Discipline hub
Krav Maga
Self-defence, not sport: simple strikes, aggression and weapon defences drilled under stress.
- Origin
- Israel; roots in 1930s Bratislava
- Region
- Middle East & Central Asia
- Founded
- military use from 1948; civilian teaching from the 1960s
- Category
- Hybrid
Krav Maga (“contact combat”) was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld, a boxer and wrestler who organised the defence of Jewish neighbourhoods in Bratislava in the 1930s and later trained the Israeli armed forces after 1948. From the 1960s he adapted the system for civilians. Krav Maga is a self-defence system rather than a martial art or sport: no forms, no competition, and techniques judged only by whether they work quickly under stress.
Character
- Simple, gross-motor techniques: Palm strikes, elbows, knees, low kicks, chokes released with the nearest tool.
- Simultaneous defence and attack: Block and hit in the same movement.
- Weapon defences: Knife, stick and firearm scenarios – drilled with padded weapons.
- Stress training: Fatigue, surprise and multiple attackers are built into drills.
Who is it for?
Anyone whose goal is practical self-defence rather than sport or tradition. Quality varies enormously between organisations, so look for instructors with real contact training and clear safety standards. A mouthguard, groin guard and MMA-style gloves are typical kit.
Further reading: Krav Maga on Wikipedia