Krav Maga Strike Set # 1
0
Krav Maga Strike·Hendersonville Martial Arts
This is one of the Krav Maga rotations we cover in our Basic Training program at HMA. This video includes the Muay Thai…
Krav Maga Strike
Familyクラヴマガストライク(Kuravu Maga Sutoraiku)
Translation: Krav Maga strike
Overview
The Krav Maga Strike family covers striking techniques from the Israeli self-defence system designed specifically for real-world combat situations — emphasising maximum damage through gross motor movements that work under extreme stress with zero sporting restrictions. [1] Krav Maga strikes prioritise palm-heel strikes, hammer fists, eye gouges, throat strikes, groin kicks, and other techniques that target the body's most vulnerable areas — techniques that are illegal in every combat sport but essential for self-defence. [1],[2] The system was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and is designed to work for soldiers and civilians without extensive martial arts training, using natural body movements that function under the adrenaline dump and fine-motor-skill degradation of a real attack. [2],[3] Krav Maga striking philosophy is fundamentally different from sport striking: the goal is to neutralise the threat as quickly as possible through aggressive, pre-emptive attacks to vulnerable targets. [3]
Krav Maga Striking TechniqueKM StrikeIsraeli Combat Strike
History & Origin
Krav Maga was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld (1910–1998), a champion boxer, wrestler, and gymnast who developed street-fighting skills defending the Jewish community in Bratislava, Slovakia in the 1930s. [1] After emigrating to Israel (then Palestine) in 1942, Lichtenfeld was recruited to train the Haganah (Jewish paramilitary) and later the IDF in hand-to-hand combat, formalising his system into what became Krav Maga ('contact combat' in Hebrew). [1],[2] The system was adopted as the official combat system of the IDF and later adapted for civilian self-defence by Lichtenfeld and his students, spreading worldwide from the 1980s onward. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Krav Maga's effectiveness lies in its simplicity and its targeting of the body's most vulnerable areas — techniques that require minimal training to execute effectively in a self-defence scenario. [1] The system's effectiveness has been validated through decades of use by the IDF and Israeli security services in real combat situations. [2] However, Krav Maga techniques have not been tested under controlled sport competition conditions because they target illegal areas — their effectiveness against trained fighters in a sporting context is unproven and debated. [3]
Lineage
Competition Record
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Delivering maximum damage to the attacker's most vulnerable anatomical targets using gross motor movements that remain effective under stress
Joints Involved — Hips (driving forward through the strike — Krav Maga emphasises 'bursting' forward into the attacker), shoulders (driving palm strikes and hammer fists), knees (for groin kicks and stomps), elbows (for close-range strikes)
Force Vector — Forward and aggressive — Krav Maga striking drives forward into the attacker rather than fighting at range; the 'dead side' concept (moving to the attacker's outside) guides positioning; strikes target downward (stomps), forward (palm strike), or upward (groin kick)
Strike Mechanic — Krav Maga uses the body's hardest natural weapons (palm heel, forearm, elbow, knee, shin) against the body's softest and most vulnerable targets (eyes, throat, groin, knee) — this 'hard weapon to soft target' principle maximises damage while minimising self-injury
Position & Entry
Palm strike burst — When attacked, step forward aggressively while driving the palm heel into the attacker's nose or chin — simultaneous defence and counter-attack ('bursting') is a core Krav Maga principle [1]
Eye gouge from clinch — If grabbed or clinched, drive the thumbs or fingers toward the attacker's eyes — a technique illegal in all sports but taught as a primary Krav Maga self-defence response
Groin kick — When facing an attacker at medium range, drive a straight kick or knee to the groin — the groin kick is often the first technique taught in Krav Maga beginner courses
Hammer fist to the back of the neck — When the attacker is bent over or controlled, drive hammer fists downward to the back of the neck — a finishing technique after initial counter-attack
Videos
1 video
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Very high for the receiver — Krav Maga strikes target the body's most vulnerable areas (eyes, throat, groin, base of skull); many techniques can cause permanent injury or death; this is by design, as the system is intended for life-threatening situations, not sport
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — Only closed-fist punches permitted {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
Kyokushin — Only closed-fist strikes to body permitted {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— WT — Prohibited
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— WAKO — Closed fist only
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Closed fist only {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
Restricted
— WKF — Varies by technique — some open-hand strikes legal ...
