Krav Maga Worldwide We Improve And Save Lives 2020-06-07T21:46:55Z https://www.kravmaga.com/feed/atom/ WordPress https://www.kravmaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/cropped-KravMagaWorldwide_Triangle_BW@512-32x32.png Ross Cascio <![CDATA[Situational Awareness Training]]> https://www.kravmaga.com/?p=91960 2020-06-07T21:46:55Z 2020-06-05T21:46:46Z

Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense & Situational Awareness Training

OODA Loop

Experience

Repetition

Continued Development

Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense training empowers people with real skills to be safer and stronger. The skills that our training imparts are both physical and mental. One of the most important mental skills that people training with us develop is situational awareness. Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense training is, in essence, situational awareness training coupled with the ability to take action.

This often brings up the question, just what exactly IS situational awareness training. Situational awareness training if you take it quite literally, is about the “perception of environment”.

When someone is training self-defense at a Krav Maga Worldwide certified training center, the perception of environment broadens to include recognizing potential threats and dangers. Ultimately the student’s recognition of threats and dangers lends to their ability to take action to mitigate these threats and dangers. In terms of Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense and situational awareness training we want our students to use this broadened scope to avoid conflict, dangers, and threats. That is the best possible use of situational awareness training. If conflict is unavoidable we equip students with he physical skills to eliminate threats and dangers. 

OODA Loop

Observation. Orientation. Decision. Action. 

For the most part, your brain is constantly cycling through this loop and your actions and reactions are a result of this process. Situational awareness and situational awareness training starts with the OODA Loop. If you see something falling off of a table close to you and you want to try to catch it, you first must observe the falling object, recognize where you are oriented in relation to it, decide to try to catch it, then reach out to try to do so. This all happens in a matter of fractions of a second. 

When training the OODA Loop in relation to self-defense and situational awareness training, Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense training varies all of the OODA elements in order to build skills that relate to potentially life-saving action…whether that be avoiding or eliminating a threat.

These two videos below offer contrasting examples of ways in which we work on situational awareness via varying observation and orientation, which in turn has an effect on the rest of the OODA Loop. 

In this video you’ll notice that the participants are being completely disoriented in two different ways. They are spinning around to make themselves dizzy and their pad-holding partners are moving to varying locations around the room. The environment is changing and so is their physical condition, ie they are becoming dizzy, both of these variances effect their ability to observe and orient. On the cue to “go” they must acquire their designated target, get to it, and re-orient themselves in order to engage it (punch the pad). This drill incorporates an aggression component, which forces the participant to overcome the challenges to observation and orientation and exert maximum effort with punches. Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense training isn’t about running across a room to fight someone. This particular drill is a combination of situational awareness training as well as building physical skills needed to fight back and win if attacked. Acquiring the target and orienting to be able to strike the pad is part of the physical challenge that builds physical skills. The participant achieves this with the decision and action phase of the OODA Loop.

In this second video the participant faces a different situational awareness training challenge. Observation and orientation have already been well established in relation to the threat. The defender is in range of a knife attack and now the OODA Loop is challenged in much shorter cycles as the angle of the knife attack is changed. The defender knows an attack will be coming but doesn’t know the direction, angle, or speed of the attack. This is a constantly varying challenge to observation and orientation of where the attack is coming from and orienting the defending arm to make the defense, which is achieved with decision and action.

The second video isn’t so much simulating one singe real-life attack scenario. A knife wielding attacker intent on harming someone is, most likely, going to be much more aggressive than what is going on in this particular drill. The value for situational awareness training here is that the defender deals with varying angles over and over again and has to adjust. It gives the defender a chance to practice recognizing where a knife attack might be coming from in the initial phase of an attack and what decision has to be made in order to make the correct defense. 

If you extrapolate these sorts of application across all levels of Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense training, the challenges to the decision making process get adjusted based on the level of training. The attacks and defenses change. The scope and number of techniques involved in training changes. Sharpening situational awareness training changes and new levels are achieved via experience.

Experience

Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense training teaches people to use their body’s natural reaction to defend against an attack, and to fight back aggressively until they can neutralize the attacker and/or get away. It could be argued that even after one class, a student is going to have a increased sense of situational awareness. That’s because they have expanded or increased their level of experience and are, in general, more aware of threats and possible attacks based on what material is covered in that class.

For example, if a person attends a Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense class that teaches them to defend a choke from the front, the student is going to learn all of the factors that go in to making that defense and experience making the defense against a partner. The experience they have is going to effect their ability to make a decision and take action going forward. They have knowledge of making the defense. The student is also going to be able to better recognize the distance at which an attack like that comes on. If an attacker has to be, say, three feet away in order to grab that person’s neck, it stands to reason that being further than three feet away will prevent the person from being attacked by a choke from the front simply because they are too far away. 

It’s this type of experience that leads to gains in situational awareness training. Now that the person knows where the choke from the front attack occurs from, they can avoid situations that put them within that three foot danger zone. Avoiding situations where someone is within three feet, keeps that person safe from being attacked by a choke from the front. This is not to say that every situation will be avoidable but it does make possible the thought process needed to avoid those situations.

If we again look at this in relation to different levels of Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense training, each level of experience makes students more aware of different kinds of dangers, threats, and attacks. This applies to striking, grappling, weapons, etc. The student is basically always involved in situational awareness training by way of their progression through the Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense system. 

Being able to recognize potential dangers is a valuable skill especially, as mentioned, when the goal is to avoid putting yourself at risk of being attacked. If an unavoidable attack occurs, Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense training gives people the ability to fight back and win. In a fight or attack the factors that go in to the OODA Loop are constantly going to be changing and because of this, Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense skills should be honed by consistent training and ultimately, repetition. 

Repetition

Situational awareness training is heightened and improved by repetition. The more you experience dealing with attacks at different levels of training, the more you are going to be certain of your decision and plan of action. That is to say, if you practice a choke defense one hundred times, you know what you are going to do in order to defend that choke. The decision and action develop a stronger link.

In the above video you’ll see an effective way to push situational awareness training at an advanced level with multiple repetitions and varied attacks.


Situational Awareness Training

OODA LOOP

EXPERIENCE

REPETITION

CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT

Knowing what you are going to do in order to defend the choke and making the defense correctly each time are not the same thing, though. Repeating the defense and practicing making the defense improve your chances of making the defense correctly. Forcing yourself to make the defense under different conditions like when you are fatigued, dizzy, if you start with your eyes closed and don’t see the attack coming, etc, will all improve your chances of success. 

Situational awareness training also applies to scenarios and not just single episodes or events in those scenarios. For example, a sparring session with a live opponent (or a drill such as the video above) is an ongoing scenario that changes by the second, or fraction of a second. Events in that scenario could be seen as exchanges of combatives. Repetition of scenarios like this and dealing with the events that take place in them in terms of your OODA Loop, is what develops the skill needed for you to be in the right position, move your head the correct way, throw the right combative, make the right defense, etc. all the things you need in order to gain control of and win the events in that scenario. 

Training is really ongoing situational awareness training. Repetition is what helps and or forces you to learn and promotes continued development. 

Continued Development

The consistent progress of your skills will ultimately be linked to the consistency of your training. If you train once or twice a year as compared to once or twice a week, your results will be proportional (barring outliers). Continued and consistent training in Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense builds physical skills and mindset that lend to the overall progression of situational awareness training. 

In large part, we all have some sense of situational awareness. Think about the “dark alley” example. Most everyone can recognize that the proverbial “dark alley” represents danger that we don’t want to expose ourselves to by walking down it. As you train and continue to develop in Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense, your ability to perceive the “dark alley” heightens because of the experience and repetition you have. You are able to recognize where and how attacks have to happen and thus you can better mitigate your exposure to those attacks ie you are more likely to see a dark alley where others don’t. 

Start Training Today

Krav Maga Worldwide has certified training centers around the world that can help you develop your situational awareness training level and the best real-world self-defense skills. Click Here to find the certified training center closest to you.

