Takedowns & Throws

Krav Maga Takedowns & Throws (Yellow-Green Belts)

The Israeli krav maga curriculum incorporates a number of throws. Founder Imi Lichtenfeld was awarded a black belt in judo by Moshe Feldenkrais, who trained in Japan directly under the legendary Kano Jigoro. Selecting a throw is obviously determined by body positioning and the dynamics of the entry for the throw. The goal with throws and takedowns, as with all krav maga thinking, is to accomplish the greatest effect with the least effort

The formula is simple: krav maga is designed to overcome any disparities in size or strength. The key, once again, is simultaneous attack and defense to disrupt the attack and immediately redirect it into a throw or takedown, using gravity and the ground to further neutralize the threat. A strong combative will stun the assailant, allowing you to enter and unbalance him so you can complete the takedown or throw.

An unbalanced adversary is obviously easier to displace than a balanced one. Even if your initial throw or takedown is unsuccessful and the assailant maintains partial balance, you must continue with the retzev concept of continuous combat motion, applying a subsequent combative or series of combatives to keep attacking the threat. Always attempt to keep your retzev seamless, transitioning from one technique to another in a logical manner.

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. In choosing these throws and takedowns, Imi married these techniques with many of the core defenses against upper-body attacks. In letting gravity take its course, coupled with momentum generated by the throw or takedown, Imi recognized that slamming someone into the ground would help take the fight out of him—or, at the least, momentarily diminish his offensive capabilities.

When an assailant attempts to throw you, by the very nature of movement and tactics, he is creating an opening for you to counterthrow. (This is true of all combatives, including kicking, punching, knees, and elbows. A good fighter will minimize these openings, but they are still there to be exploited if the defender is skilled enough to recognize and execute the countertechnique properly.)

These techniques account for the extra weight load or displacement and mobility restriction this type of gear places on the kravist. Included are the Japanese names for these takedowns and throws, as these are transliterated the same in the Israeli krav maga curriculum.  In developing krav maga for the Israeli military, founder Imi Lichtenfeld recognized the need to account for and counter other military hand-to-hand combat systems, especially those relying heavily on judo. Accordingly, Imi developed krav maga–oriented (“no rules”) countertactics. A few key techniques are included in the green- through advanced black-belt levels of the Israeli krav maga curriculum. 

For counterthrows, you can take advantage of the assailant’s momentum and displacement. In other words, by attempting to throw you, your assailant creates an opening for you to counter-throw. (Importantly, this is true of all combatives, including kicking, punching, knees, elbows—all types of strikes. A good fighter will minimize these openings, but they are still there to be exploited if the defender is skilled enough to recognize them and execute the countertactic properly.) Keep in mind that counterthrows are not without risk since you have let the adversary somehow seize the initiative. Obviously, to be a good counter-thrower, you must understand the principles and tactics of each throw.

Practice Suggestions:

• For each technique presented, we suggest that you practice a minimum of 20 repetitions against a partner attacking using both his left and right limbs and into your respective throw.  In other words, you are defending against a minimum of 40 repetitions (20 from a right limb attack and 20 from a left limb attack). 
• Defend from a passive stance, a left-outlet fighting stance, and a right-outlet fighting stance.
• In addition, when defending an attack to execute your takedown/throw, practice a minimum of 20 repetitions with your partner attacking with both the right and left limbs. 
• Be sure, though, to keep in mind that 85% or more of the world’s population is right side dominant.  Therefore, it stands to reason that the majority of attacks will be launched with a right arm or leg.
• Practicing at least 10-15 minutes per technique is recommended (with, as noted above, a minimum of 20 repetitions per takedown/throw side).  Therefore, you should begin to both understand and embed approximately 4-6 techniques per practice hour.  (Note, though, for our group classes we generally teach 3-4 techniques per cumulative one hour lesson plan.)
• Observe and help your partner other analyze his/her movements.
• It may be helpful to film each other in action to further evaluate the fluidity and execution of each technique, if your timing is correct, if your footwork and fighting stance is solid, and how well you can adopt to slight angle changes and heights of various attacks.