Darren Levine - Krav Maga for Beginners

At this level, one of our primary goals is to learn to control the opponent as much as possible. When the attacker tries to sit back so he can punch, use your legs to pull him in close. When the attacker tries to get close to stifle your punches, use your legs and hips to push him away. Overall, use this “push/pull” combination to disrupt his balance.

Striking from your back can be difficult because it’s harder to generate power. However, a few strikes are possible, as follows:

If the attacker exposes his face, send a straight punch. Be sure to rotate your shoulder and use your hip to create as much power as possible. Since your legs are wrapped around his waist, use the attacker as a base to help generate power.

Sometimes the attacker will bring his head in close. Elbow #1 to his jaw or Elbow #7 to the back of his head or clavicle can be very effective.

These techniques can be very effective when the attacker is close. Tear at the face and gouge the eyes. Catch the hair (if any) and face, and twist the neck.

Training Tips:There is value in learning to strike from any position. However, as stated, it’s much more difficult to strike from your back. Later in the system, you’ll learn submission/grappling techniques that are more effective from this position.

This is a basic escape when you find yourself on your back with someone in your guard.

Starting position:You have your opponent in your guard.

1Shift to one hip, bringing your top knee in so that your shin presses against his body. Your hands should be up to protect against punches.

2-3Kick your bottom foot against his hip to create space, then kick your top foot against his chest or face. Be sure to extend your hip during both kicks. Get up and create distance.

Training Tips:It’s important to shift to one hip in order to perform the technique, especially if you lack flexibility. Turning to one hip makes it easier to bring the top knee in against the attacker’s body, which helps to create distance for the second kick.

Just as we can use our legs to manipulate someone else while they’re in our guard, the attacker may try to manipulate us if we’re in his guard. As you become a more proficient groundfighter, you’ll learn a number of techniques to strike from and escape from the guard. At this level, we present basic and effective techniques that will keep you safe and allow you to neutralize the attacker.

If you find yourself in the attacker’s guard, your first job is to establish a basic position to avoid being attacked or reversed.

1Kneel with your knees fairly wide and your toes curled so that you’re on the balls of your feet (not the shoe laces). Press your chest and head against his chest and put your hands on his biceps to limit his strikes and other attacks.

1If you want to get to a position that allows you to strike more effectively, sit back inside his guard, keeping your weight in your heels. Tuck your elbows in tight, with your hands grabbing at the area of his belt buckle.

2From here, deliver strikes to the face or groin.

Training Tip:Be all the way in or all the way out. Even if you’re not familiar with basic “submission” attacks such as arm bars or triangles, you can learn some basic principles that protect you from these attacks. One of these principles is this: Be all the way in or all the way out.

If you want to get close to the attacker, get very close, with your head up near his chest and shoulders, your arms and shoulders in very deep, and your hips pressed against the backs of his thighs. This makes it more difficult for him to move his hips and legs up high enough to attack you.

If you want to create distance from the attacker, get very far out so that your elbows are below the line of his groin and your head and shoulders are high up away from him. This makes it hard for him to reach you, and makes it easier for you to slide out if he tries a submission-type attack.

As with the other areas we’ve discussed, the strikes here are not new. Straight punches, elbows, headbutts, bite/gouge/scratch, and hammerfists are all possible.

As with striking while in the full mount, you must be very cognizant of your balance. A smart attacker will use his legs to push you away or pull you in when you try to strike in an attempt to take your balance away. Always operate from a solid base, and do not compromise this base for anything.

Training Tip:Never overextend your arms. One of the basic attacks from the guard is an arm bar, in which the opponent traps one arm and can break it. You expose yourself to an arm bar if you extend one arm too far and let him trap it. Practice punching and recoiling quickly, always bringing your elbows in tight and close to you; this makes an arm bar very difficult to perform.