearing it’s back legs to kick at a threat.
Fighting Multiple Attackers or Opponents is a core concept and tactic within the Krav Maga curriculum. Imi was usually outnumbered and his fighting tactics were developed accordingly. When facing multiple attackers, one must only engage only one at a time using optimum combatives/movement while putting that attacker between you and any others. Inexperienced attackers, will, fortunately, group together. If you use correct tactical positioning (never between two attackers), one limits the attackers’ abilities to harm you. NOTE: there is a limitation on how many attackers can occupy the same space to get at you. In select circumstances, you may have to go through them.
Leg closest to the opponent.
Protecting one’s head, neck, and spine during a confrontation is vital. The ability to defend against choke and neck restraints is paramount in all aspects of a fight, particularly the ground phase. Two principle types of attacks:
The Half-Nelson and full-Nelson wrestling type holds are used for controlling an opponent. The Nelson holds involve an opponent’s thrusting both of his arms under one’s armpits (only one arm for the half-Nelson) and clasping them with a strong grip at the base of one’s neck. A proper hold never interlaces the fingers. Several variations of these strong holds exist. There are four principle Nelson hold releases/defenses:
A looping; in some cases unstructured; attack or defense
A passive stance or a normal standing pose where a defender is neither bladed nor has arms up in any type of protective position.
The OODA loop is the decision cycle of observe, orient, decide, and act, developed by military strategist and United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd. (READ MORE HERE]
When confronted, the mind goes through a series of steps to choose a response:
An attack angle that is not face-to-face.
Where you predetermine how one’s partner will attack and vary the attacks for example, might include practicing defenses against pre-set punch attacks. You know one’s partner is going to attack with a straight right punch to one’s head. In the next drill, one’s partner, either following the direction of an instructor or his own initiative, informs you that he will throw a right roundhouse punch to one’s head. The point is that you know what is coming.
An outside defense counters an outside attack, that is, an attack directed at you from the outside of one’s body to the inside. A slap to the face or hook punch are examples of outside attacks.
Outside Defenses against Straight “Sucker” Punches: Using an outside block or 360 degree instinctive defense, this technique deflects a straight punch delivered by an opponent standing to one’s side while you and he are facing in opposite directions.
Outside Scoop Defenses Using Hooks: This defense uses a deflection method along with a subtle retreating sidestep using one’s front arm to deflect incoming kicks to the outside (rather than the inside) while also using a body defense to get off the line. While the rear arm can also be used, it can be dangerous because the incoming kick will be too close to one’s body at that point to make an effective deflection.
Outside Scoop Deflection against Side Kick: Similar to the outside scoop deflection you used against the straight kick, you will time the defense to misdirect the opponent’s kick while delivering a devastating counter blow to his base leg knee.
Blades one’s body by turning one’s feet approximately 30 degrees to one’s right, with one’s left arm and left leg forward. (You can also turn 30 degrees to one’s right to come into a right regular outlet stance, so that one’s right leg and arm are forward.) You are resting on the balls of both of one’s feet with one’s rear foot in a comfortable and balanced position. One’s feet should be parallel with about 55% of one’s weight distributed over one’s front leg. One’s arms are positioned in front of one’s face and bent slightly forward at approximately a 60-degree angle between one’s forearms and one’s upper arms. From this stance, you will move forward, laterally, and backward moving one’s feet in concert.
The over-the-top punch is a combined sliding deflection and inverted counterpunch (usually used against a straight punch or reverse forearm, hammerfist or slash.) delivering the strike the punch to the attacker’s exposed head.
The over-the-top punch attacks one’s opponent from a slightly vertical angle, slamming down on one’s opponent’s eye socket, nose, or jaw. One’s body movement is similar to an “over-the-top elbow” where one’s striking arm moves high to low and slams down on one’s target. This strike is especially effective when you are able to trap an opponent’s forward arm with one’s forward arm to bring down his defense, while simultaneously delivering the strike to his exposed head.
When using this direct and fast strike, aim for the nose, jaw, or throat. This strike is an effective intermediate-range strike, particularly for those who are not confident in the strength of their wrists and fists to execute regular punches.
Pre-1948 and Israel War of Independence fighting unit often considered to have elite fighters in its ranks. Self-defense organization established in Palestine prior to Israel’s founding.
