

“Practicing your defenses can make a huge difference in how your body reacts to violence,” Gavish says. This basic defense move protects you from strikes - or slaps, punches, and waving batons - as an attacker approaches you from the front. Note: No editors were harmed in the making of this article. As you become more comfortable and precise with each move, start adding speed. Beginners are most likely to get excited and accidentally injure a friend with an overzealous practice punch. If you’re truly interested in sparring to work up a sweat, contact a pro at a nearby gym or krav maga academy. If you don’t have a partner, most of these moves can be practiced solo against a heavy punching bag at the gym. If you’re ready to brush up on your self-defense skills, it’s best to practice with a partner in an open space. This is helpful since you likely won’t be wearing sneakers and boxing gloves when you encounter a real threat. Plus, you can do krav maga in normal street clothes.

(Though it’s important to note that this study has not yet been peer-reviewed.)

The effects of single versus multiple training sessions on the motor learning of two Krav Maga strike techniques, in women. In fact, a 2019 study found that a single training session may be enough to improve kick velocity and impact force (read: quickly and seriously hurt your attacker so you can get away, like, pronto). Does practicing close combat improve the perceived ability to perform better? DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.05.018 Because the moves don’t require equipment, they’re helpful in a variety of real-life scenarios and instill confidence in those who practice it. Krav maga relies on a no-nonsense approach and practical techniques. Today, it’s used by the Israeli Defense Forces and practiced by martial arts enthusiasts worldwide.

Krav maga is an Israeli “hand-to-hand” combat system - meaning it’s done without weapons - that dates back to 1891.