Click Here to check out our online Academy, which has a selection of free content as well as special content now discounted 35% 

Want, live, online Zoom classes? Click here!

]]> Ross Cascio <![CDATA[Learn Krav Maga At Home]]> https://www.kravmaga.com/?p=91781 2020-05-06T21:33:38Z 2020-05-06T21:33:36Z

LEARN KRAV MAGA AT HOME

Train with the best instructors. Get the best results.

Upgrade your software while protecting your hardware.

Take your mental game to the next level.

Keep getting the benefits of training sessions and workouts.

Learn Krav Maga at home from the best!

Train with the best Instructors. Get the best results.

Krav Maga Worldwide training is the best for real-world self-defense. Our self-defense system, Founder’s Diploma, and mandate to teach, come from directly from Imi Lichtenfeld, who developed Krav Maga for the Israel Defense Forces.

It’s difficult, if not impossible, to argue against the fact that the best way to train for self-defense is in a fully functioning training center where you can punch, kick, knee, and elbow training equipment and drill self-defense techniques and movements with live partners. Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers provide this training and have are the gold standard for real-world self-defense training. There’s no doubt however that you can learn and train Krav Maga at home. The most important element for learning Krav Maga at home is having expert instructors to learn from and resources like our online Academy, which feature those instructors.

In the response to current restrictions Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers around the world have made a tremendous effort to transition to online classes and continue to provide expert instruction to members via live and recorded lessons so they can learn and train Krav Maga at home. Our instructors interact with and coach students through online platforms, which allows the transfer of knowledge and skill-building to continue.

Krav Maga Worldwide certified Instructors are used to challenges and to the idea of adapting to atypical environments so it’s an opportunity for them to grow as well. The bottom line is that our expert instruction can continue to help students and to provide great training. If you aren’t training with Krav Maga Worldwide certified instructors from home, then you aren’t getting the best instruction at home and you aren’t giving yourself the best chance to learn Krav Maga at home.

Training conditions in homes are certainly varied and depending on how much equipment and access to safe training partners people have, the ability to recreate training conditions similar to those in our certified training centers is different for everyone. 

Learning Krav Maga at home is a great way to reinforce movement and technique while limiting injury and wear and tear on the body. It also increases mental acuity and the thought processes involved in the Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense system. Training Krav Maga at home can also be a great workout that provides all of the cardio, strength, flexibility, and stress relief benefits that workouts at certified training centers provide. 

Upgrade your software while protecting your hardware.

If you want to learn Krav Maga at home and you have no equipment at all to use when training with our online resources you can still benefit. It comes down to movement and training your body to make the movements involved.

Training the movements involved with self-defense techniques and combatives on your own is a great way to reinforce good habits without your body taking damage or suffering the wear and tear that comes with live training. This means limiting the possibility of getting injured and giving your body a chance to recover from any stress or damage it might have sustained while training.

It’s difficult for some people to actually take time off of training. That is an understandable mindset when a person has a goal they are trying to reach and is motivated by that goal for every training session. In situations like that, wear and tear on the body is often ignored and viewed as just another obstacle in front of the goal. Sometimes however taking the level of intensity down for a short period of time is the best thing for ensuring long term success in training and reaching long term goals. 

Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense training is unique because the initial phases of every self-defense technique utilize your body’s instinctive movements in…so, in a way, you already know how to do some of the elements of the self-defense techniques. 

Practicing at home with “dry work” or solo drilling is a perfect way to refine the more detailed aspects of techniques that come after the initial instinctive response. Realistically if you can’t move your body through the techniques with nobody giving you resistance then you probably aren’t proficient enough with them. This is one of the reasons that “dry work” is an element of every class in Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers. 

Studying the techniques and practicing just the movements, practicing slowly, or in front of a mirror, will help your body learn Krav Maga at home, make you a better practitioner, and overall make you better prepared to defend yourself in a real life situation. Krav Maga Worldwide online Academy and online Academy Insider classes are the perfect resource for this type of training and learning at home because the lessons are accessible any time, they can be paused, rewound, restarted, etc.

Take your mental game to the next level

When you learn Krav Maga at home from resources like the online Academy and online Academy Insider you are studying. It’s a different way of being a student than when you are live and on the mats and learning from certified Krav Maga Worldwide instructors makes all of the difference in this scenario as well.

It’s important that you understand the “why” of what you are doing. Sometimes the physical exertion of class, which benefits and strengthens your body, can cause some details of techniques to get missed or blurred. This is part of the reason why the Krav Maga Worldwide belt-system is structured the way it is. If everyone could see a technique once, do it once, and be proficient with it, it would be easy. 

Understanding and developing expertise takes time. Studying why the Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense techniques and the system as a whole work the way they do will only benefit your understanding and expertise. Thinking about the techniques and approaching a training session like a lecture gives you insight and trains your brain. It’s this sort of understanding and insight that can actually help you AVOID a potential assault or life threatening situation. When you learn Krav Maga at home in this way, you become a smarter practitioner, a more difficult target, and you bolster your ability to be situationally aware…which is one of the most important things Krav Maga teaches students.

Take the time to listen to lessons to discuss principles, theory, technique, etc. Take the time to understand why the Krav Maga Worldwide system is built on principles like “address the immediate danger”, “defend and counterattack simultaneously”, etc. and you will gain skills in a different way than you may be used to. This way of thinking, paying attention, and gleaning information, will benefit you when you are on the mats training live. 

Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers around the world are offering many ways to learn Krav Maga at home. 

Online Academy

Zoom

Google Hangouts

“Office Hours”

“Tech Talk” and forums

Learn Krav Maga at Home

Best Instructors = Best Results

Reduce wear and tear. Gain recovery time.

Improve mental acuity, comprehension of techniques and
Krav Maga system.

Get a great workout and continue to improve physical skills.

Keep getting the benefits of training sessions and workouts!

Training at Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers makes people safer and stronger. When you are learning Krav Maga at home and doing lessons live online or training via the online academy you can still be getting a great workout and all the benefits that come with it.

Workout intensity at home can be varied and will be a different level for everyone but there’s no doubt that moving your body and working along with our lessons will help you build cardiovascular endurance, increase muscle strength, build lean mass, improve flexibility, and relieve stress. Training sessions get your body moving and working on combatives, striking combinations, and self-defense techniques. Staying active and burning calories is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and our online lessons help you do that. You can also use what you’ve learned in our lessons as part of your own workouts. Either way, learning Krav Maga at home can be an awesome workout itself, or be part of an awesome workout

In general we recommend that students train at our certified training centers at least two or three times a week at minimum to build and maintain a high level of proficiency in the Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense system. If you are learning Krav Maga at home and training two or three times a week you will be continuing on this sort of recommended regimen as well as giving your body all the benefits of an active, healthy, lifestyle. Working out and training Krav Maga at home will also help you relieve stress and disconnect from your everyday problems for a while. Something we all need considering what the world is dealing with

Learn Krav Maga at home from the best!

Krav Maga Worldwide and Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers around the world have a wealth of resources you can utilize in order to learn Krav Maga at home. Check out our online Academy. Find out what sort of live online classes are being held by the training center nearest you. Continue to push your training and become safer and stronger. If you need help finding resources, email us at memberships@kravmaga.com and we can help you!

]]> Ross Cascio <![CDATA[Krav Maga Home Training Drill Ideas]]> https://www.kravmaga.com/?p=91281 2020-04-02T23:18:14Z 2020-04-02T23:18:13Z

Stay safe at home and train hard!
Use these videos to help!

Just because we are currently unable to go to training centers and practice the best reality-based self-defense system with live partners, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be practicing and pushing ourselves to get better.

We understand the frustration in not being able to train more than anyone. Krav Maga home training has a lot to offer however. All of our members and Krav Maga Worldwide enthusiasts should be using this time to progress in their training even though we are in atypical training circumstances. 

We’ve got a huge library of online courses on our online Academy that active KMW members can access for FREE. If you aren’t an active member you can get all of our online Academy courses at 35% off with the coupon code on the homepage. Just click here!