An elite maritime self-defense organization established in Palestine prior to Israel’s founding in 1948.
To intercept and deflect a strike (usually a punch)
At times, you may be caught by surprise while you are standing in a passive outlet stance. Most people do not stand in a regular outlet stance, but rather in a passive outlet stance when not expecting confrontation. In other words, you are standing with your feet parallel and your hands down. Of course, when possible, stand in your regular outlet stance at all times during a confrontation.
The riverboat Imi and other Jews used to escape from Slovakia. Imi steamed down the Danube through the hostile, yet unoccupied banks of Hungary, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Romania and then into the open Black Sea through the Turkish Straits. He and other refugees survived the hardships of man and nature, including a quarantine intended to starve them while marooned on the Romanian delta. Imi showed his selflessness by plunging into the water and saving a drowning child. Consequently, he developed an ear infection that would plague him throughout his journey. Upon entering the Aegean Sea, the Pentcho’s engines failed, grounding the boat on a desolate island. Imi and three other refugees took a life boat and rowed for three days. Imi’s ear infection gradually worsened and became life-threatening. A British airplane spotted them and summoned a British warship to rescue them.
Many parts of one’s body, including one’s hands, forearms, elbows, knees, shins, and head can be used as personal weapons. There is a distinct advantage in using the hard parts of one’s body such as one’s elbows, knees, and feet as weapons against one’s attacker’s vulnerable body parts. Optimized striking involves keeping the body’s muscles relaxed until just before one’s limb impacts the opponent. By making the body rigid, using a strong, balanced base a fraction of second before impact, you generate maximum speed to then instantly incorporate one’s body mass behind the strike.
Development of one’s fighting technique through retzev. Play Fighting will improve one’s coordination, stamina, and overall fighting prowess. You simple spar with one’s partner, using the techniques you know and countering the techniques one’s partner throws at you. Play Fighting is not full contact power sparring, but instead focuses on deliberate slow movements. You can increase the speed as one’s skill set improves, but keep power to a minimum.
(the act of plucking) To remove an opponent’s hand from some part of the body.
Subtle cues, “tells,” or “precipitators” observed in a potential assailant’s behavior, especially when such indicators are assessed collectively, provide an early warning indicator. In other words, recognizing someone’s preparation to perpetrate an assault such as the attacker’s (un)conscious body language (including autonomic nervous system reactions); proximity and overall behavior pattern collectively produce clues you can discern. Body markings, such as tattoos, can also suggest someone’s background, affiliation, values, attitude, and behavioral proclivities. Understanding these clues allows you to become proactive or what the U.S. Marines describe as having a “bias for action” leading to, if necessary, Krav Maga “violence of action.”
A timing attack where the defender launches his attack before the aggressor can launch his respective attack.
Against any level roundhouse kick, you may peremptorily straight kick the attacker’s groin followed by additional retzev combatives. You may also use a front roundhouse kick to sweep the attacker’s base leg with one’s front leg. It is also possible, with good timing, to launch a preemptive straight punch to the opponent’s throat, jaw, or nose at the moment one’s recognize one’s opponent winding up for the kick. Remember, however, that leg reach is usually longer than arm reach.
Aggression often begins with a one- or two-handed push. This provocation typically marks an aggressor’s attempt to assert social dominance or to goad you into a fight. Someone pushing you away may also be precipitated by your invading that person’s social space. Push defenses, as with all Krav Maga defenses, involve the all-important Krav Maga concept of simultaneous defense and attack. As the defender, your preference is to move off the line of attack, in this case, the line of the attacker’s push.
See: Human Responses (Life-Threatening Encounter): Variations
Range and distance are integral to your self-defense strategy. When defending against upper-body attacks, depending on the attacker’s distance, a kravist may choose to employ “leg defenses” or close the distance immediately by using “hand defenses.” You can kick an attacker if the attacker is in leg range or several feet away from you. Optimally, you can debilitate your attacker before the attacker can touch you, but such precision and timing is difficult. If the attacker has already closed the distance and is in physical contact with you, the attacker has entered your medium and close distance fighting ranges in which case you must use upper-body defenses and combatives.
