Why Krav Maga is different from martial arts

For as long as combat sports have been around, there’s been talk of which style is best.

This can be loosely translated to whose ego needs nurturing the most.

Which style is best for who? A lot of people were silenced in the early days of the UFC with the rise of Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu, and Royce Gracie getting the better of his opponents in ways that most people had never seen before.

Combat sports are exactly that, sports, based on combat.  It is important to understand traditional combat was to the death, with no rules, and with weapons.  And in War this is exactly what it still is.

There’s rule sets in place to stop people from getting seriously maimed, injured, or killed.

Who will win in a fight?
A boxer or a Judoka?
A Grappler or Wrestler?
Who cares?

No mention of Krav Maga so far.
What was the point of Krav Maga?

Krav Maga is a self defence system. Designed to give good people the skills to protect themselves, and others.  So where does this fit into combat sports?  It doesn’t.

Krav Maga is not a martial art.  Krav Maga is not about ego and who can beat up who. 

Krav Maga is not about fighting.

It is about not fighting.  It is about confidence. It is about standing up for those that need it, and teaching those people to be able to stand up for themselves, and then in turn stand up for others.

Who will win in a fight?

A boxer or a Krav Maga practitioner?  Neither.  There’s no fight to be had.
The boxer may choose to assault someone.
The BJJ guy may choose to assault someone.
The Kickboxer may choose to assault someone.

We will defend against that assault and do whatever it takes to make sure the assault stops.  By any means necessary.

A Krav Maga practitioner is not challenging anyone in their realm, or in any other realm.  We are normal people living our lives.  We are comfortable in who we are and confident enough to not have to challenge anyone in an ego contest.

We do not compare ourselves to these combat sports and martial arts, or even put ourselves in the same category.  We are a different breed altogether.

As Krav Maga instructors and practitioners we have more in common with security guards, paramedics, first responders, body guards, military & law enforcement than we do with someone wanting to get into a ring or cage for a fight.

“We train people to take ownership over their safety, and inspire them to protect others”

Jarrod Krafczyk
Senior Instructor
KMDI