The Complete Guide to Krav Maga: From the Streets of Bratislava to Global Self-Defense

Introduction: Contact Combat

Krav Maga. The name itself is brutally honest—from Hebrew, krav means “combat” or “battle,” and maga means “contact” or “touch.” Contact combat. This is not a sport, not a path to spiritual enlightenment, not a demonstration of graceful forms. Krav Maga exists for one purpose: to neutralize a threat as quickly and violently as necessary so you can go home alive .

Developed on the violent streets of 1930s Bratislava, refined on the battlefields of Israel, and now practiced by millions worldwide, Krav Maga represents perhaps the purest expression of reality-based self-defense. Its philosophy is simple: if it works, use it. If it doesn’t, discard it. There are no sacred techniques, no ancient lineages to preserve, no aesthetic considerations. Only survival .

This comprehensive guide traces the complete evolution of Krav Maga—from its origins in a Jewish wrestler’s defense of his neighborhood, through its adoption by the Israel Defense Forces, to the global proliferation of competing organizations, modern hybrid systems, and its place in contemporary civilian training.

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Part I: The Man Behind the System — Imi Lichtenfeld (1910–1998)

From Budapest to Bratislava: A Champion’s Birth

Imre “Imi” Lichtenfeld was born on May 26, 1910, in Budapest, Austria-Hungary, to a Jewish family . When he was still young, his family moved to Pozsony (present-day Bratislava, Slovakia), where his father, Samuel Lichtenfeld, had established himself as a remarkable figure.

Samuel Lichtenfeld was no ordinary father. A former circus acrobat who had spent twenty years performing feats of strength and wrestling in traveling circuses, he later became a chief inspector on the local police force . Samuel owned the Hercules Gymnasium in Bratislava, where he taught self-defense to police officers and civilians alike. Young Imi grew up surrounded by athletes, fighters, and the practical realities of physical confrontation .

Under his father’s tutelage—combined with his own extraordinary natural abilities—Imi excelled across multiple sports. He became a champion boxer, wrestler, and gymnast, competing at national and international levels . His competitive achievements were remarkable:

Year	Achievement
1928	Slovak Youth Wrestling Champion
1929	Adult Wrestling Champion (light & middleweight divisions)
1929	National Boxing Champion
1929	International Gymnastics Champion

He was a member of the Slovak National Wrestling Team and was widely regarded as one of Europe’s finest wrestlers .

The Turning Point: Street Fighting in Bratislava

In the mid-1930s, as fascism and antisemitism swept across Europe, the Jewish population of Bratislava came under increasing attack. Violent gangs roamed the streets, targeting Jewish businesses, homes, and individuals .

Lichtenfeld, then in his twenties, became the leader of a group of Jewish boxers and wrestlers who took to the streets to defend their neighborhood. They fought—sometimes with fists, sometimes with makeshift weapons—against the fascist gangs threatening their community .

This experience was the crucible in which Krav Maga was forged. Lichtenfeld quickly discovered that competitive fighting and real street combat were entirely different worlds. In the ring, there were rules, referees, weight classes, and a controlled environment. On the streets, there were none .

He later described this realization as fundamental: sport fighting was about winning; street fighting was about surviving. The techniques that worked in competitions—the elaborate footwork, the commitment to single strikes, the reliance on rules—often failed against multiple attackers, weapons, or the brutal chaos of real violence .

This experience gave birth to the core principles that would define Krav Maga:

• Use natural movements and reactions—don’t fight your own instincts
• Simultaneous defense and attack—don’t block and then strike; do both at once
• Never occupy two hands in the same defensive movement—keep one hand free to counterattack
• Target the body’s most vulnerable points—eyes, throat, groin, knees
• End the fight as quickly as possible—there is no “fair play” in survival 

The Long Road to Israel

By 1940, the situation in Europe had become untenable. Lichtenfeld fled, joining a group of Jewish refugees aboard the Pencho, an old riverboat attempting to reach Palestine . The journey was disastrous—the ship wrecked on the Dodecanese Islands in the Aegean Sea. Lichtenfeld and other survivors eventually made their way to British-controlled Palestine after a harrowing ordeal .