Realistic practice improves reaction capability by allowing an immediate assessment of a violent situation and triggering a corresponding stress-simulated reaction. With proper intense training you can learn effective physical tactics, while mentally adjusting to a simulated, harsh, violent reality. Instinctive trained reactions targeting the attacker’s anatomical vulnerabilities reign supreme. In the basest, most animalistic sense—provided the circumstances are legally justifiable—the kravist, when faced with a life-threatening situation, understands how to inflict terrible, debilitating wounds against an adversary. Wounding an assailant balances power in the kravist’s favor. Accordingly, a kravist trains as if compelled to simulate breaking bones, disabling ligaments, destroying an eyeball, crushing an adversary’s windpipe, maiming, crippling, or killing.
The Straight Rear Hammerfist/Forearm Strike or combatives respectively target the nose, jaw, or throat but are done with the rear (right) arm.
The head, spine, vital organs, and groin. Red-zone strikes are designed to shock the attacker’s central nervous system and stop his movements.
A Hebrew word that means “continuous motion” in combat. Retzev, the backbone of modern Israeli Krav Maga, teaches you to move one’s body instinctively in combat motion without thinking about one’s next move. When in a dangerous situation, you will automatically call upon one’s physical and mental training to launch a seamless overwhelming counterattack using integrated combatives combined with evasive action. Retzev is quick and decisive movement merging all aspects of one’s Krav Maga training. Defensive movements transition automatically into offensive movements to neutralize the attack affording one’s attacker little time to react.
A surprise attack will force you to react from an unprepared state. Therefore, one’s self-defense reaction must be instinctive and reflexive. Krav Maga training prepares you for just that. The subconscious mind turns instinctive trained responses into immediate action.
Reversal: When one fighter reverses a difficult position to catch the opponent in a similar compromised position.
A kick using the heel or the pad of the foot to make contact to the opponent’s head or other vulnerable anatomy.
A member of the IKMA and recognized as a senior black-belt instructor, Rick is committed to the proper expansion of the system in the U.S. and around the world. – [FULL DEFINITION HERE]
The most advantageous control position on the ground, where you are behind and straddling one’s attacker (who may be faceup or facedown) with one’s legs wrapped—not crossed—around the attacker’s midsection.
(see also Firearm Defenses): Rifle/sub-machinegun (SMG) defenses are similar in concept to handgun defenses but different in execution because of the firearm’s length. Defending against a rifle/SMG threat utilizes the core Krav Maga principal of simultaneous weapon deflection-redirection and body defense movement combined with counter-attacks. A distinct difference between a rifle/SMG design and a handgun is the firearm’s length, especially if the rifle/SMG has an extended stock. Certain SMGs such as the Uzi pistol might be need to be defended using the handgun defenses covered previously. Shotguns are also included in the rifle category for our discussion purposes. Keep in mind that a shotgun’s discharge creates a wider berth of danger as the shot scatters.
Krav Maga’s rifle/SMG and bayonet type defenses adapt to threats at different heights. The following three frontal defense variations are also used to thwart a bayonet type attack. Whichever defense you use, be sure to remain clear of the muzzle while controlling it. A semi-automatic or automatic rifle/SMG will continue firing as long as the gunman activates the trigger and ammunition supply lasts. An automatic weapon can discharge thirty plus rounds in just a few seconds. Keep in mind that these rounds also endanger third parties. With Rifle/SMG disarms you are not interfering with the firing mechanism as some of Krav Maga’s handgun defenses do.
Here are the typical Rifle/SMG defenses included in the Krav Maga curriculum:
Bayonet/Sharp Elongated Weapon Defenses: Bayonet/sharp elongated weapon defenses are similar to long-gun defenses by design -reinforcing Krav Maga’s fundamental principal of learning a few core defenses to apply against a variety of attacks. Krav Maga’s bayonet defenses derive from its rifle/SMG frontal defenses. The two primary bayonet defense variations parallel frontal rifle/SMG Defenses #2 and #3 respectively.
Rifle/SMG retention, with or without a sling, uses the simple concept of turning the assailant’s force against him as he attempts to wrest the weapon away. By moving in the direction of the weapon pull, the defender’s momentum increases the power and effectiveness of the strikes. Importantly, the rifle/SMG is also turned trigger side in to break the assailant’s grip while turning the magazine into the assailant clearing the way for kicks and knee counterstrikes along with a possible strike
Violent conflict arising from a roadway incident. Unfortunately violent road rage conflict resulting from vehicular accidents or perceived slights is becoming all too common.
