Health & Fitness

PRINCIPLES OF KRAV MAGA

The primary goal of Krav Maga is to neutralize the threat. You want to do this as quickly and efficiently as possible. Because the aim is to neutralize the threat in a life-or-death situation, anything goes in Krav Maga. There is very little fighting etiquette to learn and an emphasis is placed on attacking vulnerable soft tissues and pressure points, such as the eyes, neck or throat, face, solar plexus, groin, ribs, knee, foot, and fingers.

Maintaining an awareness of your surroundings is also taught. In a street setting, it is vital to know what is happening all around you. For example, if you are arguing with someone on the street, you don’t know the intentions of any third-party observers gathered around you. They could very well be looking for an opportunity to attack.

Another important principle of Krav Maga is simultaneous defense and attack. Unlike many other forms of martial arts, defensive and offensive movements are combined into a single continuous movement. When blocking an attack, you are also performing a counterattack. This is also where the principle of Retzev, or continuous motion, comes into play.

Finally, Krav Maga doesn’t shy away from the use of weapons. Practitioners are taught how to incorporate firearms and knives into fighting. They are also taught how to improvise and use random objects such as keys, pens, belts, and chairs as weapons.

HOW KRAV MAGA BENEFITS YOU

Almost all martial arts forms aim to teach students self-defense in some form. However, many of the techniques learned have little if any real-world application.

In a real-life setting, you are probably not going to be surrounded by a ring. It is also likely that you won’t be fighting a single person. Attacks can come from anywhere, when you least expect them. You might be squaring off against an opponent head on when a third-party attacks you from behind.

Krav Maga trains you for situations just like these. It teaches you how to be aware of your surroundings and protect yourself in real-life. It teaches you how to take down an attacker as quickly as possible by focusing on their pressure points and vulnerable areas. It teaches you how to get out of danger and to safety better than most other martial arts forms.