He arrived in 1942 and immediately joined the Haganah, the Jewish paramilitary organization fighting for the establishment of a Jewish state. His skills were immediately recognized. In 1944, he began training Haganah fighters in physical fitness, swimming, wrestling, knife fighting, and defenses against knife attacks .

His students included members of elite units: the Palmach (the Haganah’s striking force and forerunner of Israeli special forces), the Palyam (naval commandos), and police units .

Chief Instructor of the IDF

With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the Haganah became the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Lichtenfeld was appointed Chief Instructor for Physical Fitness and Krav Maga at the IDF School of Combat Fitness .

For the next twenty years—until his retirement from active duty in 1964—Lichtenfeld refined and systematized his method. He faced a unique challenge: he needed to teach effective hand-to-hand combat to conscripted soldiers with widely varying physical abilities, often in very short training periods .

His solution was to focus on instinctive movements—techniques that felt natural, that didn’t require years of practice to master, that could be drilled to automatic response in weeks rather than decades. He stripped away anything that wasn’t essential, anything that required exceptional athleticism, anything that wouldn’t work under the extreme stress of combat .

“Do not get hurt while training” became a fundamental precept—a lesson learned from his own experience breaking a rib during training for the Maccabiah Games in 1935. An injured student couldn’t train, and a dead soldier couldn’t fight .

During his IDF years, Lichtenfeld continued to evolve the system, incorporating lessons from real combat encounters reported by soldiers who had used his techniques in the field. Krav Maga was never static—it was a living system, adapting to new threats and new information .

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Part II: The Core Principles — The Philosophy of Survival

Simultaneous Defense and Attack

The most distinctive principle of Krav Maga is simultaneous defense and attack. In most traditional martial arts, a block is performed then a counterstrike. In Krav Maga, the defense is the setup for the attack, and they happen together .

For example, when defending against a punch, the practitioner might deflect the incoming strike with one hand while simultaneously driving a counter-punch into the attacker’s throat with the other. This “bursting” response denies the attacker time to launch a second strike and immediately shifts the momentum .

Targeting Vulnerabilities

Krav Maga has no “fair play” restrictions. Targets include:

• Eyes (finger strikes, eye gouges)
• Throat (punches, chops, trachea grabs)
• Groin (kicks, knees, punches)
• Knees (side kicks, stomps)
• Fingers (breaks and hyperextensions)
• Liver and solar plexus (body shots)
• Temple, jaw, and base of skull (knockout blows) 

The philosophy is simple: the human body has vulnerable points. Attack them. There is no honor in losing a fight you could have won by striking the groin instead of the chest.

Aggression and Decisiveness

Krav Maga training emphasizes physical aggression—distinguished from emotional anger. The goal is to develop the ability to flip a switch, to go from calm to explosive violence in an instant, to overwhelm an attacker with sheer ferocity .

The system teaches that once a fight is unavoidable, hesitation is deadly. The response must be immediate, overwhelming, and continue until the threat is completely neutralized. There is no “one strike and assess.” The attack continues until the attacker can no longer continue .

Using the Environment

Anything in the environment is a weapon. Keys, pens, chairs, bottles, dirt, sand, hot coffee—if it can be used to hurt an attacker or create an opportunity to escape, it is part of Krav Maga .

Training includes awareness of surroundings not just for escape routes but for improvised weapons. The student learns to see everyday objects through the lens of self-defense.

Pre-Emptive Attack

Perhaps the most controversial principle is the emphasis on pre-emptive striking. If the situation has escalated to the point where violence is imminent—if the attacker is closing distance, assuming a fighting stance, reaching for a weapon—Krav Maga teaches that the defender should strike first, without warning, and without waiting to be struck .

This is not about street fighting or ego. It is about survival. Statistics show that the victim who lands the first strike is significantly more likely to survive the encounter.

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Part III: Kapap — The Forgotten Predecessor

What Is Kapap?

Before Krav Maga became the official system of the IDF, there was Kapap (קרב פנים אל פנים—”face-to-face combat”). This earlier system, also developed in the pre-state period, incorporated many of the same principles but with different technical emphases .