Krav Maga Home Training Drill Ideas you can use today!

Krav Maga home training can be fun and challenging. You can review our lessons on the online Academy or check out these one minute videos from our Mittwork Monday series that you can put into action today! Krav Maga training should push your skill level as well as your conditioning and we’ve got a little bit of everything in these videos. 

You can add these drills and combos to your Krav Maga training at home when working solo or if you have a safe, trusted, partner to work with…even better. 

Here’s a cool combination that involves turning the opponent to set them up for a big, close range, finishing elbow. Remember when you are training Krav Maga at home, work all ranges of our distance continuum with your strikes. 

In contrast to the first video, here’s a video that gives some great tips on keeping opponents at the end of long range strikes. This is great for Krav Maga training at home if you are a longer, taller person…but it’s not exclusive to tall people. Solid fundamentals can always apply to anyone’s game. 

If you are training Krav Maga at home and have some equipment like a heavy bag or a grappling dummy (or both) you can work this easy drill that combines stand-up rounds with ground and pound/top-control work. This is a great way to push your cardio, build power in your strikes, and get some ground work in! You could flip the dummy over and work strikes from the bottom or guard drills as well during the ground phase of the drill. 

When you are doing your Krav Maga training at home, don’t forget that we are a no holds barred system. Remember to include strikes like eye-gouges, throat-strikes, and headbutts in your training. This combo involves the headbutt, which should be delivered with the portion of the head “eyebrows and above” to the soft targets of the opponents face “eyebrows and below”.

Here’s another drill you can work when training Krav Maga at home or doing a Krav Maga home workout that involves spacing and distance. Remember that Krav Maga self-defense is often about getting away from an attack or assault and creating space is key to that. Use this combination while training at home to reinforce good principles. 

Sometimes you are going to have to improvise when doing a Krav Maga home training workout. Here’s one of our instructors and his wife training on some fundamental self-defense striking. They didn’t have focus mitts to work with so they used their hands! You might not be able to throw strikes with as much power but Krav Maga striking combos to hands can still be beneficial for working timing, placement, and again, principles involved. This combo is all about getting an attacker’s hands to come up so you can throw a knee to the groin!

Finally, here’s a two minute conditioning round with Krav Maga Worldwide Fitness Director Tina Angelotti! Do this round along with her and get some great Krav Maga home training conditioning work. This is a great way to structure your Krav Maga home training workouts in general. Two or three minute rounds of conditioning work combining striking skills and fitness elements like dynamic flexibility!

You can use all of these videos to create fun and dynamic Krav Maga workouts you can do at home! Krav Maga home training should be something that reinforces skills and principles while building your general strength and conditioning. 

We all want to get back on the mats and start training again…and we will. Make sure you are training Krav Maga at home so that you will be a better version of yourself when return!

]]> Ross Cascio <![CDATA[Krav Maga Training For Senior Citizens]]> https://www.kravmaga.com/?p=90902 2020-02-28T00:39:52Z 2020-02-28T00:39:50Z

Krav Maga Training For Senior Citizens

Personal safety. Health and fitness. Confidence. Community.

Krav Maga training is the best self-defense system for any person regardless of their demographic. Krav Maga is a self-defense system that was developed in Israel at the end of the WWII when Israel was first becoming a nation and needed to train regular people, with no hand-to-hand combat experience, to become proficient in hand-to-hand combat to serve in what would eventually become the Israel Defense Forces. The system was developed by a man named Imi Lichtenfeld, who had grown up in Bratislava participating in combat sports and became a Nazi resistance fighter during WWII. When Imi immigrated to Israel after the war his experience and knowledge of hand-to-hand combat became the foundation of Krav Maga training.

Imi’s vision for Krav Maga training was that it be shared, through Krav Maga Worldwide, all around the world so that ever person could be stronger, safer, and “walk in peace”. 

Krav Maga training is the perfect system for senior citizens. Krav Maga by design is easy to learn, easy to remember, and practitioners don’t have to be physically dominant in order to be successful in utilizing Krav Maga. Senior citizens who might not have the physical abilities they once had are exactly the type of person whom Imi envisioned benefiting from Krav Maga training. There are many benefits to Krav Maga training for every person and for seniors some of the major benefits are enhanced personal safety, an overall improvement in health and fitness, increased confidence and energy, and engagement with an incredibly strong community.

Personal Safety

At it’s heart, Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense, and Krav Maga training are about empowering every person with real skills to be safe and strong, so they may walk in peace. What Krav Maga training gives people is the ability to fight back and win if they are assaulted. It’s a somewhat sad reality that criminals who perpetrate assaults and other crimes look for easy targets. A criminal doesn’t want to target someone who is going to put up a fight, give a lot of resistance, or possibly foil their plans by calling attention to what’s going on or slowing a possible escape. Senior citizens are often targeted by criminals as a result of this way of thinking.

Krav Maga training teaches people the physical skills to fight back and win if they are assaulted. In most cases when Krav Maga training refers to a “win” it means that the defender is able to get away from the encounter safely. This is important for senior citizens because self-defense in this case isn’t about a long, drawn out, fight or a dramatic knock out finish. A senior citizen who may be at a physical disadvantage against an attacker doesn’t need to overpower them. What’s important is for the defender to be able to fight back to the point that they can get away…or even get help from the police or other people.

Krav Maga training at Krav Maga Worldwide builds these skills. Students learn to use punches, kicks, knees, elbows, eye gouges, throat strikes, and more to fight back against an assault and do damage to someone who wants to hurt them. Senior citizens are very capable of learning and utilizing these techniques if needed. If a student, of any demographic, is dealing with a specific physical limitation (ie the result of injury or other factor) that prevents them from doing certain movements or techniques involved in Krav Maga training, the training can be modified for them. Krav Maga Worldwide instructors are experts at helping people with this sort of modification. This is important for senior citizens because any physical limitation that is the result of an old injury, or just accumulated wear and tear on the body, can be worked around in such a way that the student can still develop the skills they need to defend themselves.

Krav Maga training at Krav Maga Worldwide also deals with specific self-defense scenarios and how to fight back against specific attacks. The system is based on principles that apply to many different attacks and scenarios so it becomes easy to remember across a broad spectrum as training continues. The same principles used to defend against a choke are used to defend against a bear hug, etc. The physical movements and techniques will be different but the principles of the defense are the same. Senior citizens can learn, apply, and be effective with this system as well as people in any other demographic and, really, that’s what Imi Lichtenfeld wanted and designed the system for. For everyone.

Students who are involved krav maga training also learn to develop a sense of “situational awareness”. If a student understands what goes into defending against a certain kind of attack they begin to understand what it takes to avoid that kind of attack or even the sort of situation that might lend to a higher probability of an attack. Senior citizens can, and do, benefit greatly from this. Senior citizens, as mentioned before, are at a higher risk of being targeted for a crime so constantly being aware of their surroundings and potential dangers in those surroundings can help mitigate circumstances that would make an assault possible. Any person who is alert, aware, and actively avoiding situations that put them in danger is going to be a harder target and, ultimately, safer. Senior citizens involved in Krav Maga training know how to avoid dangerous situations but, if a dangerous situation arises, they also know how to fight back, win, and go home safe. 

Health and Fitness

The health and fitness benefits of Krav Maga training are numerous and real. Staying physically active as one gets older is crucial to overall health and fitness. It’s not easy to find an activity that keeps people physically active, is mentally stimulating, and builds practical skills…but Krav Maga training is it.

Krav Maga self-defense training at Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers is a workout, there’s no question. Krav Maga training is effective at building cardiovascular endurance, building muscle and lean mass, burning fat, increasing the metabolism, and improving flexibility. These are all components of overall health and fitness that senior citizens in particular need to be consistent at working in order to maintain a high quality of life. 

