Krav Maga and Appropriate Use of Force

Appropriate use of force. Using force that is fitting or suitable for the situation

Krav Maga teaches you to adapt to various circumstances. One vital aspect of adapting involves using the appropriate use of force. 

Let us consider two examples.

1. Imagine a man grabs your wrist from behind, turns you around, and is winding up to punch you.
2. You (by mistake, of course) step in front of an elderly woman as you walk into a subway car. Upset, she grabs your wrist and demands to know where your manners are. 

In both cases, you are being grabbed at the wrist, but the circumstances are very different.

One situation warrants more force than the other. In the first instance, there is an imminent strike. Here, blocking or deflecting, then counter-attacking makes sense. If you limit your reaction to a wrist release and a pleasant “let’s talk about this” you will not finish your sentence. 

What about the second situation? Perhaps the woman is simply trying to get your attention to point out your offensive behaviour? Aggressive striking combinations would be a “wee over the top”. Better to apologize for your rudeness – intended or not. There is no need for aggression. 

 If you only train for the most aggressive situations you might overreact to relatively harmless situations, needlessly hurting someone and inviting criminal charges.

Krav Maga is not about pummelling people into submission. It is about getting home safe. Often, this involves simply walking away. 

Train for all situations, from life-threatening to verbal de-escalation and avoidance, and learn to discern the differences.

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