Kapap was the official hand-to-hand combat system of the Haganah and early IDF. It drew from the same sources as early Krav Maga—boxing, wrestling, judo, and street fighting—but had its own distinct flavor and technique set .

The Relationship Between Krav Maga and Kapap

The relationship between the two systems is complex and sometimes contested. Some view Kapap as the direct predecessor that was replaced by Lichtenfeld’s more systematized Krav Maga. Others see them as parallel traditions that influenced each other .

Academic research on the subject notes that Kapap remains a distinct, though less well-known, system. Some practitioners argue that Kapap preserved certain traditional elements that were lost in Krav Maga’s evolution, while Krav Maga became more streamlined and accessible .

Today, Kapap survives in several organizations, primarily in Israel and Europe, and has influenced various hybrid systems.

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Part IV: The Civilian Transition (1964–1990s)

From Battlefield to Street

When Lichtenfeld retired from the IDF in 1964, he turned his attention to adapting Krav Maga for civilian use . The needs of a soldier on a battlefield and a civilian on a city street are different, and Lichtenfeld was meticulous in his adaptations.

For civilians, Krav Maga placed greater emphasis on:

• Situational awareness—recognizing and avoiding danger before it arrives
• De-escalation—verbal techniques to defuse potential violence
• Escape—creating opportunities to flee, not just incapacitate
• Legal considerations—understanding self-defense laws

The first civilian Krav Maga course took place at the Wingate Institute in Netanya, Israel, in 1971, under Lichtenfeld’s direct supervision .

Founding of the Israeli Krav Maga Association (1978)

On October 22, 1978, Lichtenfeld and several of his senior students founded the Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA) . Lichtenfeld served as its president until his death. The IKMA was the first organized body dedicated to preserving and disseminating his system .

The International Krav Maga Federation (1995)

In 1995, at Lichtenfeld’s request, his student Eyal Yanilov and others founded the International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF) to promote the system globally . Lichtenfeld personally authorized the IKMF’s curriculum and instructor certifications .

This marked the beginning of Krav Maga’s transformation from an Israeli military secret to a global self-defense phenomenon.

Lichtenfeld’s Final Years

Imi Lichtenfeld died on January 9, 1998, in Netanya, Israel, at the age of 87 . He is buried at Netanya Shikun Vatikim Cemetery .

His legacy—a practical, no-nonsense self-defense system—continues to grow, practiced by millions across six continents.

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Part V: The Great Schism — Krav Maga Organizations Worldwide

The Proliferation Problem

Unlike traditional martial arts with clear, centralized lineage structures, Krav Maga fragmented after Lichtenfeld’s retirement and death. Several factors contributed:

1. Lichtenfeld’s retirement in 1964 left a leadership vacuum
2. Multiple senior instructors developed their own interpretations
3. Different target audiences (military, police, civilian) required different emphases
4. Geographic dispersion as Krav Maga spread globally
5. Commercial interests and personality conflicts

Today, there are dozens of organizations claiming to teach “authentic” Krav Maga. While most share core principles, significant differences exist in technique, curriculum, and training methodology .

Major Organizations Comparison

Organization	Founded	Founder/Leader	Primary Focus	Geographic Strength
IKMF	1995	Eyal Yanilov (original), Avi Moyal (current)	Traditional, military-origin	Global, largest network
KMG	2008	Eyal Yanilov (post-IKMF split)	Modernized, holistic	Europe, global expansion
Krav Maga Worldwide	1997	Darren Levine	Civilian, US market	United States
IKMA	1978	Imi Lichtenfeld (original)	Traditional, Israeli	Israel primarily
FEKM	1990s	Richard Douieb	European, structured	Europe
Commando Krav Maga	2000s	Moni Aizik	Aggressive, combatives	International

IKMF vs. KMG: The Core Split

The most significant division is between the International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF) and Krav Maga Global (KMG) . Both trace their lineage directly to Lichtenfeld through Eyal Yanilov, who was Lichtenfeld’s closest student and primary assistant for many years .