Senior citizens who train at Krav Maga Worldwide training centers are able to stay in great shape. As we mentioned before, many people, not just senior citizens, deal with physical limitations that prevent them from doing certain things and Krav Maga training takes this into account and can be modified for that student. This is one of the reasons that senior citizens involved in Krav Maga training can continue to be involved. It’s not limited. It’s inclusive. 

Training to move effectively in a fight, to punch, to kick, to defend against specific attacks is a total body effort. This pushes the body to work against all sorts of varied resistance, which in turns benefits cardiovascular health, burns fat, and builds muscle. This sort of activity in Krav Maga training is perfect for senior citizens and their overall, long-term, health. Each Krav Maga Worldwide class in our Self-Defense program, Fitness program, and Fight program, also involves a warm up that gradually brings the body to a level of readiness to do higher intensity work. This always involves some sort of stretching and flexibility work as it relates to what sort of activity and techniques will be performed in the class. This is another huge benefit for senior citizens. Many Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers, in addition to Krav Maga training, offer a yoga program or Mobility program to help the body recover and, again, improve flexibility. Mobility and flexibility issues are some of the main issues that senior citizens deal with. Even everyday things like standing up, sitting down, or getting out of bed can be affected by poor flexibility. Senior citizens who train at Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers can actively work to improve their level of mobility and flexibility in every class that is offered.

Health Benefits of Krav Maga Training

  • Increased cardiovascular efficiency and stamina
  • Increase in lean mass 
  • Decrease fat
  • Stimulate metabolism
  • Increase flexibility
  • Reduce blood pressure
  • Reduce risk of heart disease
  • Strengthen bones
  • Reduce stress
  • Improve mood

Confidence

Regardless of a person’s age, they want to be safe, to feel good about themselves, how they look, and what they are able to accomplish. Krav Maga training gives people real skills to be stronger and safer and this builds confidence in all of our students. Senior citizens who are involved in Krav Maga training know that they have the physical skills to defend themselves if they are assaulted. They also have a sense of situational awareness that helps keep them away from trouble. This lends to an increased sense of confidence overall, which helps them to lead healthier, happier, lives.

Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense has a belt system and level system through which all students progress. It’s a great feeling to earn a new belt and to move on to the next level of training. The Krav Maga belt-system is a great way for senior citizens to establish, work toward, and achieve goals for themselves. This progression also builds confidence and helps to keep all students, not just senior citizens, motivated to work for continued improvement. 

Overall, a senior citizen who is training at Krav Maga Worldwide experiences the same boost of confidence as any other student. It’s important for all students to achieve and to maintain motivation. Sadly, some people in general become less motivated to be active as they get older. For senior citizens involved in Krav Maga training however there is motivation to continue to be healthy, safe, and strong by training, learning, and reaching new achievements in our belt system. 

Community

Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers are a community of people who help each other learn self-defense, get in great shape, and grow stronger. For senior citizens looking to get involved with a community of positive people, doing positive things, and having positive experiences, Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers offer all of this. We have a thriving community of senior citizens in our training centers. Some of our training centers have two or even three generations of family members training in kids and adult classes. It’s a great way to stay motivated to be active, to interact with people from all walks of life, to make friends, to learn, and maybe even to teach and pass on knowledge. Having a place to go and something positive to be involved with is important for every person. Senior citizens at Krav Maga Worldwide training centers are an active and important part of a strong, positive, community. What’s even better is that they are learning real skills, and building and maintaining the physical capacity, needed to defend themselves.

Krav Maga training keeps people moving, and keeps their bodies improving. It’s important to stay active and make an effort to be healthy as we get older. Krav Maga training at Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers is the perfect way for senior citizens to stay active, get stronger, learn self-defense, and be a part of an accepting, positive community.

]]> Ross Cascio <![CDATA[Krav Maga Striking – Hands]]> https://www.kravmaga.com/?p=90640 2020-02-07T19:11:22Z 2020-02-01T07:17:17Z

Krav Maga Striking
Striking Using the Hands

Fundamental strikes using the hands: straight punch, hammer fist, palm heel strikes, eye strikes/gouges, throat strikes. How to throw them. What to target. 

Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense utilizes a variety of different methods of striking with the hands. All of these techniques are meant to be easy to learn, easy to retain, and effective at causing damage to an attacker in the case of an assault. 

Straight punches, palm heel strikes, hammer fists, eye strikes, and throat strikes are all taught in Krav Maga Worldwide Level 1 self-defense. Some of these techniques, and the areas that they target (like the eyes, throat, and back of the head) are considered “dirty” or “illegal” in the context of competition or a sanctioned sport fight. Within the Krav Maga Worldwide system however there is no technique that we consider “dirty” or “illegal” if we are in a situation where we must defend our own life, or the life of a loved one. 

Straight Punch

Straight punch is one of the very first techniques students learn in Krav Maga Worldwide Level 1 self-defense. It is one of the building blocks of our system…and should be one of the building blocks of ANY striking system. It’s really important that students become effective with straight punches so they can build a skillset that is, overall, effective and fundamentally sound. 

In order to throw an effective straight punch you have to start by making a fist the correct way. 

Start with your hand open.

Then fold your fingers down, curl your fingertips into your palm, and “lock” your pointer and middle finger down with your thumb.

DON’T put your thumb inside your fist.

DON’T leave your thumb hanging over your fist. 

When throwing a straight punch, from your forward hand or your rear hand, you have to use your legs to drive off of the ground and rotate your hip and shoulder forward. This is what literally “throws” the punch. Keep this in mind. Your arm alone can generate far less power than when your whole body turns into the punch. Check out the picture below and note how far forward the puncher’s left shoulder has turned. It’s basically touching his chin and cheek. 

The rotation of the body is what throws the punch and generates power. The striking surface of the hand that is used for a straight punch should be the “top two” knuckles of the fist (pointer finger and middle finger). We generally think about the straight punch targeting areas of the face that are located “eyebrows and below” on the opponent or attacker. 

These are soft areas of the face (as compared to a forehead) and if damaged they will also have an effect on breathing and/or vision. There will be a pain response and a functional response to being punched here.

Keep this in mind because, in contrast, we try to keep the soft targets of our face somewhat protected, so always keep your chin down in a fighting stance. We don’t want to get punched by ANYONE, ANYWHERE, really…but, all things considered, getting punched in the forehead will cause much less damage than in the soft targets of the face.

Get Power In Your Strikes!

Krav Maga Striking techniques rely on developing power from the hips and shoulders rotating. Check out this video to see how it’s done!

Hammer fist

The hammer fist is another building block of the Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense system. It’s a versatile strike that can be used out of necessity (ie. if you hurt your hand and cannot use the ‘top two’ knuckles) or out of convenience/reaction (ie. this is just the first strike that comes out of you when reacting aggressively to defend yourself). The hammer fist is effective because it allows the striker to make damage while keeping their hand, and those top two knuckles, relative protected from absorbing damage.

To make a hammer fist, start by making a fist as described above. The body mechanics of throwing a hammer fist are the same as with a straight punch. Rotation of the hips and shoulders generates power and “throws” the strike. Keep in mind that the striking surface for the hammer fist will be the area of the hand just below the pinky finger. 

Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense utilizes hammer fists in several different directions and angles, the first of which is the forward hammer fist.

The forward hammer fist can be thrown slightly on an upward angle if the defender is shorter than the attacker, striking the same soft targets of the face as a straight punch…

….or at a slightly downward angle if the defender is taller than the attacker (again, same targets) but both of these variations are going forward.

We can also use a hammer fist to target the back of the head. Keep in mind that this is one of those strikes that is considered “illegal” in pretty much any competition setting. 

Similar to the temple and the jaw, there is an “off button” in the back of the head that causes people to be knocked unconscious quite easily. Krav Maga striking looks to exploit this if we can, but using the top two knuckles (as in a straight punch) against the back of the head is somewhat dangerous and could damage the defender’s hand, so the hammer fist is a better option. 

Hammer fist can also be thrown to the side when dealing with an attacker who is not in front of the defender and should be made with the defender’s elbow high, protecting their own face. Hips and shoulders rotating will generate the power in this strike as well.

