Krav Maga Strike

Family

Translation: Krav Maga strike

Range & classification

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]

Also known as

Krav Maga Striking TechniqueKM StrikeIsraeli Combat Strike

Used in

Krav Maga Military Combatives Self-Defence Systems

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]

Country of origin· shown in random order

IsraelKrav Maga
USASelf-Defence Systems

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

Krav Maga traces from Imi Lichtenfeld's street-fighting experience in 1930s Bratislava through IDF adoption (1948 onward) to global civilian self-defence instruction (1980s–present). ^[1],[2]

Competition Record

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. Its effectiveness is validated through IDF and security service use rather than sporting competition. ^[1],[2]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

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

Hendersonville Martial Arts

Krav Maga Strike Set # 1

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…

1 video

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

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

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Beginner

Competition Legality

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 RulesPDF

K-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 RulesPDF

Legal

— palm strikes, slaps permitted

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— IFMA — Legal — palm strikes permitted in Muay Thai

IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDF

Training 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 striking Defence (Krav Maga Defence) — the defensive counterpart to Krav Maga strikes Military Combatives — related military hand-to-hand combat systems Self-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 effective 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

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

Find by what a technique does — not its name

Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.

Krav Maga Eye Gouge

SubFamily

The 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

SubFamily

The 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

SubFamily

The 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

SubFamily

The 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]

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Krav Maga Throat Strike

SubFamily

The Krav Maga Throat Strike targets the throat using the web of the hand between thumb and forefinger, potentially disabling the attacker's breathing. [1]

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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?

Where does the Krav Maga Strike come from?

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.

krav maga self defence palm strike hammer fist eye gouge throat strike groin kick headbutt imi lichtenfeld idf israeli military retzev burst street fighting