What Is Krav Maga: Background to The Art

Krav Maga is an Israeli martial art self-defence system that was developed for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) – widely considered to be one of the most highly-trained defence forces in the world. 

Today, Krav Maga continues to be a staple of the Israeli military and law enforcement system and has grown a global audience within the martial arts community. Like many of the martial arts, Krav Maga is not only about physical techniques – it’s also about mental conditioning that allows practitioners to remain calm, focussed, and clear-minded when under duress. 

What is the origin story of Krav Maga?

Krav Maga was developed in the 1930s by Hungarian-Jerish martial artist Imi Lichtenfeld as a self-defence system for Jews living in Nazi-occupied Europe. With a background in wrestling and boxing, Lichtenfeld developed a unique system that aimed to provide real-world defence in response to the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe.

Following the war, Lichtenfeld migrated from Europe to Israel and continued to teach and develop Krav Maga to students. In the years that followed as Krav Maga grew a cult following in Israel, the Israeli military adopted Krav Maga as its official hand-to-hand combat system.

Today, almost 100-years since Lichtenfeld first started developing the Krav Maga martial art, the Israeli military and law enforcement continue to learn and develop Krav Maga for hand-to-hand conflict.

Has Krav Maga changed much since the 1930s?

Krav Maga has certainly evolved since its inception in the 1930s. Just like all martial arts, Krav Maga has evolved over time and adapted to new influences from within the Krav Maga community.

As Krav Maga has spread around the world, it has been adopted and adapted by different instructors to suit the needs of their students and environment. 

Despite these variations, the core principles of Krav Maga remain the same: to provide practical and effective self-defence skills that can be used in real-world situations.

Why did the Israeli army choose Krav Maga as a self defence system?

Krav Maga was first adopted by the Israeli army back in the 1940s as a way to help soldiers to protect themselves in close-quarters combat. The Krav Maga system is designed to exploit the attackers’ weak points and natural reactions in close-quarter combat situations. 

The Israeli army continues to teach Krav Maga because it is highly effective in combat situations and (relative to other martial arts) is easy to learn, yet highly effective in real world combat situations.

Is Krav Maga violent? 

When used correctly, Krav Maga is a highly effective self-defence system to dangerous scenarios – but that does not mean that it is violent. Krav Maga is designed to deescalate conflict and ensure that practitioners can be self-reliant and self-rescue from sudden, unexpected scenarios. 

Just like all martial arts, Krav Maga is not based on conflict – it is based on resolving such situations. The goal of any Krav Maga should always be to deescalate a situation and use their self-defence system as a last resort in hostile situations. 

What makes Street Edge Krav Maga a good choice for martial arts students?

Many students do not realise that Krav Maga is actually a martial art – many mistakenly think that it is simply a fighting style or self-defence system. But what makes Krav Maga a good choice for martial arts students when compared to Jiu Jitsu or Karate?

Firstly, Krav Maga is designed to be an effective self-defence system that focusses on teaching practical techniques that can help in real-world situations. As far as effective self-defence systems go, Krav Maga is right up there and provides a (relatively) easy to learn system that can help to keep students safe in tricky situations.

Secondly, Krav Maga is a physically demanding sport that requires a great deal of fitness and stamina which makes it an ideal choice for students that are looking to roll their martial arts and holistic fitness routine into a single, full-body activity. 

Finally, Krav Maga is a great way to improve mental health by meeting new people in a supportive and friendly environment. Krav Maga reduces stress and provides an ideal outlet for stress and tension, while also increasing your overall wellness and health.

Learn Street Edge Krav Maga with UMF 

Paul Johnstone is the designer of the Street Edge Krav Maga training system. Paul’s experience and credentials are extensive. UMF is the official representative of Street Edge Krav Maga and affiliated Training Centre for Townsville. Pablo Cardenas is certified by the Federation of Israeli Martial Arts (FIMA).