5 Misconceptions About Krav Maga

Reality confounds image Peter Heather

Misunderstanding is generally simpler than true understanding, and hence has more potential for popularity.  Raheel Farooq

Compared to the likes of karate, kung-fu, or boxing, Krav Maga is a new self-defense system. More people are beginning to understand what Krav Maga is but there remain many misconceptions.  

Here are 5 misconceptions about Krav Maga that I have encountered.

1. Krav Maga is a “Fight Club”. People are not coming to us to beat each other in a misguided attempt to recover their manhood or to find meaning. If so, we politely ask them to leave. People come to us to learn how to protect themselves, to get home safe. 
2. It glorifies violence. No. Quite the opposite. We abhor violence and genuinely hope that our students never have to defend themselves. We prefer to avoid rather than confront. 
3. It is brutish. Brute force is a last resort. We advocate avoidance, escape, and when possible “soft techniques” to prevent situations from escalating. More aggressive techniques are used only when necessary. 
4. Krav Maga is only for fit, young people. Yes, young fit people train in Krav Maga but we also have fit older males and females, along with men and women of all ages who, by their admission, are not very fit. We are here to teach you to protect yourself regardless of your fitness level, age, athleticism, etc… 
5. We look for shortcuts. Krav Maga is a system that emphasizes simple solutions based on natural reactions. We avoid complex techniques because under stress your coordination suffers – not because we are impatient. We spend a lot of time patiently teaching fundamentals, the building blocks of effective techniques. 

It is easy to misunderstand a martial art or self-defense system, especially those that are less known. The best way to understand is to observe or participate in a class.   

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