(Part 2) Top products from r/kravmaga

Happy I could help.

As a beginner I'd say my experience with Krav has been pretty good. I'm really enjoying my classes, and I really appreciate the practical aspects of it. I'm also taking TKD, mostly because my girlfriend is a blackbelt, and I'd like to eventually be able to spar with her in that. The reason I mention this, is that, while TKD is ok, I do not enjoy it nearly as much as Krav. Krav is practical, straight away. This works for me. Also, almost nothing translates from one art to the other. That's ok, and I'm sure there are some complementary things, but to me not much of either one directly helps the other, aside from just being able to move and control my body better.

The things that I've struggled with (am struggling with) the most are really just getting the basics down. Making sure my stance is always good, getting proper hip rotation. The videos and book mention these things, but it will take a bit of practice, and possibly someone watching you to see what you're doing to help work those things out. One of the other big things to work on is aggression-krav needs it. If you don't have at least two other people to drill with you can't really do aggression drills.

Aggression drills where I am usually go the following way:
One person starts out doing straight punches or similar on one pad, another individual will hit/push that person with their pad and place it for a specific attack/set of attacks, you'll punch/kick/knee/combination/etc that pad until you get hit again by someone else, you then switch to that target, rinse&repeat. This goes on full speed, full strength for about a minute or two. I know it sounds short, but it's extremely intense, and by the end my attacks are considerably weaker just due to wearing myself out.

Obviously you'd take turns rotating who was doing the attacking.

The other thing you really, really need a partner for is practicing all the choke defenses and blocks.

I think that everyone else has a point when they say you'll probably learn better when you practice with an instructor, but I don't see any reason you can't learn some on your own. Especially if you can do a seminar here or there, and then practice with other people during the rest of the year.

The gear I have (the gloves came with my package at my studio, though I bought an extra pair for my girlfriend), the two pads are just the same as the ones used in the studio, as well as in the book and the videos.

http://www.amazon.com/Krav-Leather-Grappling-Glove-Medium/dp/B005VZ4U14/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_1

http://www.amazon.com/Revgear-41002-Punch-Shield/dp/B005VY2N3C/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1332442792&sr=1-1-fkmr2

http://www.amazon.com/Revgear-KM305-Krav-Maga-Shield/dp/B005VY51ZO/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1332442838&sr=1-2

Again, it doesn't matter if it says revgear or krav maga alliance-it's the same product, different label as far as I can tell. These pads seem to be a lot tougher and better than the century ones I've played with, and much much better than anything everlast or the like. That said, this is just my personal observations of course. There may be places near you that sell a bunch of this gear, if not amazon at least has a good return policy, though there are dozens of sites that sell the same stuff.

Anyways, I've rambled long enough. If you had any questions still though, by all means ask.

the book that helped me personally the most to understand what Krav Maga is really about, is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Krav-Maga-Philosophy-Application-Fighting/dp/0557248469

and for training purposes i can recommend those books by David Kahn, they're like a step by step programm for beginners with training schedules on the last pages

part 1:
http://www.amazon.com/Krav-Maga-Essential-Method---Self-Defense/dp/0312331770/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332353525&sr=1-1

part 2:
http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Krav-Maga-Fitness-Self-Defense/dp/0312361645/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

and for weapon defenses this is one is excellent for beginners

http://www.amazon.com/Krav-Maga-Yourself-Against-Assault/dp/1583940081/ref=pd_sim_b_3

have fun training !

Invest 20.00 US in this book.

It is about 30 pages of background information and reading and the rest are charts. I used to not be able to sit for long periods of time because of my right hamstring tightening up to the point of agonizing pain. After a bit of research I learned about trigger points so I ordered this book and worked a few of the points the book calls out in one of the diagrams. After a week: no more pain.

Root cause: it was referred pain from a trigger point in a muscle group I didn't even know about. Check out the book. It is the first place I go when I tweak my back or my neck hurts or whatever. It isn't a substitution for a qualified medical professional but it is an excellent place to start and has been crucial to my well being.

I recommend it to all my friends and family. Be well!

You got any good websites for some knife combat stuff? I'm an FMA fan, always interested in other blade styles.