…again, looking to strike the soft targets of the face, or the jaw or temple. 

Krav Maga striking also involves throwing hammer fists that drop down, or have a downward trajectory. This is another way of exploiting the “off button” in the back of the head. In order to get powerful rotation in the hips and shoulders going down, the defender has to use their legs to change levels and drop down weight into the strike. 

One of the other areas frequently targeted by Krav Maga striking is the groin. A person’s natural reaction to being struck in the groin is often to fold forward, exposing the back of the head. This sets up the opportunity to use the downward hammer fist to the back of the head…and we frequently train on this technique in this context. 

Krav Maga Striking Techniques in Level 1 self-defense. 

Check out this video to see all of the techniques described in this blog!

Start training with us today!

Palm heel strike

The palm heel strike can be thought of as a straight punch with the heel of the palm. The body mechanics of throwing the palm heel strike are the same as the straight punch and hammer fist. 

In Krav Maga striking, palm heel strikes are set up by simply pulling the fingers of the striking hand back and jutting the palm of the striking hand forward.

Rotating the hips and shoulders to throw the strike out is imperative to generating power. The defender should strike at the soft targets of the face as with straight punch and hammer fist.

Since the palm heel strike uses a striking surface alternative to the top two knuckles it can be used in different angles

…and, like the hammer fist, it can be used to target the back of the head. 

Eye strikes/gouges

As mentioned before Krav Maga striking techniques don’t take into account any sort of rule set. The purpose is to make damage to someone who is trying to harm us. Most often what we are looking to do is fight our way OUT of an assault. Krav Maga striking is part of a self-defense system. We never consider that we are going to be the aggressor in a fight…so we have to do what we can, and must, in order to get home safe. 

In that context Krav Maga Worldwide teaches students to make strikes to an attacker’s eyes. This could not only cause a pain reaction in the attacker that ceases the ongoing attack, but it could affect the attacker’s vision and give the defender a chance to escape. 

The eye strike in Krav Maga striking is set up by the defender spreading their fingers out somewhat and making their fingers slightly rigid. Think about making your hand into a position where you’ll basically have four spears sticking out from your knuckles, with some space between them. 

It’s important to keep your fingers rigid so that they can do damage to the eyes, but spaced part so that the fingers can negotiate the structures of the attackers face, and get to the eyes.

To throw the strike, as with previous strikes, rotate the hips and shoulders and drive the “finger spears” forward with the intent of going into, and through, the attackers eye sockets.

Throat strikes

Krav Maga striking techniques with the hands also involve targeting an attacker’s throat. If we think about some of the points previously discussed, like striking to areas that are soft, easy to cause damage to, and cause both a pain and functional reaction in the body, there’s a lot of logic behind making a throat strike in self-defense. 

In contrast to the eye strike the throat strike is made with the fingers of the hand brought tightly together. If we think of the eye strike set up as having spears at the end of our hand, we want to think about the setting up the throat strike with a hand that would be the point, or tip, of one spear…or the defender making their hand into an “arrowhead”.

When making the throat strike, the mechanics stay consistent with previous strikes, rotate the hips and shoulders to throw the arm and hand forward, drive the hand into the attacker’s throat, below the chin.

Krav Maga striking techniques are meant to be effective, easy to learn, and easy to remember/recall under stress. Strikes made with the hands are just one part of the overall striking system that Krav Maga Worldwide teaches in our self-defense program as well as our in our fight and and even in our fitness programs.

There are many more variations to punches like hooks, uppercuts, and overhands. Krav Maga striking also involves using elbows and knees and, of course, the legs and feet for kicks. Check back with our blogs to see a breakdown of other striking techniques in weeks to come. 

Check out some tutorials on striking at our Online Academy!

Training at any Krav Maga Worldwide certified training center will teach you these striking techniques and help you train on them so that you can be effective with them in the case that you are assaulted. 

]]> Ross Cascio <![CDATA[Krav Maga Belt System]]> https://www.kravmaga.com/?p=90319 2020-01-01T00:47:14Z 2020-01-01T00:44:48Z

Krav Maga Belt System

Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense is a system that does not adhere to many of the same ceremonial aspects still practiced in traditional martial arts but it does utilize a krav maga belt system that corresponds to the levels in which people train. There are five levels in the Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense but there are six belts that can be earned in the krav maga belt system. Krav Maga Worldwide does not award actual, physical, belts. Students are recognized with a certificate denoting their belt level and awarded their promotion during a class/training session. The six belts in the krav maga belt system used by Krav Maga Worldwide are; Yellow (completion of Level 1), Orange (completion of Level 2), Green (completion of Level 3), Blue (completion of Level 4), Brown (completion of Level 5), and Black.(In addition to these belts, degree (or Dan) promotions that can be earned and awarded once the rank of black belt is achieved. 

The highest ranking person in Krav Maga Worldwide’s krav maga belt system is Chief Instructor Darren Levine, who holds an 8th Degree Black Belt, which was awarded in December of 2019. There are a handful of people who hold a Krav Maga Worldwide 6th Degree Black Belt including the legendary Amir Perets as well as Krav Maga Worldwide Force Training Director Jon Pascal (both awarded December of 2019). Krav Maga Worldwide’s Director of Instructor Training Kelly Campbell holds a 5th Degree Black Belt (also awarded December of 2019), and she’s also the highest ranking woman in the Krav Maga Worldwide’s krav maga belt system. There are less than 10 people in the world who hold a Krav Maga Worldwide 4th degree Black Belt, and that group includes Krav Maga Houston Chief Instructor C.J. Kirk, STW Fitness and Krav Maga (San Antonio, TX) Chief Instructor Pete Hardy, Krav Maga Maryland Chief Instructor Jeff Mount, and Krav Maga Orange County Chief Instructor Mitch Markowitz. 

The krav maga belt system used by Krav Maga Worldwide is a great way for students to understand and track their own development within the system. In order to progress to the next level in the Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense system, students are required to take a test. Unlike some traditional martial arts that rely on one instructor, or “master”, or “sensei”, to award a promotion based solely on their own judgement, students in the krav maga belt system at Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers are informed of the requisites to become eligible for each belt test. In this way, students know what they need to accomplish to become eligible and can structure their training routine accordingly. 

When the requisite number of courses and hours of training is achieved for each level, students attain permission to test from an instructor. This usually comes from the instructor who has worked with the student the most and has helped them develop within the krav maga belt system and krav maga level system. There are occasions when a student has reached the requisite number of classes and hours of training required to test but they will be informed by the instructor that additional time training and work in some aspects of the level are required before that student can test.

In this way Krav Maga Worldwide’s krav maga belt system is somewhat similar to traditional martial arts because an instructor’s judgement determines advancement to some degree. In terms of Krav Maga Worldwide’s overall quality of training however this permission to test is a fail-safe, which gives the student the best opportunity to pass the level test before they go in. Level tests or, if you prefer, belt tests are physical and mental challenges that require intense effort and preparation. It’s not fair to the student to simply let them test once the requisites for the level are met. The student must meet the requisites AND demonstrate mastery of the material in classes in order to take their test, earn the right to train in the next level, and earn their belt for that level. 