Yanilov was involved with IKMF from its founding in 1995. However, in 2008, he and several other senior instructors left IKMF to establish KMG. The split reportedly involved disagreements about organizational direction, curriculum evolution, and instructor standards .

IKMF tends to emphasize:

• Closer adherence to Lichtenfeld’s original teachings
• Strong military and law enforcement focus
• Centralized, standardized curriculum
• Traditional rank progression 

KMG tends to emphasize:

• Modernization for contemporary threats
• Broader, more holistic approach (including personal development and conflict resolution)
• More sparring and live drilling
• Flexibility in teaching methods across cultures 

Practitioners’ experiences vary widely, and many emphasize that instructor quality matters more than organizational affiliation .

Krav Maga Worldwide: The American Giant

Krav Maga Worldwide (KMW) , founded by Darren Levine (a student directly certified by Lichtenfeld), dominates the United States market. Levine trained extensively with Lichtenfeld in the 1980s and was personally authorized by Lichtenfeld to teach and certify instructors in North America .

KMW uses a belt ranking system (unlike some other organizations that avoid belts to distinguish from traditional martial arts) :

Level	Belt	Focus
Level 1	Yellow	Foundational defenses, basic strikes
Level 2	Orange	Counterattacks, combination defenses
Level 3	Green	Advanced combatives, takedown defenses
Level 4	Blue	Weapon defenses (handgun, knife, stick)
Level 5	Brown	Advanced weapon defenses
Black Belt	1st–3rd Dan	Comprehensive expertise

KMW also maintains a phase system for instructor certification—Phase A (teach Level 1), Phase B (teach Levels 1-2), Phase C (teach Levels 1-3), and Expert levels (weapon defenses and advanced instruction) .

Commando Krav Maga and Other Offshoots

Commando Krav Maga (CKM) , founded by Moni Aizik, represents a more aggressive, combat-focused offshoot. CKM emphasizes:

• Even greater aggression and “finishing” mentality
• Integration of additional systems (including elements of Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, and Silat)
• Specialized courses for military and law enforcement 

CKM has been controversial within the Krav Maga community, with some critics arguing it deviates too far from Lichtenfeld’s original principles. Others appreciate its no-holds-barred approach .

Other notable offshoots include:

• KAPAP (distinct system, sometimes conflated)
• Hisardut (developed by Dennis Hanover)
• Israeli Krav International (IKI)

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Part VI: The Grading System — Measuring Progress

Belts vs. No Belts

Unlike traditional martial arts, Krav Maga originally had no belt system. Lichtenfeld resisted formal ranks, believing they created ego and hierarchy that distracted from practical training .

However, as Krav Maga spread to civilian markets—particularly the United States—students and school owners requested a ranking system to track progress and motivate long-term training. Various organizations introduced belt systems, typically adapted from Judo’s kyu/dan structure .

Common Ranking Structures

Most organizations use a variation of:

Practitioner Levels (Student Ranks)

• White Belt (complete beginner)
• Yellow Belt (Level 1)
• Orange Belt (Level 2)
• Green Belt (Level 3)
• Blue Belt (Level 4)
• Brown Belt (Level 5)

Instructor/Expert Levels

• 1st Dan Black Belt (Certified Instructor)
• 2nd Dan Black Belt (Senior Instructor)
• 3rd Dan Black Belt (Expert Instructor)
• Higher ranks (rare, by invitation only) 

Some organizations (particularly in Europe) use a numerical “Practitioner” and “Graduate” system rather than colored belts, but the underlying progression is similar.

What Testing Involves

Krav Maga belt tests are notoriously demanding. Unlike traditional martial arts examinations focused on form demonstration (kata), Krav Maga tests emphasize:

• Practical technique application under pressure
• Sparring and scenario drills against resisting partners
• Physical fitness (push-ups, sit-ups, sprints, often inserted between technique demonstrations to simulate fatigue)
• Stress inoculation (testing techniques while exhausted, disoriented, or under time pressure)
• Weapon defenses (at higher levels) 

Testing can last anywhere from 2–3 hours for lower ranks to 8+ hours or multiple days for black belt examinations.