Rinaldo is responsible for the national rollout of Israeli Krav Maga in the United States with senior instructors Don Melnick, Chris Eckel, and Officer Al “Poodie” Carson in coordination with the Israeli Krav Maga Association. – [FULL DISCRIPTION HERE]
A series of throws where the defender goes down with the attacker, however, the attacker takes the brunt of the fall.
One’s same-side arm or leg faces one’s attacker when you are positioned opposite one another. For example, if you are directly facing one’s attacker and one’s right side is opposite one’s attacker’s left side, one’s same-side arm is one’s right arm (opposite the attacker’s left arm).
(a) Avoidance – avoiding conflict by removing oneself or steering clear of a potentially violent situation.
(b) De-escalation – verbal and/or physical cues to de-conflict or solve a possible violent confrontation by reasoning with a potential assailant.
(c) Escape: physically running away from a violent situation.
(d) Counter-violence – krav maga tactical use of violence to incapacitate an attacker.
Simultaneous combatives: As you defend using deflection and blocks, when possible use a simultaneous combative or strike. In other words, defending and counter-attacking at the same time.
Key Krav Maga principle of combining one’s defense and offense into one complete strategy.
Using footwork and body movement to take evasive action against a linear attack such as a straight punch or kick. Such movement is also referred to as breaking the angle of attack.
Sidestep: Footwork that sidesteps a linear attack or takes the defender off the line of attack.
This kick allows a defender to elevate a kick to deliver additional power. The scissors kick is delivered by the defender jumping up on the same leg that s/he intends to deliver the kick. The other leg is also “jack-knifed” up to help the defender elevate and deliver the kick. The scissors kick is most often used for a straight or roundhouse kick.
A larger step than glicha covering more distance to carry one’s entire body weight forward and through a combative strike to maximize its impact.
When defending a low roundhouse kick, the defender opens up to front leg to intercept the kick at the attacker’s foot using the defender’s shin, hence, “shin to foot.”
These are defensive solutions if someone succeeds in grabbing one’s outermost garment:
This quick punch allows you to cover a short distance to close on one’s opponent. Stand in a left outlet stance with one’s hands in loose fists. Punch as if you were connecting with a rear punch, except keep one’s pinky side of the hand facing the ground. The short inverted punch differs from the straight punch in that the knuckles are now vertical towards one’s target and the punching arm’s elbow is close the body.
Sidearm retention is a foremost concern for the law enforcement, military and lawfully armed personnel. For sidearm retention, before the assailant can grab the defender’s weapon, Krav Maga uses basic deflection-redirection defenses with an one hundred eighty-degree hip pivot to take the gun-side hip away while simultaneously striking or creating distance from the assailant. If the assailant successfully grabs the defender’s holstered weapon, the simultaneous defense and attack principal dictates that with a typical Level 3 or 4 retention holster, the defender must secure the weapon with one of his forearms or his hands or by pressing against the top rear of the slide while delivering combatives with the free arm, legs, and, possibly, headbutts. In the case of a tactical thigh rig, both hands may be needed to secure the weapon necessitating knee strikes or kicks while turning the gun leg away from the assailant while tucking the chin to protect the throat.
One’s opponent is on his back and you are sitting up with one’s legs splayed wide and one’s arm controlling his head and possibly his arm closest to you.
A strong control position (example is to one’s opponent’s right) with one’s right knee pressed to one’s opponent’s hip and left knee inline with one’s opponent’s head. The elbow closest to one’s opponent’s head should be positioned on one’s opponent’s ear. There are different options for hand placement including through the opponent’s legs for groin strikes and torso control.
One’s ability to survey and assess potential threats and situations.
Six different levels of (in descending order) of situational awareness we refer to in Israeli Krav Maga:
0: prepared to defend
-1: Alert
-2: Cautious
-3: Aware
-4: Semi-aware
-5: Ambushed
(A description created by Sergeant Major (Ret.) Nir Maman when you are initially unprepared to fight for your life)
Controlled fighting where the intent is to improve tactics, build real-time fight movements, develop the ability to absorb strikes and test one’s mettle. Note, the objective practice one’s tactics and abilities without intentionally injuring one’s partner.