Here's a breakdown of Krav Maga Worldwide's self-defense levels and Krav Maga belt system

Level 1 – No belt/White Belt to Yellow Belt

At Level 1 students are essentially a white belt working toward the test that will earn them a yellow belt. This is not considered one of the belts that students can earn within the krav maga belt system however they have earned it by starting training. A student in Krav Maga Level 1 is learning and training and pushing to be stronger and safer, which is, in itself, an accomplishment. Level 1 training focuses on three things; fundamentals, fundamentals, and fundamentals. Students learn how to get into, and move while in, an effective fighting stance. Students train on straight punches, hammer fists, palm heel strikes, eye gouges, throat strikes, front kicks to the groin, front kicks with the ball of the foot, round kicks, basic positions and movement while on the ground, as well as defenses vs. chokes, headlocks, wrist grabs, pulls, and more. This is the essential tool-kit that a student needs to progress within the Krav Maga Worldwide system and to be fundamentally effective at defending themselves. Students are introduced to the principles of Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense system, which they will continue to see as they get to higher levels. Students must train for at least four months in Level 1, and attend at least 40 Level 1 classes, in order to be eligible to test into Level 

Level 2 – Yellow Belt to Orange Belt

At Level 2 students have earned a Yellow Belt by achieving the requisites and passing their Level 1 test. The next belt that can be earned is an Orange Belt. Krav Maga Worldwide Level 2 training starts to become more technical than Level 1 by introducing additional punches like hooks and uppercuts as well as more intense self-defense techniques like defenses against bearhugs, chokes with pulls, and the basics of being on the ground with an attacker. These ground techniques include escaping from the full mount position, and defending against being choked while mounted. Sparring is introduced in Level 2 via very controlled drills that build the skills needed to deal with a live, resisting, attacker. The focus is not on full-contact but on skill building. Students begin to develop familiarity with Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense principles and how to apply them as the their training becomes more technical and intense. Students must train for at least six months in Level 2, and attend at least 60 Level 2 classes, in order to be eligible to test into Level 3. 

Level 3 – Orange Belt to Green Belt

Students who have earned an Orange Belt in the krav maga belt system have an advanced set of fundamental skills and are ready to work toward earning their Green Belt. In Level 3 further expand their striking and strike defending ability, training on punch combinations, and advanced punch and kick defenses. Level 3 is where and live sparring in stand-up and ground fighting become a regular part of the curriculum and students build their familiarity and abilities to deal with a live, resisting, attacker. In terms of self-defense, techniques, students begin to train the fundamentals of dealing with an attacker armed with sticks and blunt weapons as well as handguns. Level 3 students have a firm grasp of the Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense principles and how to apply them. This is essential to dealing with scenarios that increase in intensity and danger. Students must train for at least nine months in Level 3, and attend at least 90 Level 3 classes, in order to be eligible to test into Level 4. 

Level 4 – Green Belt to Blue Belt

As a Green Belt in Krav Maga, students are working toward developing advanced set of overall self-defend skills and are working toward earning a Blue Belt. Level 4 students can apply the principles of Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense to increasingly challenging situations and scenarios. In Level 4 students become very experienced with striking combinations, sparring, and training with a resisting partner from positions of disadvantage. This level really becomes about refining tactics and developing expertise. Weapons defense training intensifies here with the introduction of knife defenses. Ground fighting techniques are expanded on and students begin to develop proficiency with takedowns and takedown defenses. Students must train for at least twelve months in Level 4, and attend at least 120 Level 4 classes, to be eligible to test into Level 5.

Level 5 – Blue Belt to Brown Belt to Black Belt

A Krav Maga Worldwide Blue Belt is an expert in Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense fundamentals, experienced in stand-up and ground fighting sparring, and proficient in weapons defenses. There is a focus on developing increased proficiency in knife, and long gun defenses, as well as dealing with multiple attackers and third party protection. This is the most advanced level of Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense training and students who hold a Blue Belt must train in Level 5 for a minimum of one year and 120 Level 5 classes to be eligible to test for their Brown Belt. Once the student earns the Brown Belt, continued training in Level 5 brings the student to a level of overall expertise, at which point they can be invited to test for their Black Belt. This is usually after another year of training in Level 5, but the time frame can vary depending on the student’s skill development and consistency of training. 

The Krav Maga Worldwide belt system and Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense levels build on one another. The foundational skills that students learn in Level 1 carry over into all higher levels and each level/belt test reinforces those skills, which helps students retain and continue to build on these skills. Higher level students often find it useful to go back to lower level classes as a means of reinforcing their overall skill level and helping lower level students learn and succeed. 

It is easy for beginning students to get caught up in belt-chasing or simply focusing on wanting to earn the next belt in the krav maga belt system, or in any martial art, for that matter. What’s really important, and what really matters in terms of developing skills however, is consistency of training in each level and pushing to get better. Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense is designed to get people to a high level of proficiency in a short period of time…and commitment to regular training is the key to getting to that level of proficiency. That commitment doesn’t come from a belt.

Each training level and belt level in the krav maga belt system is important. Each level/belt test presents physical and mental challenges that are designed to push students to their limit. The shared experience in progressing through these levels helps Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers develop a tight-knit and supportive community in which people can feel comfortable working hard and learning to defend themselves. This was, ultimately, the vision of Krav Maga’s founder Imi Lichtenfeld who wanted everyone to learn Krav Maga so that they could “walk in peace”.

]]> Ross Cascio <![CDATA[Krav Maga vs BJJ]]> https://www.kravmaga.com/?p=28052 2020-02-09T16:34:24Z 2019-12-03T00:00:17Z

Krav Maga vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

When comparing two styles of self-defense or martial arts there are a few ways to approach the comparison. The most common motive for comparison is to establish or understand which style is superior so that a person can train in that style and receive the best training to help them defend themselves.

If you are thinking about the differences between Krav Maga and BJJ or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because you want to establish which style you should be training in, it’s important to first look at the styles from a very broad perspective.

Krav Maga is a self-defense system developed by the Israel Defense Forces for training military personnel in hand-to-hand combat. Krav Maga uses instinctive movements, aggressive counterattacks, and a no-holds-barred mentality without the ceremonial elements of traditional martial arts (for more on the question ‘what is krav maga?’ click here)

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art and combat sport system that has a specific focus on ground fighting and grappling. Derived from Kokudan Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu utilizes throws and takedowns to get an opponent to the ground, then employs a series of pins or sweep techniques (reversing positions from the bottom) to set up joint locks or strangulation techniques. Application of finishing techniques is not limited to the ground but are most often used on the ground. 

Those are the basic layouts of the two systems in very broad terms. Krav Maga vs. BJJ can be broken down into further detail by examining what they are used for and how they are used.

Krav Maga is a self-defense system that was never intended to be a “combat sport.” Its original purpose was to train soldiers to fight on a battlefield. Krav Maga teaches striking techniques like punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. Krav Maga also teaches grappling techniques and scenario specific self-defense techniques with the ultimate goal of the defender being to damage the attacker enough end the encounter. There is nothing that is considered “dirty” or “illegal” in the Krav Maga system as long as it leads to the defender surviving the encounter. As such, Krav Maga also teaches techniques like eye gouges, groin strikes, head butts, and throat strikes, which would be considered illegal or a foul in a sanctioned sport fight or combat sport competition.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a combat sport that transfers very well self-defense because of it’s emphasis on being in a dominant position on the ground and doing damage to an opponent with joint locks or strangulation techniques. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions are scored based on takedowns, positional advantages (series of pins and attacks), and finishes via joint lock or strangulation techniques that result in the losing competitor “tapping out”. In competitions, there are techniques that are considered illegal as well as rule sets for what techniques can be used based on the competitors skill (belt) level. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helps practitioners develop skills that are very useful in self-defense because the emphasis is on close range fighting and the ground, where many street fights and assaults occur or end up.

When considering Krav Maga vs. BJJ for your own training you have to further examine what it is that you want to train for. What is your why? When considering that, there are contrasts between the styles that have to be taken into account. 

The biggest contrast in considering Krav Maga vs. BJJ is that Krav Maga is a self-defense system and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art. Krav Maga, as a system, is designed to be learned very quickly, by anyone.

When Israel was first becoming a nation after WWII  and training people to serve in the IDF, they had to take people from all walks of life who were immigrating to Israel and teach them to fight…fast. Krav Maga is designed for people to become proficient in hand-to-hand combat in a very short period of time. The system is based on principles that don’t deviate so techniques should look the same almost every time they are practiced or applied. Someone who is training in Krav Maga can learn an effective technique after their first class and develop an effective skill-set and mentality in just a few months.

