This page examines a wide variety of Krav Maga techniques. It provides details regarding Krav Maga kicks, punches, ground fighting and other martial arts techniques. These pages are meant to reinforce and supplement what you have learned in your Krav Maga classes. To properly understand these techniques, you need to learn them from a Krav Maga instructor who can give an in-depth explanation of the technique, correct your mistakes and detail how the technique should be utilized. Moreover, be aware that there are a variety of Krav Maga schools and associations so martial arts students might learn variations to these techniques.
All martial arts techniques should only be practiced under the supervision of a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. In addition, all martial arts techniques and training should be used safely and responsibly.
Instructional Books – Krav Maga Books
Related Pages
Krav Maga Stances – Click on the technique links below for instructions & videos
- Neutral Stance – Krav Maga – Also known as Passive Stance.
- Fighting Stance – Krav Maga
Krav Maga Punches & Strikes
- Cross Body Punch – Krav Maga – Also known as a Rear Hand Punch or Reverse Punch.
- Elbow Strike – Krav Maga – Instructions for Krav Maga elbow strikes 1-7.
- Eye Strike – Krav Maga
- Hammer Fist – Krav Maga
- Headbutt – Krav Maga
- Hook Punch – Krav Maga
- Inside Chop – Krav Maga – Also known as a Knife Hand Strike.
- Mouth of Hand – Krav Maga – Mouth of Hand Punch or Strike
- Outside Chop – Krav Maga
- Palm Heel Strike – Krav Maga
- Straight Punch – Krav Maga
- Uppercut Punch – Krav Maga
- To see how punches & strikes are done by other martial arts, visit Black Belt Wiki’s sections on Punches & Strikes and Elbow Strikes.
Defenses Against Punches
- Defense Against Hook Punch – Krav Maga
- Defense Against Straight Punch – Krav Maga
- Defense Against Uppercut Punch – Krav Maga
- Defense Against Punches When Mounted – Krav Maga – Defense Against Punches When An Attacker Is On Top Of You
- 360 Defense – Krav Maga
- How To Counter An Elbow Strike
Krav Maga Kicks
- Axe Kick – Krav Maga
- Back Kick – Krav Maga
- Front Kick – Krav Maga – Hit target with your instep or shin
- Advancing Front Kick – Krav Maga – Also known as Front Kick with Advance.
- Vertical Front Kick – Krav Maga – Hit target with the ball of your foot
- Heel Kick – Krav Maga – Also known as a hook kick.
- Round Kick – Krav Maga
- Side Kick – Krav Maga
- Slap Kick – Krav Maga – Also known as a crescent kick.
- Spinning Heel Kick – Krav Maga
- Spinning Outside Slap Kick – Krav Maga – Also known as a spinning crescent kick.
- Leg Sweep – Krav Maga
- Front Kick Sweep – Krav Maga
- Heel Kick Sweep – Krav Maga
- Round Kick Sweep – Krav Maga
- Switch Kicks – Krav Maga
- Uppercut Back Kick – Krav Maga
- To see how these kicks are done by other martial arts styles, visit Black Belt Wiki’s sections on Kicking Techniques and Knee Strikes.
Defenses Against Kicks
- Defense Against A Front Kick – Krav Maga
- Defense Against Round Kick – Krav Maga
- Defense Against A Low Round Kick – Krav Maga – This page focuses on how to use your shin to protect against low kicks.
- Defense Against Side Kick – Krav Maga
- Defense Against Spinning Heel Kick – Krav Maga
Krav Maga Knee Strikes
- Knee Strike (Round or Horizontal) – Krav Maga
- Knee Strike (Vertical) – Krav Maga
- Defense Against A Knee Strike – Krav Maga
- To see a variety of knee strikes used by other martial arts, visit the main Knee Strikes section.
How To Fall If Knocked To The Ground
- Back Fall Break – Krav Maga
- Side Fall Break – Krav Maga
- Backward Roll – Krav Maga
- Forward Roll – Krav Maga
Krav Maga Groundwork & Grappling Techniques
- Arm Bar From Guard – Krav Maga
- Defense Against Full Nelson – Krav Maga
- Escape From A Mounted Choke – Krav Maga
- Escape From Mount – Krav Maga
- Escape From Mount Hands Pinned – Krav Maga (or Defense Against Being Straddled With Wrists Pinned) – This is a good technique for women’s and children’s self-defense.
- How To Bridge – Krav Maga – The bridging technique is used in order to dislodge an opponent.
- Hip Throw – Krav Maga
- Shoulder Throw – Krav Maga
- Single Leg Takedown – Krav Maga
- Double Leg Takedown – Krav Maga
- For additional grappling techniques and escapes, visit the main Grappling section.