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF— ITF — Some knife hand techniques legal
ITF Competition RulesPDFLegal
— palm strikes, slaps permitted
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IFMA — Legal — palm strikes permitted in Muay Thai
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Krav Maga striking is trained under stress inoculation — drills involve fatigue, disorientation, multiple attackers, and scenario-based training to simulate real attack conditions [1]
✓Palm strikes are preferred over punches for self-defence — they are effective without gloves, risk no hand injuries, and work for untrained individuals
✓'Burst' forward with every counter-attack — Krav Maga teaches aggressive forward movement into the attacker; retreating gives the attacker time to reset
✓Target the 'soft targets with hard weapons' — use the hardest parts of your body (palm heel, elbow, knee, headbutt) against the softest parts of theirs (eyes, throat, groin)
✓Train the retzev (continuous combat) concept — once you start counter-attacking, don't stop until the threat is neutralised; each strike flows into the next [2]
✓Practice with protective equipment — Krav Maga training partners use padded helmets, groin guards, and body armour to allow realistic striking practice
✓These techniques are for self-defence only — never use Krav Maga strikes in sport competition or non-life-threatening situations; many are potentially lethal
✓Scenario training is essential — practice responses to common attacks (chokes, bear hugs, knife threats) with a resisting partner
Common Mistakes
!Using sport-fighting range and timing — Krav Maga is not boxing; the techniques are designed for sudden close-range attacks, not squared-off fighting stances
!Holding back on training intensity — Krav Maga training must be realistic; half-speed practice doesn't prepare for real attack adrenaline
!Neglecting the 'scan and assess' after counter-attacking — Krav Maga teaches checking for additional threats after the initial attacker is neutralised
!Attempting Krav Maga techniques in sport competition — these techniques are illegal in every sport and will result in disqualification, injury, and potential legal consequences
!Training only striking without learning defences — Krav Maga includes defences against chokes, grabs, weapons, and ground attacks that must be trained alongside strikes
!Over-reliance on groin kicks — while effective, a determined attacker may continue despite groin strikes; always have follow-up techniques prepared
!Not training under fatigue — self-defence situations involve intense adrenaline and physical exhaustion; training fresh doesn't prepare for the reality
Related Techniques
Fundamental Open Hand Strike — palm strikes that overlap with Krav Maga strikingDefence (Krav Maga Defence) — the defensive counterpart to Krav Maga strikesMilitary Combatives — related military hand-to-hand combat systemsSelf-Defence Systems — broader self-defence curricula that share Krav Maga's philosophy
Counter Techniques
Krav Maga strikes are designed for self-defence against untrained attackers — against trained fighters, standard martial arts defences (blocking, slipping, footwork) are effectiveDistance — maintaining range prevents close-range Krav Maga strikesTraining — a trained fighter's superior timing and technique generally overcomes Krav Maga's gross motor approachWrestling/Grappling — taking the fight to the ground neutralises Krav Maga's standing strike emphasis
Setup Chain
1Recognise Threat — identify the attack or threat situation
2Burst Forward — explode forward into the attacker with an aggressive counter-attack
3Strike Primary Target — palm strike to face, knee to groin, or elbow to head
4Continue (Retzev) — chain continuous strikes without pausing until the threat is neutralised
5Scan — check for additional threats (multiple attackers, weapons)
6Escape — disengage and move to safety
Sources & References
Primary Source
Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault (Imi Lichtenfeld & Eyal Yanilov, 2001)
1BookKrav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault (Lichtenfeld & Yanilov, 2001)
Description sources — [1] Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself (Lichtenfeld & Yanilov, 2001) [2] Complete Krav Maga (Levine & Whitman, 2007) [3] Krav Maga philosophy and training methodology
2BookKrav Maga: Real World Solutions to Real World Violence (Gershon Ben Keren, 2014)
History sources — [1] Imi Lichtenfeld biography [2] IDF combat training history [3] Global spread of Krav Maga from 1980s
3BookComplete Krav Maga (Darren Levine & John Whitman, 2007)
4CitationKrav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault (Lichtenfeld & Yanilov, 2001)
Description sources — [1] Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself (Lichtenfeld & Yanilov, 2001) [2] Complete Krav Maga (Levine & Whitman, 2007) [3] Krav Maga philosophy and training methodology
5CitationKrav Maga: Real World Solutions to Real World Violence (Gershon Ben Keren, 2014)
History sources — [1] Imi Lichtenfeld biography [2] IDF combat training history [3] Global spread of Krav Maga from 1980s
6CitationComplete Krav Maga (Darren Levine & John Whitman, 2007)
Community
Athletics
Requires
aggression and willingness to commit to the counter-attack, basic coordination, mental toughness under stress
Favours
physically fit individuals (helps with burst attacks and escape), but the system is explicitly designed to work for people of all sizes and fitness levels
Key muscles
legs (kicking and bursting forward), core (power transfer), forearms (palm strikes and hammer fists), hip flexors (knee strikes)
Sub-techniques
Krav Maga Eye Gouge
SubFamilyThe Krav Maga Eye Gouge is a close-range attack using the fingers or thumb to strike the eyes, used in life-threatening situations as a primary or secondary attack. [1]
Explore
Krav Maga Groin Kick
SubFamilyThe Krav Maga Groin Kick is a direct front kick to the groin delivered with maximum speed and minimal telegraphing, designed as a primary self-defence opening technique. [1]
Explore
Krav Maga Hammer Fist
SubFamilyThe Krav Maga Hammer Fist delivers the bottom of the fist in a hammering motion, effective against various targets from multiple angles with minimal injury risk to the striker. [1]
Explore
Krav Maga Palm Strike
SubFamilyThe Krav Maga Palm Strike uses the heel of the palm to deliver a powerful strike to the face, chin, or nose, reducing the risk of hand injury compared to a closed fist. [1]
Explore
Krav Maga Throat Strike
SubFamilyThe Krav Maga Throat Strike targets the throat using the web of the hand between thumb and forefinger, potentially disabling the attacker's breathing. [1]
Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do after landing a Krav Maga strike in a real situation?
