7 Must Know Krav Maga Training Moves | Great For Beginners

Observe Good Training Habits

Krav Maga is undoubtedly a practical self-defense system that is easy to learn. This is best used during real-life street fights.

A lot of people are convinced to learn this self-defense style because of its simplicity and practicality. The logical movements in Krav Maga make it different from other martial arts styles.

Although it is simple and easy to learn, gaining enough strength and being flexible are essential if you want to become an efficient Krav Maga practitioner.

Krav Maga training requires hard work, patience, dedication, and right methodology.

The following are some of the few tips that will help you sustain in your Krav Maga training:

1. Begin slowly

Learn each technique slowly. Do not rush in learning all techniques at one time. When you rush in executing the movements, you will likely make more errors.

It is best to completely understand first a particular technique and slowly execute each movement. Your body will eventually get used to a particular move.

Then, you can now proceed to learn and to execute another move. Do not hesitate to ask your trainer, instructor, peer, or partner to minimize or slow down their attacks when necessary.

When you train, you don’t have to prove that you are good in front of anyone. So, take it slowly but surely.

2. Move purposefully

Even though you are slowly internalizing each move, it is still important to avoid splitting up a certain technique into several steps. One of the principles of Krav Maga is movement fluidity.

Train your mind and body to get used with executing continuous movements. Although your speed is slow at first, make sure that the delivery and purpose of your moves are not compromised.

If you need to extend your kicks and punches and be decisive as you strike, then do so. Bear in mind that your goal in Krav Maga is to overcome real-life attacks and neutralize the threat.

Thus, your mental condition, attitude, and movements as you train should reflect your main goal.

3. Speed up

When you get used to the movements, you may start increasing your speed. Keep in mind that the initial rule in Krav Maga training is to avoid yourself getting hurt.

So, it is apparent that your safety and your partner’s safety is important as you increase your speed.

Maintain similar body mechanics as you had when you are training at a slower pace. If you notice that you had made a mistake in your movements, slow down a bit and repeat the movement until you have perfectly executed it.

4. Stop overthinking

Whether you are training in school or at home, you will certainly discover moves and techniques that you have not yet tried. You may find it difficult at first and start to overthink.

However, overthinking has no place in Krav Maga training. You will get to experience those complicated and stressful moves and drills later on as you progress in your training.

When you are capable of executing all Krav Maga moves, you can eventually use all these to protect yourself and neutralize the threat in real-life street fights.

In real settings, you do not need to anticipate the attack of your opponent. All you need to do is to respond to whatever is the attack using defensive moves that you have learned during the training. To win in a fight, it is best to combine your training insights and natural instincts.

If you have made an error in your move, you don’t have the time to correct it.

Instead, continue to execute defensive moves and perform offensive moves when necessary and given the opportunity. However, be mindful of your mistakes and strive to avoid it if you encounter a fight the next time around.

5. Practice, practice, practice

Even if you are not in a formal training, you can always practice Krav Maga moves anytime, especially during your free time.

If you can allot 10 to 15 minutes a day for practice, then that would be great. You can simply imagine your opponent’s attack and execute the right defense moves. You can absolutely assess your form and correct your mistakes as you practice.

6. Stick with the basics

The key to becoming a successful Krav Maga practitioner is to have a strong foundation of the basic principles and techniques. What is nice about Krav Maga is that advanced moves are created out of basic tactics, movements, and principles.

Learning how to defend yourself against an attacker who is using a bayonet connected to a rifle is pretty cool, but this is not practical.

However, if you encounter an attacker with this type of weapon, you can certainly defend yourself using a straight punch move and executing offense moves. That way, you have a great chance to neutralize the threat.

How did Krav Maga get started?

In order for you to understand and appreciate Krav Maga techniques and principles, knowing its history is essential. The beginnings of Krav Maga can be traced back during the pre-World War II.

It all started with a young Jewish athlete from Czechoslovakia (currently Slovakia). The athlete is Imi Lichtenfeld. Imi was well-known locally and internationally as a gymnast, wrestler, and boxer.

In the middle of the 1930s, anti-Semitic groups and fascists became powerful and started inflicting violence on the Jews.

Having strongly felt the responsibility to protect his neighbors, he formed a group of young men to safeguard and protect the Jews community against the attackers. He had found out that his sport martial arts training is not enough to defeat the anti-Semitic group.

To win in a street fight requires excellent techniques and positive mindset. Therefore, Imi started combining his martial arts expertise with another fighting technique, that is, disabling and neutralizing the attacker during a fight.

Living in 1940’s Nazi government

In 1940, Imi lived under a Nazi-allied puppet government. He then went to Palestine to become part of the Zionist Movement, a group that defends and supports the Jewish national state in Palestine.

He then tied up with Haganah, a Jewish paramilitary group that aims to safeguard and protects Jewish immigrants from locals. Imi’s military abilities and teaching skills immediately caught the attention of Israeli army leaders.

So, they made him a leader of the elite military forces, which include the Palyam (marine commandos), Haganah, and Palmach (elite strike force).

Imi was a Krav Maga instructor for around 20 years in the Israel Defense Forces. In 1964, after serving in the military, he focused his time and energy on improving the self-defense system and teaching Krav Maga techniques to local citizens.

Because of his passion, he established the Krav Maga Association (KMA) in 1974. This is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to providing Krav Maga instructions and promoting this self-defense system all over the world.

Some of Imi’s followers introduced Krav Maga to the USA. Unexpectedly, this became the close-combat system of choice of most police and military forces in the USA.

This paved the way for the establishment of many Krav Maga organizations in the USA. Throughout the years, these organizations have been collaborating with groups in Israel to promote and teach Krav Maga in America.null

Final Thoughts

Krav Maga is a practical fighting system with the main goal of neutralizing the threat by executing the appropriate defense and offense moves.

Because of the increased popularity of this self-defense style, many people nowadays begin to engage in Krav Maga training.

This can be done by enrolling in a class or training at home using DVDs and books. Having the right state of mind and body, training slowly, and staying safe are the keys to becoming a successful Krav Maga practitioner.