Krav Maga Ground Fighting Techniques
- Defense Against A Leg Grab While On Ground – Hook or Heel Kick
- Defense Against A Leg Grab While On Ground – Roundhouse Kick
- Ground Defensive Positions – Krav Maga – How to position yourself if you have been knocked to the ground.
- How To Get Back Up From The Ground – Krav Maga
- Front Kick From The Ground – Krav Maga
- Round Kick From The Ground – Krav Maga
- Side Kick From The Ground – Krav Maga
- Also learn grappling techniques in order to succeed in a ground fight.
Krav Maga Defenses Against Weapons
- Defense Against A Gun To The Front – Krav Maga
- Defense Against A Gun To The Rear – Krav Maga
- Defense Against A Gun To The Side – Krav Maga
- Defense Against A Knife Downward Stab – Krav Maga
- Defense Against A Knife Straight Stab – Krav Maga – Defense against a straight thrust.
- Defense Against A Knife Upward Stab – Krav Maga
- Defense Against A Knife To The Rear – Krav Maga
- Defense Against A Knife To The Throat (Front Attack) – Krav Maga – Knife to the neck from the front.
- Defense Against A Knife To The Throat (Rear Attack) – Krav Maga – Knife to the neck from the rear (attacker is behind the person).
- Defense Against A Rifle – Krav Maga – Long gun defense (i.e. against rifle, shotgun, etc.)
- Krav Maga – Stick Defense – This page shows the basics behind a variety of Krav Maga defenses against an attacker armed with a baseball bat, stick, club, etc.
- Defense Against A Low Stick Strike – Krav Maga – This is a defense against an attacker who is trying to strike a person’s knees or legs with a stick or club.
- Defense Against A High Stick Strike – Krav Maga – This is a defense against an attacker who is trying to strike a person’s head or upper body with a stick or club.
Defenses Against Bear Hugs
- Defense Against A Bear Hug From Behind With Arms Free – Krav Maga – Or Defense Against A Rear Bear Hug With Arms Free (Not Trapped In The Bear Hug).
- Defense Against Bear Hug From Behind With Arms Caught – Krav Maga – How To Deal With A Bear Hug If Your Arms Are Trapped.
- Defense Against A Bear Hug From The Front – Krav Maga – Or Defense Against A Front Bear Hug
- Defense against a Rear Bear Hug If Picked Up Off Ground
Defenses Against Chokes
- Defense Against A Choke From Behind – Krav Maga – Or Defense Against A Rear Choke
- Defense Against A Choke From The Front – Krav Maga
- Defense Against A Choke From The Side – Krav Maga
- Defense Against A Choke With Attacker In Mount – Krav Maga – Or Escape From A Choke When An Attacker Is On Top Of You
Defenses Against Headlocks
- Escape From A Full Nelson – Krav Maga
- Escape From A Rear Headlock – Krav Maga (Standing Headlock) – Or Defense Against A Headlock From Behind
- Escape From A Side Headlock – Krav Maga (Standing Headlock) – Or Defense Against A Headlock From The Side
Defenses Against Wrist Grabs
- Opposite Side Wrist Release – Krav Maga
- Same Side Wrist Release – Krav Maga
- Wrist Release When Held By Two Hands – Krav Maga – How to escape an opponent who has grabbed your wrist with his two hands.
- Escape When Both Wrists Are Held – Krav Maga – Double wrist escape or How to escape an opponent who has grabbed both of your wrists.
Defenses Against Hair Grabs
- Escape From A Front Hair Grab – Krav Maga
- Escape From A Side Hair Grab – Krav Maga
- Escape From A Rear Hair Grab – Krav Maga
Defenses Against Other Grabs
Defenses Against Carjackings, Hostage Situations, etc.
- Defense Against Carjacking – Krav Maga
- Defense Against Hostage Situations – Krav Maga – When grabbed by an assailant armed with a gun.
Defenses Against Multiple Opponents
Krav Maga Questions
Is Krav Maga the deadliest martial art?
Krav Maga is not the deadliest martial arts because Krav Maga students are not being trained to kill people. Rather, Krav Maga is a highly effective martial arts focused on unarmed self-defense. Krav Maga students learn to use a wide variety of kicks, punches and grappling techniques in order to defend themselves against attackers and escape from hostile situations.
Can you learn Krav Maga by yourself?
No. All Krav Maga techniques and exercises should be supervised by a trained Krav Maga instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is being learned and utilized. To properly understand Krav Maga techniques and self-defense training, individuals need to learn them from a Krav Maga instructor who can provide in-depth instruction, help correct mistakes, answer questions and detail how techniques should be utilized in different self-defense situations.
Krav Maga Techniques – Ground Defense
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons via its Creative Commons license