Where a fighter briefly turns his back to generate torque to then attack the opponent with an upper body or lower body strike.
Southpaw: When a fighter stands with his right leg forward in an outlet stance (as opposed to the majority of right-hand dominant fighters who stand with the left leg forward.)
Outside and inside Sprawls are used when you cannot react with a leg counterattack or by sidestepping either because your reaction is late or, perhaps, the attacker feinted some kind of other attack and then moved in to take you down. Sprawling backward keeping your weight on the balls of your feet, allows you to create superior leverage, preventing the attacker from reaching your legs.
How a defender is standing or positions himself while standing against an opponent.
The standing guillotine hold, if properly applied, is a fight ender. It provides you with a multifaceted attack: you can exert a standing choke, strike with one’s knees, and take him down (with the option of a pincered guillotine choke or neck crank.) One’s opponent has few defensive options. You can put one’s opponent in this extremely vulnerable position by combatives such as a straight knee to the groin that can force his head to sink below one’s if he attacks one’s legs with a takedown or you can transition from this hold to the neck clinch.
Defending against a strike with a club or other type of elongated impact weapon.
This strike is a core upper-body combative targeting the nose, jaw, or throat.
In a civilian context, everyday interactions between people outside their homes in public settings.
Blows deliver by the limbs usually bifurcated into upperbody (punches, palm heels, eye rakes, elbow and forearm strikes) and lowerbody strikes (kicks).
Dropping one’s level to deliver a straight punch targeting the opponent’s solar plexus, stomach, groin, liver or floating ribs.
A straight “stop kick” against an opponent’s side kick using a straight kick so that one’s foot is vertical when intercepting the opponent’s kicking foot which is horizontal.
With correct timing it is possible to deliver a straight “stop kick” against and opponent’s spinning side kick. You can deliver a straight kick to one’s opponent’s buttocks to stop his spin when he turns his back to initiate the kick.
If possible, use subduing techniques to de-escalate a situation quickly.
Submission: A lock or choke where the opponent taps out to indicate defeat before being rendered unconscious or having a joint damaged.
An assailant, usually under religious or ideological pretenses, who may be highly trained, partially trained, or not trained, but, who nevertheless tries to inflict as many casualties as possible with the conviction s/he is going to die.
A Japanese term relating to “whole body movement” or tactical repositioning. Tai sabaki footwork usually involves a semicircular movement or up to a 180-degree step with one foot to move the body. It can be used to avoid an attack or to take an attacker down using a wristlock, positioning the defender in an advantageous position.
The Israeli Krav Maga curriculum incorporates several throws. Founder Imi Lichtenfeld was awarded a black belt in judo by Moshe Feldenkrais, who trained in Japan directly under the legendary Kano Jigoro. At the green-belt level (third belt level in the traditional Krav Maga curriculum) Imi incorporated several of judo’s most accessible and effective throws and takedowns.
You can put an assailant on the ground in three ways:
Any type of trip, tackle, or flip of opponent
The following are Krav Maga’s seven core Takedowns:
(Japanese Names used in Krav Maga curriculum):
Krav Maga utilizes six core defenses against a takedown from the front attempt:
(a slide-action firearm) To ensure a handgun’s functionality, one hits (taps) the bottom of the magazine to ensure it is securely seated in the handgun and then pulls back (racks) the handgun’s slight to ensure a round is seated properly in the chamber.
A signal used in sports fighting signaling one fighter submits to the other by tapping a few signs to indicate submission or the opponent gives up.
Telegraphing: Indicating, signaling, or “wiring ahead” or what a fighter wishes to do before a combative is launched (example: winding up with the shoulder foreshadowing a punch. Note: krav maga emphasizes not to telegraph hence, one expression, the hand leads the body regarding linear or straight combatives such as punches and palm heel strikes.
An underlying principle or key concept
Time in Motion: A concept of two fighter’s respective movements towards one another. Example: when parrying a straight punch, the defender must calibrate when to intercept the attacker’s incoming punch or when defending a straight stab attempt, the time and distance it takes for the attacker to retract the weapon in preparation for his next move.