On the other hand Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as a martial art, takes much longer to learn and to perfect. When you see a skilled Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in action, it’s amazing. Training against a skilled Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner as a novice is a confusing and confounding exercise in futility. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu requires body control, timing, and anticipation, which come from thousands of hours of hard training. The techniques are open to interpretation in terms of how a practitioner sets them up and applies them, which is an element of its artistry. It takes a good three or four years for a White Belt practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to develop an effective skill-set and to even really understand what is going on in a training session.

The second major contrast when looking at Krav Maga vs Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that Krav Maga has a focus on striking techniques while BJJ has a focus on grappling. In both Krav Maga and BJJ there is some crossover in terms of striking and grappling. In fact if you train in Krav Maga you will learn techniques that are derived from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu like using the closed guard in an example like this

or sweeping techniques like this

In Krav Maga however these techniques are used primarily by the defender to get back to the feet. There is very little emphasis on a finish on the ground or by joint lock or strangulation. Conversely, striking techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are primarily used to close distance to an opponent and take them down, establish position and finish by joint lock or strangulation. When striking is used the ground in BJJ it’s main purpose is to cause a reaction in the opponent which will help expose the neck or a limb, thereby creating an opportunity to apply a joint lock or choke. Striking is not allowed in most all major Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions but BJJ isn’t completely void of striking techniques.

When people are considering Krav Maga vs. BJJ there’s undoubtedly a curiosity about “who would win in a Krav Maga vs. BJJ fight?” That comes down to myriad variables like who is fighting, where the fight is taking place, when the fight is taking place, how is it taking place. All of these things are going to factor into the outcome.

Testing style vs. style is one of the reasons that the Ultimate Fighting Championship was started by the Gracie family years ago. Style vs. Style is always intriguing to those interested in self-defense and martial arts so Krav Maga vs Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a one of the matchups people are interested in. Since Krav Maga isn’t intended for a rules-based competition, it’s not really a style that people see in combat sports. As a result we encourage people to come and take a class at a certified Krav Maga Worldwide training center and see what Krav Maga Worldwide training is all about. 

]]> Ross Cascio <![CDATA[What Is Krav Maga?]]> https://www.kravmaga.com/?p=27770 2019-12-02T23:58:23Z 2019-12-02T23:58:19Z

What is Krav Maga?

Krav Maga is a self-defense system developed by the Israel Defense Forces for training military personnel in hand-to-hand combat. Krav Maga uses instinctive movements aggressive counter attacks and a no-holds-barred mentality without the ceremonial elements of traditional martial arts.

Krav Maga will teach you to use punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and grappling techniques to defend yourself. It is a unique and practical system because it was designed to bring people to a high level of proficiency in hand-to-hand combat and self-defense in a very short period of time.

Krav Maga by design stresses efficiency, aggression and, above all, survival. This design philosophy resulted in traditional elements of martial arts practice like forms, katas, and rules for competition, being omitted from Krav Maga training, so in addition to the previously mentioned striking and grappling techniques, Krav Maga also teaches techniques like headbutts, groin strikes, strikes to the back of the head, eye gouges, and throat strikes. All of which would be considered illegal in a sanctioned sport fight or martial arts competition.

To get a little deeper into answering the question “what is Krav Maga”, it’s important to look at why Krav Maga was developed to begin with. That starts with Krav Maga’s creator, Imi Lichtenfeld.

Imi Lichtenfeld was born in Hungary in 1910 and grew up in Hungary where he practiced boxing and grappling his whole life under the tutelage of his father, Samuel. Imi joined Nazi resistance groups in Europe during WWII and fought back against Nazi oppression until the end of the war when he and thousands of others could immigrate to the newly formed nation of Israel. Imi’s hand-to-hand combat skills became the foundation of the Israel Defense Forces training, known today as Krav Maga. For more on Imi’s story click here.                 

Imi’s expertise in multiple aspects of hand-to-hand combat as well as the pressure of training people to defend their newly formed nation in a very short period of time lead to the distillation of technique and tactics. This in turn lead to the development of what is Krav Maga’s no-holds-barred mentality. There are no rules on the battlefield, thus there is no consideration for rules or “fairness” in Krav Maga. The only “rule” is to win. The only success is survival. 

Imi understood that the IDF recruits would learn faster and retain their training more easily if they understood the principles behind the techniques and behind their training as a whole.  

       What is Krav Maga?

  • Striking
  • Grappling
  • No holds barred mentality 

Some of the key principles that Krav Maga utilizes are as follows;

  1. Identify the immediate danger.
  2. Use your body’s natural reaction.
  3. Defend and counterattack simultaneously.
  4. When counterattacking, aggressively target vulnerable areas.
  5. Techniques must be effective regardless of size or strength.

Every aspect of Krav Maga training is based on these principles. Adhering to the same principles unilaterally makes Krav Maga easy to learn and easy to retain. Students learn one defense for multiple attacks. Ultimately students have to remember fewer details and can apply systemic action to fight back and win if they are attacked. 

This becomes very important in dealing with some of the scariest types of assaults and attacks, like those involving attackers armed with guns, knives, and blunt weapons. Krav Maga training, because of it’s military background, trains people to deal with these sorts of real-world dangers. Krav Maga does not train people for rules based competitions.

       What is Krav Maga?

  • Military roots
  • Principle based
  • Easy to learn 
  • Easy to retain
  • Always adapting

Krav Maga, as a system, is always adapting and changing. If a better technique is discovered, and it holds up the the basic Krav Maga principles, the old technique is omitted and the new technique is adapted into the system.

Imi eventually realized that the same principle based, always adapting, Krav Maga training the IDF was receiving would be beneficial, possibly life-saving, for civilians around the world. 

In the early 1980’s Krav Maga Worldwide’s Chief Instructor Darren Levine was one of a select group of people invited to train with Imi in Israel at the prestigious Wingate Institute. Imi’s vision was to spread Krav Maga throughout the world and make people safer so they could “walk in peace”.

Several years later Darren achieved the rank of Black Belt under Imi and was given a Founder’s Diploma, which was essentially special consideration from Imi and the Krav Maga Association of Israel to bring Krav Maga to the United States. Shortly after that Darren founded the Krav Maga Association of America and eventually Krav Maga Worldwide. 

       What is Krav Maga?

Check out this video to see the techniques you will learn in Krav Maga Level 1!

Krav Maga is a self-defense system. It will teach you how to use your body to fight back and win if you are attacked. It was originally developed for military personnel and brought to civilians by Imi Lichtenfeld and Daren Levine. Today thousands of civilians train at Krav Maga Worldwide certified training centers in our self-defense, fitness, and fight programs. Krav Maga Worldwide training is also trusted by law enforcement agencies and military units around the world who train with our Krav Maga Worldwide Force Training Division. 

The best way to really understand the answer to the question “what is Krav Maga” and to find out what Krav Maga is, is to come in and take a class at a certified Krav Maga Worldwide training center. 

We have around 150 certified training centers around the world and many of these training centers, like our HQ Training Centers in West Los Angeles, CA and Sherman Oaks, CA offer Krav Maga classes 7 days a week and a FREE trial class. 

]]> Ross Cascio <![CDATA[8 Ways to Get Your Children Interested in Physical Fitness]]> https://www.kravmaga.com/?p=27440 2019-10-31T20:35:04Z 2019-10-31T20:29:58Z Kids are more in tune with technology than ever before. Sometimes that means all the resources they need for self-growth, and sometimes it means more excuses to turn into couch potatoes.

It’s best to introduce kids to fitness programs early. That way, they’ll build healthy exercise habits that will benefit them for their entire lives.

From sports to Krav Maga for Kids, here are some tips to help get your kids away from digital distractions and start taking up hobbies that will help them keep their minds and bodies sharp for their whole lives to come.

1. Gameify It

Gameification, the concept of adding game-like elements to something in order to make it more appealing to engage with, has been proven to work wonders with business and education when implemented correctly, and the same ideas can apply to kid’s health as well. Putting your Kid’s physical fitness into the context of gaming, with scores and rewards based on their performance, can make them excited to do better and encourage good habits. Setting weekly or monthly goals, with prizes to incentivize your kid to reach them, will make a world of difference towards inspiring enthusiasm in physical activity.