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Part VII: Krav Maga in the Modern Era

In the IDF Today

Krav Maga remains the official hand-to-hand combat system of the Israel Defense Forces. However, the military version differs significantly from civilian Krav Maga:

• Equipment-focused: Soldiers wear vests, helmets, rifles, and other gear
• Team tactics: Emphasis on fighting alongside other soldiers
• Lethal force: Military Krav Maga assumes combat, not self-defense
• Continuous evolution: The IDF continues to refine the system based on battlefield reports 

The IDF offers a five-week Krav Maga instructor course, and has held an annual Krav Maga competition since 2013 .

Law Enforcement Applications

Krav Maga has been adapted for police and security forces worldwide. Law enforcement versions emphasize:

• Weapon retention (defending against attempts to take an officer’s gun)
• Control and restraint (techniques that don’t rely on strikes)
• Handcuffing and suspect control
• Defense against edged weapons (common in corrections environments)
• Third-party protection (defending others while armed) 

Civilian Training Today

Modern civilian Krav Maga has evolved beyond pure self-defense into a comprehensive fitness and personal development system. Typical classes include:

1. Warm-up (calisthenics, dynamic stretching)
2. Technique drilling (repetition of specific defenses)
3. Stress drills (techniques performed under fatigue, time pressure, or with unpredictable attacks)
4. Sparring (controlled, with protective gear, though less than in combat sports)
5. Scenario training (simulated real-world attacks, including multiple attackers, confined spaces, and environmental challenges)

The Sparring Question

Krav Maga’s approach to sparring has evolved significantly. Traditional Krav Maga had minimal sparring, reflecting Lichtenfeld’s belief that sport fighting created bad habits for self-defense .

However, modern organizations (particularly KMG and KMW) have incorporated more sparring, recognizing its value in building timing, distance management, and stress tolerance. The debate continues between “aliveness” advocates (who want more realistic sparring) and traditionalists (who worry about sportification) .

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Part VIII: Hybrid and Related Systems

Krav Maga and BJJ Integration

Many modern Krav Maga schools have integrated techniques from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) , recognizing the importance of ground fighting in real-world encounters. While traditional Krav Maga included basic ground survival (get up as quickly as possible), BJJ adds submission skills for situations where escape isn’t immediately possible .

This integration reflects Krav Maga’s pragmatic philosophy: if BJJ techniques work, use them.

KAPAP

KAPAP (Krav Panim el Panim—Face-to-Face Combat) remains a distinct system, though often conflated with Krav Maga. Kapap’s history predates Lichtenfeld’s work, though the two systems influenced each other significantly .

Kapap emphasizes:

• Traditional Jewish fighting methods
• Integration with edged weapon skills (particularly the Hebrew knife)
• Less systematized, more eclectic approach

Systema (Russian Influence)

Some modern hybrid systems blend Krav Maga with Systema (the Russian martial art). These hybrids emphasize breath control, relaxation under stress, and more fluid, circular movements than traditional Krav Maga.

Reality-Based Self-Defense (RBSD) Systems

Krav Maga is often classified as a Reality-Based Self-Defense (RBSD) system—a category that includes:

• Tony Blauer’s SPEAR System
• Richard Dimitri’s Senshido
• Lee Morrison’s Urban Combatives

These systems share Krav Maga’s emphasis on simplicity, aggression, and real-world applicability, though each has distinct technical and philosophical emphases.

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Part IX: Controversies and Criticisms

Is Krav Maga a “Real” Martial Art?

Krav Maga has faced criticism from traditional martial artists who argue that its lack of forms (kata), formalized competition, and aesthetic considerations means it isn’t a “martial art” in the traditional sense.

Krav Maga practitioners typically respond: “Correct. It’s a self-defense system, not an art. Art implies beauty for its own sake. We only care about effectiveness.”

Quality Control Problems

The proliferation of organizations has led to significant quality control problems. Anyone with minimal training can open a “Krav Maga” school and claim authenticity. Horror stories include:

• Instructors with only weeks of training
• Schools teaching techniques that would get practitioners killed
• Belt mills that promote students based on attendance rather than skill

Reputable organizations (IKMF, KMG, KMW) maintain rigorous instructor certification standards, but unaffiliated schools vary enormously in quality .

