Krav Maga was developed in the mid-20th century for military training, with the goal of preparing soldiers for close-range combat as efficiently as possible. The system was designed to be learned quickly and to function under stress, fatigue, and unpredictable conditions.
Over time, the principles and methods of Krav Maga were adapted for civilian use and are now taught worldwide to individuals seeking practical self-defence skills.
Krav Maga is not a sport and does not rely on rules, weight classes, or competitive scoring. Training focuses on situations that reflect real-world threats, including assaults, multiple attackers, and weapon awareness.
The emphasis is on:
This makes Krav Maga accessible to people of varying ages, fitness levels, and prior experience.
Krav Maga training typically combines multiple elements to prepare practitioners for a wide range of situations.
Training includes punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and defensive striking. Padwork and controlled drills are commonly used to develop power, accuracy, and timing.
Students learn how to control distance, escape holds, regain their feet, and deal with close-range confrontations. This may include basic takedown defence and ground awareness.
Training often addresses common threats involving knives, sticks, or improvised weapons, focusing on avoidance, awareness, and practical defensive responses.
Many Krav Maga programmes include pressure-based drills designed to improve performance under fatigue and stress, reflecting the realities of real-world confrontations.
Krav Maga is built around a set of core principles rather than fixed techniques. These typically include:
Because of this principle-based approach, training can be adapted to different environments and individual capabilities.
While Krav Maga has military origins, civilian training focuses on personal safety rather than battlefield tactics. Classes are structured to help people build confidence, physical capability, and awareness in a controlled training environment.
Krav Maga is commonly trained by:
Krav Maga is taught in many cities across the UK, including Bristol, through a variety of clubs and training organisations. While individual programmes differ, the core principles of realism, efficiency, and adaptability remain consistent across the system.
This site exists to provide clear, factual information about Krav Maga and its training approach, helping people better understand the system before choosing where and how they train.