2. Positive Reinforcement

Nobody likes a screaming soccer mom or a belligerent hockey dad, least of all the kids their ire is directed towards. Kids fitness programs like sports are a lot more effective and engaging for them if you compliment them when they’re doing well instead of badgering them when they struggle; there’s no better feeling than to know you’re getting a thumbs up from your friends and family. You don’t have to treat them like Sammy Sosa every time they hit a bunt, but giving them the proper credit when they succeed will be far more encouraging than dressing them down when they fail.

3. Self-Defense and Martial Arts

Speaking of self-esteem, what better way is there to feel better about yourself than to know you can take down any goons that try to hassle you? These physical disciplines can give children a much-needed confidence boost, and can be a great alternative for kids who don’t take to team sports but still want (or need) to get fit. Teaching a kid self-defense in a controlled environment is a great way to teach them discipline and responsibility, and isn’t a half-bad method of burning off fat and sugar to boot.

A self-defense class like Krav Maga for Kids at Krav Maga Worldwide is the ultimate kids fitness program. It teaches children habits that will help keep them in shape, and the skills to help them stay safe that will benefit them for their entire lives.

Child kicking soccer ball on field

4. Let Their Friends Join the Fun

Whether it’s a good habit like studying for a test or a bad one like smoking, kids are far more likely to engage in certain activities if their peers are doing them as well. Why not join up with the other parents in your neighborhood and try to make sports and high-energy activities something your entire block can get involved in? A weekly soccer or softball game will be a lot more enticing to a youngster if they know all their pals are going to be on the field playing with them.

5. Switch it Up

Sports are all about practice and getting better at something worthwhile, but there’s no sense in torturing a kid with one grueling disappointment after another if a certain athletic pursuit isn’t shaping up to be their taste. Don’t get too discouraged if your child isn’t taking to a particular kids fitness program like soccer or basketball; golf or judo might end up being right up their alley. There are as many different ways to get fit as there are kids in the world, and one of them is bound to stick with your child.

6. Teach Them Not to Compare Themselves with Others

Children can get hyped up when they realize they’re doing a good job, but they can just as easily become discouraged if they see that one of their peers is even better than they are at something they love. Sometimes it’s necessary to explain to your little one that everyone has different body types and skill levels, and the proficiency of another child has nothing to do with how well they do the exact same thing. Teach your kids that physical fitness is more than how they compare to others. If they’re having fun and staying healthy, they’re getting everything they need out of the sport in question.

Kids playing football on field

7. Watch Sports with Them

Kids love to spend time with their parents from an early age, and they have a tendency to become interested in the same things that you are. To get your child interested, help build their excitement for a kids fitness program in advance.

Sit your child down with you the next time your team hits the field, and let them ask questions about what they’re seeing and how the game is being played. Your excitement can be infectious, and teaching them to engage with their passions will both keep them interested and help increase their understanding of sports in general.

8. Let Them Decide and Explore for Themselves

Free play is an important part of growing up, and playing by yourself or in an unstructured way is a great way for a kid to figure out what kinds of structured activities they will enjoy. Sometimes a child can get overwhelmed if they’re pushed into group activities with too much fervor. Letting them explore and exhaust private activities on their own terms will often help them appreciate the appeal of team efforts and disciplined tasks in the long run.

What do you think about our list? What are your go-to kids fitness programs? Are there any ways you’ve managed to get your children excited about sports and fitness that we haven’t mentioned here? There are almost as many ways for kids to engage in sports and athletics as there are kids themselves, so don’t hesitate to tell us about anything we may have left out or share any success stories that might help other parents raise fit and healthy kids with great physical fitness habits. Leave us a comment below and tell us all about your experience!

]]> Ross Cascio <![CDATA[The 5 Most Important Aspects of a Physical Fitness Program]]> https://www.kravmaga.com/?p=27405 2019-10-28T08:39:30Z 2019-10-28T07:45:47Z Conditioning your body to be the best it can be is a huge part of succeeding at Krav Maga, and making those gains every time you hit the gym is no walk in the park. But if you know what to focus on, even the most grueling physical fitness program can go a lot smoother and make you that much stronger of a self-defense machine. Read on to learn some of the most important fitness tips for mastering the mechanics of Krav Maga. Even if you already hit the gym regularly, you might just learn something new.

1. Flexibility

Making sure you stretch properly before every workout should be the first thing you do in any physical fitness program. Checking to see that you’re limbered up isn’t one of the more glamorous parts of our regimen, but it’ll definitely make sure you can pull off our moves more easily than you’d be able to otherwise.

2. Cardio

All the Krav Maga prowess on earth isn’t going to make a huge difference if you don’t have the stamina to carry your techniques out when the going gets tough. Learn well from MMA spectacle Bob Sapp, an absolute colossus of a man that nevertheless holds a dismal win-loss record thanks to his inability to fight effectively due to becoming quickly exhausted. It’s paramount that your personal physical fitness program includes a robust amount of aerobic exercise. Cardio builds endurance, and you never know how long a potential confrontation will last or how much it might take out of you.

Mixing up your cardio program with a few different aerobic exercises—say, running one day and swimming the next—will keep your heart and respiratory system on its toes, and that will prove vital in making sure you don’t get winded during an altercation. It’s also an easy and even enjoyable way to keep your routine from growing stale. A physical fitness program without cardio is like a diet without fruits or vegetables: you need at least a little to make sure you have the energy for whatever comes next.

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3. Building Muscle

Having healthy muscles will make it a lot easier and more enjoyable to learn some of the trickier techniques that Krav Maga can throw your way. Whether you’re going for tone, volume, or a combination of the two, muscle mass doesn’t just allow your blows to hit harder, it boosts your metabolism and is incredibly beneficial for your heart as well.

This is why building muscle is the cornerstone of almost every physical fitness program: it has a ripple effect (besides the one it’ll give your pecs, of course) that helps you out with both your cardio training and your diet. By extension, it makes your technique easier to practice as well, and that’s probably why you’re working with Krav Maga Worldwide in the first place. And hey, speaking of your diet...

4. Eating Right

You might be able to bench press a Subaru, but without a good diet, your physical fitness program isn’t going to be giving you all the benefits it could be. Fatty and sugary foods will wreak havoc on your cardiovascular system, and without a good amount of protein, you’re not going to be able to stay strong for those intense encounters that could decide your fate. Stocking up on lean and nutritious meals will give you the energy you need to see your training through to its potential. No two people are going to share the same ideal diet, of course, but we have some advice for what foods will help bolster your physical fitness program right here on our blog.

5. The Techniques Themselves

No surprises here, but Krav Maga itself is a fantastic way to get in shape even apart from the physical conditioning that should go into making you the best warrior you can be. There’s a reason we offer an entire fitness program based around the tenets of Krav Maga! What could be a better workout than learning the timing, countering, grabs and footwork that come with the discipline from a certified instructor in the flesh? Krav Maga as a physical fitness program makes a perfect companion to Krav Maga as the ultimate form of self-defense.

Begin Your Journey Today with Krav Maga Worldwide

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Whether you’re a born fitness freak or you’re just getting used to the idea of putting down the doughnuts and picking up the dumbbells, Krav Maga Worldwide accepts students with all body types and levels of proficiency. Our only requirements are a willingness to learn and a dedication to work hard. If you’re not sure what kind of diet would work best for your physical fitness program, talk to a dietician, or seek the advice of one of our trainers at any of our many locations worldwide.

Are there any fitness tips you have for aspiring Krav Maga masters, or any questions you have about anything we’ve discussed here? Leave a comment below and make your voice heard. For more intensive questions, get in touch with us directly and we’ll be happy to help you out. And for more great columns like the one you just finished reading, make sure to keep up with our blog.

Your ideal physical fitness program is closer at hand than you think, so step into a certified Krav Maga Worldwide training center today and start crafting the body and mind you’ve always wanted.

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