Krav Maga Training Diary

Uppercut Punch

Brady J. Frey — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:32:46 +0000

Positioning yourself in a fighting stance, level your arm down, fist rotated out so that your palm faces your body. Aiming contact with the middle/index finger for greater stability, angle your arm to an outstretched, 45°. Lifting with your legs with the ball of your feet, strike your opponent with structured power to the face as intended.

Throat Strike

Brady J. Frey — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:28:03 +0000

Not a recommended strike; both for it’s effectiveness, and for it’s potential danger to the opponent (though I’ve heard contrary statements from various instructors). There is still the potential to break the trachea of an opponent, and strikes with knuckle or inner hand are recommended to be avoided in favor of a fist.

Eye Strike

Brady J. Frey — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:24:37 +0000

No longer taught to civilian classes (depending on the instructor); both in regard to it’s potential danger to an opponent, and to it’s limited danger for the defensive attack.

Choke from the side

Brady J. Frey — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:21:56 +0000

Aiming for the inside, direct throat, hand; pluck the grip with an aggressive ‘rip’ with the far hand, using your inside arm for a downward hammer-fist into the opponents groin. Immediately raise the attack arm elbow back and up towards the opponents face using a #5 elbow technique, but not to make contact, only to make space. When the elbow reaches shoulder level, cock it back for a #3 elbowto the opponents face. Based on your position, you may shift into a hook punch using the right fist, followed by a forward knee to the opponents groin, or any other combinations that will hasten a safe escape.

Choke from behind

Brady J. Frey — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 05:34:33 +0000

If an attacker chokes you with both hands, while you are facing away from the opponent in a standing (not moving) position, reach both hands back over your shoulders (palms facing the opponent and fingers outstretched to scare or scratch your opponent) to pluck your attackers hands. Shifting slight left, deliver a Hammer-fist strike to the attackers groins. Immediately raise the attack arm elbow back and up towards the opponents face using a #5 elbow technique, but not to make contact, only to make space. When the elbow reaches shoulder level, cock it back for a #3 elbowto the opponents face. Based on your position, you may shift into a hook punch using the right fist, followed by a forward knee to the opponents groin, or any other combinations that will hasten a safe escape.

Inside Defense

Brady J. Frey — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:49:39 +0000

The design, as with most Krav movements, is intended to be an advancement of casual movements. Hands in a defensive, or offensive, position you ‘push’ your palm towards the face of the opponent. Creating an inward angle that deflects the punch with power but does so with minimal movement. The forearm should be left at a 45 degree angle, just nudging the attack away from your body.

Choke from the front (2 hand pluck)

Brady J. Frey — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:25:34 +0000

When the attacker is choking you in a standing position, both facing each other: pluck with both hands while simultaneously raising your knee for a straight forward knee or, depending on distance, a groin kick. This shift in power should break the attackers grip as well as their balance, leaving you available for counter strikes. Leaning in for a hammer-fist strike and as many techniques it takes to get free and get away, or put your opponent down.

Choke from the front (1 hand pluck)

Brady J. Frey — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:07:48 +0000

When the attacker is choking you in a standing position, both facing each other: pluck with your left hand while simultaneously raising your right hand between your attackers arms for either a straight punch or palm strike to the attackers face. This shift in power should break the attackers grip as well as their balance, leaving you available for counter strikes. Depending on the teacher, I’ve found it successful to continue to hold onto the attackers arm you ‘plucked’ in close (low down to your chest area) for a follow up groin kick, leaning in for an straight forward knee, hammer-fist strikes and as many techniques it takes to get free and get away, or put your opponent down.

Hammer-fist Strikes

Brady J. Frey — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:00:58 +0000

For level 1, these strikes are tested in all directions. Similar to a knife stabbing motion, the fist is clenched so contact is made with the muscular palm flex. With the back of the fist parallel to the body, strike down in a tomahawk motion, using your body as power leverage into the attack. Highly aggressive, quick, and powerful; you will find this used as additions to many combinations.

7 Elbows

Brady J. Frey — Tue, 29 May 2007 04:34:52 +0000

This diagram is my own personal reference for the 7 elbow strike combinations taught by Krav maga. Darker, transparent arms reflect the striking punch, or the end of the elbow technique. All methods start from the aggressive Fighting Stance. The first three show a top view, as the arm level is consistent to yours, subsequent attacks require some arm adjustment, and have a side view accordingly:

Chart of 7 Elbow techniques: View the layout

Verbal Outline:

Cock your elbow back (exaggerated for the drawing) for an aggressive straight elbow to the opponents chest to head location (head preferred). Careful to use your body as the power, not simply your arm.
Transfer your elbow, parallel to your body, sideways with a stab of the elbow to your opponent
Elbow back, targeting the opponents chest to head. Remember to look a split second prior to attack, lest ye land it in a not so comfortable location
Drive the elbow low and back to the opponents abdomen or below
Drive the elbow from low to high; an uppercut elbow of sorts that should clear space and direct contact to your opponents chin
Reverse of number 5, swing the elbow to an uppercut to the front attackers chin
Drive your elbow up, then down, in a hammerfist manner that finds the full force of your body weight as support

Straight Punch with Retreat

Brady J. Frey — Tue, 29 May 2007 03:21:28 +0000

See Straight Punch and Straight Punch with Advance. Mirror the technique of a Straight Punch with Advance with the exception of stepping back with your rear leg.

Straight Punch with Advance

Brady J. Frey — Tue, 29 May 2007 03:19:51 +0000

See Straight Punch, with the only addition being a hard step in the direction of the attach utilizing a Krav stomp with your punch.

Eye/Throat Strike

Brady J. Frey — Tue, 29 May 2007 03:17:10 +0000

Is no longer taught to civilians.

