{"id":44537,"date":"2015-10-21T07:15:40","date_gmt":"2015-10-21T11:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=44537"},"modified":"2016-07-14T16:03:32","modified_gmt":"2016-07-14T20:03:32","slug":"self-defense-techniques-krav-maga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/self-defense-techniques-krav-maga\/","title":{"rendered":"The 4 Self-Defense Moves You Shouldn’t Live Without"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Krav
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Spoiler alert: You don\u2019t have to be especially big, strong or fast to protect yourself from an attacker. Even the shortest or slowest among us can learn a few basic moves to stay safe. Enter: Krav Maga<\/a>, a self-defense system developed by the Israeli military. Combining elements of boxing, wrestling and MMA, Krav Maga is taught and practiced worldwide to prepare men and women for the unexpected.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Train Different: 5 UFC Workout Moves for Beginners<\/a><\/p>\n

“They come out of class and they feel like Jason Bourne.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cAll of the [Krav Maga] moves have an instinctive element to them,\u201d says Matt Romond, a Krav Maga instructor and Vice President of Strategy for Krav Maga Worldwide<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s easier to learn them, and faster to recall them [if you\u2019re] under stress.\u201d The goal? Establishing self-defense as an impulse. \u201cBy the time you realize what you\u2019re doing, you\u2019re already halfway into the move,\u201d says Romond.<\/p>\n

Aside from teaching potentially live-saving skills (and being a great workout), Krav Maga can also be a huge confidence booster, Romond says. \u201cSome people, when they watch a class, might be intimidated and scared,\u201d he says. \u201cBut they realize that they can [actually] achieve this stuff. They come out of class and they feel like Jason Bourne.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 10 Ways You\u2019re Sabotaging Your Workout<\/a><\/p>\n

Want to feel more confident in your personal safety, no matter where life takes you? Grab a partner and practice these moves demonstrated by Romond. Afterwards, you’ll be unstoppable.<\/p>\n

4 Shockingly Easy Self-Defense Moves<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Front<\/p>\n

1. Front Kick to the Groin
\n<\/strong>Why It Works: \u201c<\/strong>The groin is one of two areas on the body that cannot be conditioned to be stronger, and is therefore vulnerable to attack,\u201d says Romond. A\u00a0kick to the crotch can often cause\u00a0abdominal pain and nausea<\/a>. Translation: Your opponent will be doubled over in discomfort, leaving you to flee.
\nHow to:<\/strong> Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, facing your attacker. Your left, or non-dominant, leg should be slightly forward, with your right leg placed behind you. Raise your arms to your chest, like you are about to block a punch (a)<\/strong>. Assess how high your attacker\u2019s groin is. Raise your right leg, leading with your knee. Your hips should be pivoting slightly towards the attacker, to generate power from your core as you drive up with your leg. As your leg rises up, flick your lower leg so your shoelaces or your shin makes contact with the groin (b)<\/strong>. Next, recoil to your original fighting stance so you can escape or continue to defend yourself (c)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Hammer<\/p>\n

2. Hammer Fist Punch
\n<\/strong>Why It Works: <\/strong>If you\u2019ve never thrown a punch (or don\u2019t do it often), striking with your knuckles can be dangerous \u2014\u00a0even causing you to fracture your hand. Instead, you\u2019re better off using the hammer-like motion described below. \u201cIt\u2019s very easy to learn and to recall during times of intense stress,\u201d Romond says.
\nHow to:<\/strong> Stand in a fighting stance, with your arms protecting your chest. Your right, or dominant hand, should be in a tight fist (a)<\/strong>. Rotate your hips just slightly towards your attacker and raise your dominant hand up, bending at the elbow, like you\u2019re preparing to throw a ball (b)<\/strong>. Next drive forward with your hips and bring your right arm down, smacking your attacker in the face with the meaty bottom part of your fist (c)<\/strong>. Recoil to your original stance and prepare to deliver another strike or to run away.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 3 Fat-Blasting HIIT Workouts to Try Now<\/a><\/p>\n

\"defense-from-behind2\"<\/p>\n

3. Defending Headlock from Behind
\n<\/strong>Why It Works:<\/strong> Getting attacked from behind can be scary because you can\u2019t see or strike with strength right off the bat. However, this technique allows you immediately remove someone\u2019s forearm from your throat and systematically work your way out of a headlock. Once you can face your attacker, you\u2019ll be able deliver a strike to the face if you want, says Romond.
\nHow to:<\/strong> If someone has their right arm wrapped around your neck, place both of your hands on your attacker\u2019s hand and forearm (a)<\/strong>. Tuck your chin to the left. Next, press your left shoulder into your attacker\u2019s chest so you create some space between your bodies (b)<\/strong>. Then, step your left foot between your bodies. You should now be able to duck your head under your attacker\u2019s arm and wriggle free (c)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"choke-from-front\"<\/p>\n

4. Defending Chokehold from Front
\n<\/strong>Why It Works: <\/strong>This technique can be carried out by someone much smaller than his or her attacker, says Romond. If someone is choking you from the front, your immediate goal is to remove his or her hands. \u201cThe [move] uses speed and momentum to overcome the attacker\u2019s strength,\u201d he says, noting that this technique should be paired with a swift kick to the groin to prevent your attacker from responding with more aggression.
\nHow to:<\/strong> Raise your arms out the side and bend them into \u201chooks\u201d (a)<\/strong>. Dive your hands in the middle of your attacker\u2019s arms and \u201cpluck\u201d your attacker\u2019s wrists off your throat. Grab the thumbs and remove the hands from your windpipe by explosively twisting your attacker\u2019s wrists away from your body. Your back<\/a> muscles should be braced during this move (b)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Want to learn more Krav Maga moves? Head to a local academy or go at your own pace by checking out Krav Maga\u2019s online courses at <\/em>Krav Maga Worldwide<\/em><\/a>, a new online academy. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stay safe in any situation with these easy self-defense techniques used in Krav Maga, a form of martial arts developed by the Israeli military.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,24,6],"tags":[264,56,281,341,355],"class_list":["post-44537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cardio","category-exercise","category-fitness","tag-boxing","tag-group-fitness","tag-strength-training","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2yoga"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44537\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}