Darren Levine - Krav Maga for Beginners

NEUTRALIZING THE ATTACKER→ After the initial counterstrike, the defender should continue to strike with knees. Regardless of the combatives used, students must focus on rendering the attacker unwilling or unable to continue the assault.

• when training, lean forward to simulate being off balance

• arm stabs straight forward to defend at the wrist

• turn sharply after stepping and stabbing

• aggressive, follow-up combatives

• disengage when deemed safe

During training, my partner often goes right by me when I make the defense. What am I doing wrong?

It’s very likely that you’re doing nothing wrong. If the push is very strong, it’s not only possible, but probable, that the attacker’s momentum will carry him beyond you, which is why the step back is important.

Can I defend to either side?

You should train both sides after you have developed some familiarity with the defense. The defense works whether you step with the right foot and stab with the left or vice versa.

Is it okay to wrap the arms after clearing them?

Krav Maga prefers to teach techniques that work for everyone. By wrapping, you give some measure of control to the attacker, and if the attacker is much larger or a better grappler, this can be very problematic. By simply pinning the hands with your elbow, you have the freedom of a quick release if needed.

Training Tips:Though often a safety issue in training, it’s possible to strike with the elbow and/or hammerfist of the clearing arm. This is a faster counter, but it’s a difficult to train without actually striking your training partner.

In order to make the rotation easier and more effective, be sure to turn in place, as opposed to moving your shoulder backward. Such a motion will create more resistance, making the defense harder to perform.

ATTACK→ This is the typical “schoolyard” headlock, where the attacker wraps his arm around your head and neck. The defender should train from a neutral position. The attacker should simulate a realistic attack, building in intensity as familiarity with the defense increases.

Safety in training note: Warm up your neck before training this attack and defense.

IMMEDIATE DANGER→ Balance, pressure on the neck and throat. The primary dangers in this attack are the potential of being taken to the ground and of the forearm restricting blood flow to the brain or crushing the windpipe.

SECONDARY DANGERS→ Punches. The attacker’s intent may be to hold the defender and punch to the face. If the defense is performed properly, this peripheral danger should be mitigated or removed altogether.

SOLUTION→ High and Low Defense. The natural reaction to this attack is to step to avoid falling or being taken to the ground. The arms are also likely to swing in order to aid in maintaining balance. Do not fight this natural inclination.

1As the attack develops, step with it, turning your chin towards the attacker’s hands, and tucking it in to pro vide a defense against punches and reduce the effects of a choke or strangulation. At the same time, your outside hand should swing low to the attacker’s groin, and your inside hand should go high between your head and the attacker’s head.

INITIAL COUNTERATTACK→ Strike to Groin, Grab to Face. The outside hand should slap or punch the groin as you’re making the defense. The inside hand, placed between your head and the attacker’s, should go to the attacker’s face, with your thumb under the chin and index finger under the nose, avoiding the mouth.

NEUTRALIZING THE ATTACKER→ Lift the attacker’s chin and drive the attacker’s head straight down, while standing up with your legs and straightening your back. Continue to use hammerfists, palm heels, and punches to the face and throat while driving the attacker down towards the ground.

• go with the pull… do not resist it

• turn and tuck your chin to minimize the chance of being punched or choked

• simultaneously strike to groin and grab to face

• once the attacker’s chin is up, drive your elbow (and the attacker’s head) down

• do not follow the attacker to the ground while delivering counters

• aggressive, follow-up combatives

• disengage when deemed safe

What if I can’t get to the attacker’s face?

If the attacker has hair, make a grab at the hairline, pulling the head straight back and down, continuing with combatives. It’s also possible to grab the muscle on the side of the attacker’s neck and twist it to induce pain and create the needed leverage. In either case, you should still make the same motion with your elbow going down along the attacker’s back.

Training Tips:It’s very common for students to pull the elbow out instead of down. This will not allow for the kind of leverage and control needed to make the defense and deliver multiple counters. Think of turning the attacker’s head back, making a “question mark” with your hand, arm, and elbow. After this motion, take your elbow straight down, keeping the attacker in one place, not rotating and pushing him away from you.

Don’t stop once you’ve created leverage on the neck and stood upright. Continue applying pressure to the neck and delivering combatives until the attacker is driven to the ground or taken off balance.

ATTACK→ With the rear headlock, the attacker wraps his arm around the neck, attacking the front of the throat or sides of the neck. The defender should train from a neutral position. The attacker should simulate a realistic attack, building in intensity as familiarity with the defense increases. It’s important to note the inherent danger in this attack. Respond as early as possible to prevent a strong headlock from being applied.

Safety in training notes: Warm up your neck before training this attack and defense. Be careful not to apply too much pressure to the front of the throat. The attacker should also be aware of the potential for eye gouges.

IMMEDIATE DANGER→ Crushing of the windpipe or restriction of blood flow. In this attack, the immediate danger varies by the placement of the attacker’s arm. If the forearm lies across the throat, the windpipe is in danger of being crushed. If the forearm wraps around to the other side of the neck, with the crook of the elbow at the defender’s throat, the danger becomes losing consciousness as a result of the carotid arteries being restricted.

SECONDARY DANGERS→ Balance. In order to apply this headlock, it may be necessary or expedient for the attacker to pull the defender backward, compromising balance.