Shadow Boxing

Brady J. Frey — Mon, 28 May 2007 04:30:09 +0000

Exactly similar to the traditional sense, Shadow Boxing tests yourself to move, strike, and defense as if there’s a real attacker. The struggle for newbies seems to be that you need to remember to continue striking with as many combinations as possible. Real combat is not 1, 2 – it’s 5, 7, etc.

Inside Defense Against A Straight Punch

Brady J. Frey — Mon, 28 May 2007 04:26:23 +0000

With hands in a passive or aggressive position, you should lean your arm out, elbow at a 45 degree angle, and slide the incoming punch to the adjacent arm. The movement is simple, and therefore over thinking makes it easily tricky – your forearm should move foreward at the 45 degree angle; brushing the arm enough that it slides out of your way, letting the punch miss your body.

Straight Forward Knee

Brady J. Frey — Mon, 28 May 2007 04:23:47 +0000

Grip the attacker, either by the shirt or by the skin if you have too, assertively: lead forearm and elbow braces his neck while you hold onto his back if you’re able, alternate arm grabs the side slight back while the forearm presses on their arm bend or with a hand on their arm directly. Your lead leg (on the side of the hand not touching the neck/shoulder of the attacker) is pushed forward for balance while the opposite leg is cocked back ready to fire. Aggressively hold and pull the body of the assailant into your knee while you bring your knee forward swiftly. Barney note: if you must, aim like your hands are going to your knee (as if there were no object in between the two). It’s an instinctual movement that can be done with your eyes closed.

Front Kick – Defensive

Brady J. Frey — Mon, 28 May 2007 04:08:30 +0000

See Front Kick – Vertical Target. Contrary to a Vertical Target, the intention of hte Defensive kick is to ‘push’ your assailant from the mid-section. The kick comes quick with power and pushes and forward or still attacker off balance for either escape or compound attacks.

Front Kick – Vertical Target

Brady J. Frey — Mon, 28 May 2007 04:04:44 +0000

See Groin Kick, but with emphasis for distance and possibly to the head. The technique requests a ball of foot attck – and is commonly taught as a frontal attack to a knife armed assailant.

Stomp Kick

Brady J. Frey — Mon, 28 May 2007 04:00:52 +0000

Just that: Stomp with the heel driving down into the opposition, and can include body movement for added power (so long as it does not sacrifice control). Stomping methods are also common in lead attacks and moving forward for attacking in Krav as a base of power.

Round Kick

Brady J. Frey — Mon, 28 May 2007 03:59:12 +0000

Rotate your body sideways in a fluid, single attack – striking with the shin to foot location, and landing with the top of your foot for strong control. Krav advocates a ‘push’ when the kick makes contact (push is not the professional term but good for my records); essentially kicking and leaning in for added strength. Landing can be based on position, but is always meant for security and control. As always, guard never leaves.

Groin Kick

Brady J. Frey — Mon, 28 May 2007 03:56:44 +0000

Standard issue front – straight kick, using the ball of your foot. Typical of other martial arts is to lean in for extra lift and forward power. Krav Maga does not advocate that method unless at a distance because of the sacrificed footing. As always, you should never drop your arms and drive with assertion!

Hook Punch

Brady J. Frey — Mon, 28 May 2007 03:17:10 +0000

The important note of a hook punch: it’s in the body, not a swing of the arm. Drop your fist and forearm from your fighting stance down and parallel to your body position (your fist can either face yourself from palm side to your body, or the traditional thumb side to your body). Stiffen and lean into the punch with your body, again, there is no power in just an arm punch. Pivot on the same foot as your punching arm, provide a little hip movement and a strong lean into the target.

Palm Strike

Brady J. Frey — Thu, 17 May 2007 05:13:25 +0000

Generalized term for an ‘open hand’ strike. For most level 1 this typically follows a straight punch technique, but can be used in alternate methods of striking. Strike with the palm angled up, fingers bent but not at a closed fist with the intention of staying out of the way of the strike.

Straight Punch

Brady J. Frey — Thu, 17 May 2007 03:15:03 +0000

A direct punch from the guard position that leads the fist to a violent, straight, connection. Punch, always, with the index and middle knuckles as the point of contact. These bones connect direct through the hands and the forearm – providing greater stability for an attack and improved resistance to injury. Punching with the fist angled, and leading with the ring and pinky fingers can result in Boxers Fracture. For added damage and/or possible stability depending on your teacher, you may twist the wrist a split second before contact with your opponent (so that the hand is parallel to your eye line, versus the perpendicular delivery).

When leading with a straight punch, step into the straight for added power (force of movement and body weight); this step is typically with the same side foot and, as Krav Maga teaches, delivered with a quick stomp for power. Above all, any punch with one hand should leave your opposite hand in the guard position and ready for attack or protection.

Fighting Stance

Brady J. Frey — Tue, 15 May 2007 05:33:03 +0000

Balance yourself on the balls of your feet. Left foot leads forward, slightly cocked right – right foot back shoulder width apart and half a foot back (this can reverse for leftys). Legs bent slightly at the knees for balance and play. Place both arms in a ‘Boxer’ position, where the elbows block the ribs/lungs/liver and hug your outside pecs; your fists should be off of your face, but clenched and covering your jawline (as a direct hit to the jaw can lay you out fast, or as Barny would describe it, “shutdown” for a body). Your jaw should be cocked down, eyes looking forward and slightly up against your brow as an added protection to your face.

The stance should allow for quick ’stomp’ and ’shifting’ movements, as we’ll add later. The arm placement should be slightly loose and yet resilient to attack. If you have trouble gauging how low your jaw line should be, a common training method it seems is to hold a tennis ball in between your jaw and your neck/collar bone.