PS all the images are hilarious. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Belt-Krav-Maga-Techniques/dp/1569756678/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c HE'S CARRYING A BATTON, HIT HIM WITH A CHAIR!!!

The school I attend is a member of USKMA. Our intro class is 30-minutes of intro, plus a full 1 hour normal class.

While I don't know how our KM curriculum compares to other KM schools, our school also offers BJJ and judo, and those teams compete state-wide and nationally.

Mark has a book on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/American-Krav-Maga-Mark-Slane/dp/1481093045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380756878&sr=8-1&keywords=mark+slane that covers the full curriculum.

So, YMMV, but I've been very happy with this school and USKMA for the year I've been doing it.

Good post. I very highly recommend "The Law of Self Defense" by Andrew Branca. It is written from a gun owners perspective but it applies to us, too.

He says to consider you're going to be judged by people who 1) weren't there and 2) have never been in a fight themselves. The book explains duty to retreat, 'stand your ground', and a lot of legal concepts the media has never gotten right.

https://www.amazon.com/Law-Self-Defense-Indispensable-Citizen/dp/1943809143

PS: if you're in a self-defense situation, I would never hit anyone that is already incapacitated on the ground. No jury would look kindly on that.

Read this book:
Selling Out to Your Level of Comfort
It's literally the book on how to market your gym.

Disclaimer: I know Randy I go to his gym both as a student and I help teach there.
This is not an affiliate link.

I disagree. I don't want to start an internet fight, but I think most of DL's stuff is garbage. Much of it made-up marketing BS that doesn't stand up to trial and execution under hostile (non-cooperative) training scenarios. I'm with everyone else, live training is best. But in the event that op doesn't live in a town with a Krav gym in it, a training partner and a book/video combo could be a fix. Alternatively, a different style gym in town would be better than the book. BJJ, Muay Thai, whatever. Krav is too wrapped up in the various cults of personality, notwithstanding in answer to op's question: Kelly McCann has a decent book:
Combatives for Street Survival https://www.amazon.com/dp/0897501764/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IEZYDbA0EQN2S
And even tho the guy is a tool, Mike Lee Kanarek has an interesting, fairly simple curriculum with decent technique.
Fight To Survive!: Hardcore Self Defense Against Armed and Unarmed Attack (Volume 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0972820914/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vGZYDbT4KG9YT

Go to the original source, Imi himself:
https://www.amazon.com/Krav-Maga-IMI-Sde-Litchenfeld/dp/9657178002/

Our instructor put us on to this book

No Second Chance: A Reality-Based Guide to Self-Defense

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1884654320/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BQGJAbQN9GTMF

Much of it focuses on the mentality of a fight and I think does a good job of mentally preparing you to make up your mind to act when confronted, whatever the appropriate reaction.

How about beach/reef shoes? Try something along the lines of these

https://www.amazon.com/L-RUN-Unisex-Water-Shoes-Barefoot/dp/B0757PRWZB

RevGear Thai style 16oz

Meditations on Violence and just about anything by [Rory Miller](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=maxxpowessugg-20&keywords=rory miller&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=1eb1199a1d579eebbbfd39beba3d7bc3).

Complete Krav Maga

Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet

The Five Rings: Miyamoto Musashi's Art of Strategy

The Mission, The Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander

A Professional's Guide to Ending Violence Quickly: How Bouncers, Bodyguards, and Other Security Professionals Handle Ugly Situations

i'm sure there will be others with different krav experiences; at our school we teach with an emphasis on maximum damage and continuous striking (at the higher level classes).

i've always believed this to be a krav philosophy but it maybe thing with my school. we assume that if you couldn't avoid a physical confrontation verbally, treat the threat as if it is an existential one. and end it as quickly as possible, with the assailant(s) are no longer a threat. the reason for this is that we as the potential victim dont know what drugs the person is on, if they have a high pain tolerance, if they could be buying time to escalate the encounter by drawing a weapon, get friends involved, etc. in the end you always go home.

so sorry for being wordy, but "kicking-testicles-back-in and poking-eyes-out" you saw on youtube is part of that krav philosophy (which in my opinion is a necessity of a good krav school). if this mentality doesn't violate your beliefs then krav is for you!

as far a videos i know of any but here is a link to book as a resource

https://www.amazon.com/Krav-Maga-Professional-Tactics-Contact/dp/1594393559/ref=pd_bxgy_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1594393559&pd_rd_r=98236f14-ae22-11e8-861c-cd06ea1130b1&pd_rd_w=uZO2T&pd_rd_wg=YRzrw&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=3896R90JR0DR7XWZ5F61&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=3896R90JR0DR7XWZ5F61

They also have a follow-up: The Big Bloody Book of Violence
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Bloody-Book-Violence-Self-Defense/dp/0692503447/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Hah, that's the book I was talking about, I already have both that and the Beginners book.