After striking, follow up with counter strikes, elbows, and clinches to neutralize the threat, then escape the situation. The goal is not just to strike, but to create an opening to get away safely.
How do Krav Maga strikes fit into defense against chokes?
Krav Maga strikes and counter strikes are used to clear chokes from multiple angles (front, behind, with push or pull variations), allowing you to neutralize the attacker and create space to escape.
How does the Krav Maga Strike work?
The Krav Maga Strike family covers striking techniques from the Israeli self-defence system designed specifically for real-world combat situations — emphasising maximum damage through gross motor movements that work under extreme stress with zero sporting restrictions. Krav Maga strikes prioritise palm-heel strikes, hammer fists, eye gouges, throat strikes, groin kicks, and other techniques that target the body's most vulnerable areas — techniques that are illegal in every combat sport but essential for self-defence.
Where does the Krav Maga Strike come from?
Krav Maga was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld (1910–1998), a champion boxer, wrestler, and gymnast who developed street-fighting skills defending the Jewish community in Bratislava, Slovakia in the 1930s. After emigrating to Israel (then Palestine) in 1942, Lichtenfeld was recruited to train the Haganah (Jewish paramilitary) and later the IDF in hand-to-hand combat, formalising his system into what became Krav Maga ('contact combat' in Hebrew).
Is the Krav Maga Strike legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal (palm strikes, slaps permitted); WBC/Boxing: banned — Only closed-fist punches permitted; WKF: restricted — Varies by technique — some open-hand strikes legal in kata, generally restric…; Kyokushin: banned — Only closed-fist strikes to body permitted; WT: banned — Prohibited; ITF: restricted — Some knife hand techniques legal; WAKO: banned — Closed fist only; K: banned — 1/GLORY — Closed fist only; IFMA: legal — Legal — palm strikes permitted in Muay Thai
How dangerous is the Krav Maga Strike?
Danger rating 8/10. Very high for the receiver — Krav Maga strikes target the body's most vulnerable areas (eyes, throat, groin, base of skull); many techniques can cause permanent injury or death; this is by design, as the system is intended for life-threatening situations, not sport
How do I set up the Krav Maga Strike?
The standard setup chain: Recognise Threat → Burst Forward → Strike Primary Target → Continue (Retzev) → Scan → Escape.
How do I defend against the Krav Maga Strike?
Standard counters include: Krav Maga strikes are designed for self-defence against untrained attackers — against trained fighters, standard mart… / Distance — maintaining range prevents close-range Krav Maga strikes / Training — a trained fighter's superior timing and technique generally overcomes Krav Maga's gross motor approach / Wrestling/Grappling — taking the fight to the ground neutralises Krav Maga's standing strike emphasis.
What are the variants of the Krav Maga Strike?
Common variants: Palm-heel strike (the primary Krav Maga striking technique; driving the pal…); Hammer fist (downward strikes to the back of the neck, temple, or coll…); Eye strike (thumb gouge or finger strike to the eyes; a primary self-…); Throat strike (palm or web-of-hand strike to the trachea); Groin kick (straight kick or knee to the groin; the most commonly tau…); Headbutt (driving the forehead into the attacker's nose from close …); Knee to groin from clinch (a knee strike to the groin when grabbed or bear-hugged); Biting (considered a legitimate self-defence tool in Krav Maga fo…).
How effective is the Krav Maga Strike in competition?
Krav Maga has no official competition record because it is a self-defence system, not a sport. Its techniques are illegal in all regulated combat sports.
What are common mistakes when doing the Krav Maga Strike?
Top errors to watch for: Using sport-fighting range and timing — Krav Maga is not boxing; the techniques are designed for sudden close-range a… / Holding back on training intensity — Krav Maga training must be realistic; half-speed practice doesn't prepare for re… / Neglecting the 'scan and assess' after counter-attacking — Krav Maga teaches checking for additional threats after th… / Attempting Krav Maga techniques in sport competition — these techniques are illegal in every sport and will result in….
What are other names for the Krav Maga Strike?
The Krav Maga Strike is also known as Kuravu Maga Sutoraiku, Krav Maga Striking Technique, KM Strike, Israeli Combat Strike.