Essential to a successful defense is correct timing: using the appropriate tactic at the correct time. Fight timing is harnessing instinctive body movements while seizing or creating opportunities to defend both effectively and logically. Alternatively defined, fight timing is the defender’s ability to either capitalize on a window of opportunity offered by the adversary or to create his own injurious opportunity using whatever tactics come instinctively to end the confrontation. Preemption and fight timing are an instantaneous fusion of instinct and decision-making. You have the choice to either preempt an opponent’s attack by initiating your own attack or wait to be attacked to exploit and counterattack a physical vulnerability the opponent exposes. While speed is not timing, speed can deliver a decisive advantage when the defender acts more quickly than the assailant. Krav Maga relies on economy of motion to eliminate wasted movement, which, in turn, improves speed.
Timing Kick Defenses Against Punches: While requiring advanced recognition and timing, a timing-defensive linear Straight Kick or Side Kick can also be extremely effective against linear punch attacks. This technique will preempt your attacker before the attacker can land his punch. Note: Keeping in line with Krav Maga tactical and strategic thinking, these timing defenses are almost identical to the straight push defenses using both lead and rear leg timing kicks
A timing preemptive strike can also be extremely effective against punch attacks. This technique will preempt one’s opponent before he can land his punch.
SEE: [Takedowns and Throws Defense]
Japanese name for a “sacrifice throw” where the defender places one of his feet on the opponent trapping the opponent to fall backwards and roll the opponent head first over defender.
Making the Training as Real as Possible: Training will help you overcome the fight paralysis that can easily set in. You will learn how to alleviate fear, panic and other sensations. You will learn effective physical techniques while mentally adjusting to a harsh violent reality.
Occurs when you pin or grab the opponent’s arms with one arm leaving you with free to continue combatives with one’s other arm.
Triangle: A choke hold where the opponent is either caught in vise between a fighter’s legs or arms where the opponent’s shoulder is in combination with the fighter’s thigh or radial bone (depending if the triangle is a leg or arm variation) is used to compress the carotid sheath to render a blood choke.
Taking an opponent down with a trip or a lower body combative (usually a roundhouse type of kick) that undercuts the opponent’s legs thereby downing him.
The body can withstand a high amount of physical punishment. Adrenaline is a powerful energizer and allows the body to momentarily insulate itself against pain. The body’s resilience works for both victim and assailant. To stop an assailant, target the body’s vulnerable and vital areas using retzev.
You know a variation will come but do not necessarily know how or when.
This training allows one’s training to encompass the entire scope of a technique or number of techniques. Unlimited open training is used at the most advanced levels to resemble the street’s unexpected dangers. Using our above example, the exercise changes for unlimited open-training punch attacks as follows: you do not know which arm will launch the attack (right or left), what type of attack (straight, roundhouse, or uppercut, or modifications of these), or the attack angle (straight or from an “off angle”) and height (high or low). The point is that you do not know what is coming!
The Uppercut Punch can seriously damage one’s opponent’s exposed chin, throat, or groin (the last target especially when you are on one’s knees and one’s opponent is standing).
Use one’s mind to train one’s body to automatically and instinctively react to danger. Visualization and scenario planning boosts one’s confidence, reduces fear, improves one’s fighting technique, and helps cope with unanticipated hostile situations because you will have envisioned them beforehand.
Krav Maga techniques easily incorporate the use of firearms, knives, and various weapons of opportunity, such as loose change, keys, pens, cell phones, a belt buckles, or, even, spittle. Anything and everything portable could possibly be used as either a weapon or a distraction.
Defensive weapons of opportunity can be loosely grouped into the seven categories:
When using this direct and fast strike, aim for the throat and more specifically the windpipe. This strike must only be used when confronting an assailant who represents a deadly threat to you. If one’s timing and accuracy are correct, this can be a devastating first strike option.
Weight Drop: When a fighter drops his body weight by slightly bending his knees to harness gravity to deliver a strike (usually associated with hammerfists or vertical #5 Elbow strikes). Alternatively, the term may be used where the defender sinks his weight to make it more difficult for an opponent to pick him up or when a fighter drops his body weight onto the opponent when using a takedown or throw.
This technique principally targets one of the opponent’s eyes, while the throat can serve as a secondary target.
A rotational defense against an assailant grabbing one’s arms focusing the weakest point and angle of the assailant’s grip.