I train in an IKMF gym. Practitioner Level 1 (P1) grading for us is:

• A: History of Krav Maga and its Founder: Imi Sde-Or (Lichtenfeld). Not emphasized that much
  
• B: Safety in Training and Vulnerable Points
  
• C: Stances and Movements: Passive/semi passive. Fighting stance. Moving in fighting stance
  
• D: Straight punches: Palm-heel strike. Left/right closed fist
  
• E: Elbow strikes - Horizontal: Inward, sideways, backwards
  
• F: Hammer punches. Horizontal: Sideways/backwards, Vertical: Forwards/downwards/backwards and up
  
• G. Kicks: Knee kick straight up, regular front kick, side kick (looks like this used to be defensive back kick in earlier versions)
  
• H: Combination of attacks in all directions, all P1 techniques
  
• I: Outside defenses (360) - downwards, upwards, circurlar knife attacks. With counter attack
  
• J: Inside defenses vs straight punches - with counter attack. From semi-passive
  
• K: Prevention - by kicking, by punching/inside defense, "educational stop"
  
• L: Release from chokes, plucking: Front/side/behind
  
• M: Release from headlock: side
  
• N: Getting up from the ground: forwards/backwards/turn to sprint
  
• O: Release from choke from the side while on the ground
  
• P: Soft break-fall to a wall
  
• Q: Using common objects as weapons for self defense - shield type objects
  
• R: Simulation and tactics - zombie game (prevention + choke release) and searching and attacking - 2 attackers with punch pads.
  
  If you're interested in all P levels (1-5) I can find them when I get home after the weekend, as I have them on paper somewhere (currently P3 myself, which I guess equals an orange belt)
  
  Edit: clarifications

Having played football in college (D-Line) and as a current Krav Maga Instructor ( 6 years), you can't really go wrong with a pair of football forearm pads for 360 defenses
(http://www.amazon.com/McDavid-Neoprene-Sleeve-Rubber-Surface/dp/B000UVXW1I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458842797&sr=8-1&keywords=football+forearm+pad)

Hell, you can then use them in weapon defenses for apprehensive students. I know instructors who use them in for instructor tests / training. I'll use them from time to time as well.

I will never understand the "Go hard 100% all the time and who cares if you get bruised / hurt" mentality that many Krav schools have. It's idiotic.

You're a business. Your customers can't pay memberships if they can't work because they're hurt, concussed, etc. And your gym will quickly get a shit reputation.

The vast majority of your students, I am assuming, never played full contact high school sports (let alone college sports) and are there to learn - not get the shit kicked out of them.

Now before people come at me with the "training for the real world" nonsense. Yes, great. That's an argument - but it's only an argument up to a very fine point. Unless your students are getting raped, robbed, or held up on a daily basis, they don't need to train like they are. If the training theories hold true (muscle memory, etc), they should rise to the occasion.

You show me any full contact sport that trains 100% all the time and I'll show you a group of people who only train for a year or two before their body goes to shit.

Case in point: You think college football players treat every practice like it's a grid iron death match? Fuck no. You're going hard full contact for your summer camp / pre-season but once the season rolls around you're limiting contact, working on drills, and spending half the time in helmets, shoulder pads, and shorts in order to limit / reduce injury (a broken player is a useless player).

Protection from bullshit injuries is essential to keeping your students wanting to learn and physically able to do so. Otherwise, you might as well toss the headgear, gloves, cups, plastic pistols, knives, etc and just throw everyone in a room with a live machete and say "Go".

Tough guy mentalities are usually the result of guys who never had to be tough and now they want to learn to fight or pretend they're Chuck Norris.