The “Military Authenticity” Marketing

Many schools market themselves as teaching “the same Krav Maga used by Israeli commandos.” This is almost always misleading. The IDF version is classified, taught only to active military personnel, and includes unit-specific tactics, weapons integration, and team drills—none of which are taught in civilian schools.

That said, civilian Krav Maga is based on the same principles and many of the same core techniques, adapted for legal, ethical, and practical civilian use.

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Part X: Choosing a Krav Maga School

What to Look For

Positive Indicators	Red Flags
Instructors with verifiable certification from major organizations	Instructors who won’t disclose their training background
Focus on stress drills and live training	Only compliant, cooperative drilling
Realistic scenarios (multiple attackers, confined spaces, low light)	Fantasy scenarios (unrealistic attacker behavior)
Safety equipment and injury prevention	Chronic injuries among students
Clear, published curriculum and rank requirements	Vague promises or secret techniques
Emphasis on de-escalation and avoidance	Exclusively teaching violence

Questions to Ask

1. Who certified your instructors, and what was the training process?
2. How long does it typically take to reach each rank?
3. How much sparring and stress drilling is included?
4. What is your philosophy on pre-emptive striking and legal use of force?
5. May I observe a class (or take a trial class) before committing?

Trial Classes

Most reputable schools offer a free or low-cost trial class. Use it to assess:

• The instructor’s teaching quality
• The training environment (cleanliness, safety, equipment)
• The other students (ego levels, helpfulness)
• Your own comfort level with the material

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Conclusion: The Living System

Krav Maga is unique among fighting systems in that it explicitly rejects tradition for its own sake. There are no “lost secrets” to rediscover, no ancient masters to revere, no forms passed down unchanged for centuries. If something works, it stays. If something doesn’t work—or if something better comes along—it is discarded without sentiment .

This pragmatism is both Krav Maga’s greatest strength and its greatest challenge. The strength is obvious: Krav Maga evolves with the times, incorporating lessons from new threats, new research, and new techniques. The challenge is that this evolution has led to fragmentation, with different organizations pulling the system in different directions.

From the streets of 1930s Bratislava to the battlefields of Israel to the dojos of suburban America, Krav Maga has proven its worth. It has saved lives—soldiers, police officers, civilians who found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. And as long as there are people willing to do violence to the innocent, there will be a need for the simple, brutal, effective answer that is Krav Maga.

The final lesson—the one Imi Lichtenfeld emphasized throughout his life—is this: the best self-defense technique is not a punch, a kick, or a choke. It is awareness. It is avoidance. It is the willingness to walk away, to swallow pride, to choose living over winning. But when avoidance fails, when the threat is imminent and unavoidable, Krav Maga gives you the tools to survive. And that, ultimately, is all that matters .

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References

1. “Imi Lichtenfeld.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation. 
2. “Differences in techniques between different schools of Krav Maga.” Krav Maga Worldwide Forums. 
3. “Krav Maga a Kapap, izraelské bojové umění s československými kořeny.” Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, January 2012. 
4. “Certified Instructors — Krav Maga Worldwide.” Krav Maga Worldwide. 
5. “Krav Maga.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation. 
6. “History of IKMF Krav Maga.” International Krav Maga Federation. 
7. “What Are the Differences Between IKMF and KMG?” FightMore, February 16, 2025. 
8. “Krav Maga a Kapap, izraelské bojové umění s československými kořeny.” Invenio, National Repository of Grey Literature, 2012. 
9. “Phases vs. belts?” Krav Maga Worldwide Forums. 
10. “Imrich Lichtenfeld.” Wikipedia Deutsch. 

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Further Reading

• Sde-Or, Imi, and Eyal Yanilov. Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault. Weinmann-Verlag, 2003.
• Levine, Darren, and John Whitman. *Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 200 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques*. Ulysses Press, 2007.
• Kahn, David. Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method for Fitness and Self-Defense. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2004.
• Yanilov, Eyal. Krav Maga: The Official Tactical Survival Guide. (forthcoming)
• Aviram, Boaz. Krav Maga: Use Your Body’s Natural Power.