Krav Maga is included in military training in many countries around the world - Photo: MARINE
Have you ever heard that Israelis have a long history of martial arts? Probably not. Krav Maga, the nation’s signature martial art, is less than 100 years old, and has only been popular since the 1980s.
But very quickly, Krav Maga was immediately recognized as a martial art with high combat effectiveness, and especially suitable for the military.
In modern military training systems, unarmed martial arts still play an essential role despite increasingly advanced weapon technology. And Krav Maga has become the martial art with the most widely applied close combat techniques.
According to Forces News, Krav Maga is present in the military martial arts training programs of more than 60 countries.
Origin and characteristics of Krav Maga, military martial art
Krav Maga was born in the 1930s, founded by Imi Lichtenfeld - a Hungarian Jewish boxer, former boxing and wrestling champion.
After settling in Israel, he was assigned to build a martial arts system for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Lichtenfeld (left) - the father of Krav Maga - Photo: KRAV360
Unlike traditional martial arts that are intended for performance or sports competition, Krav Maga is designed to serve only one goal: survival and quickly defeating enemies in a real war environment.
This martial art combines techniques from Boxing, Muay Thai, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling, while adding a very systematic weapon defense system such as defense against knives, guns, bombs, and even surprise attacks from multiple opponents.
The motto of Krav Maga is: "Simple - practical - quick reflexes - no compromise".
Current status of application in military of countries
Originally an Israeli martial art, Krav Maga began to spread to other countries in the 1990s. Today, it is included in military and special forces training programs in more than 60 countries.
In the United States, many units such as the Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, FBI, DEA, CIA and SWAT all use Krav Maga in close combat training.
Some Krav Maga techniques are also incorporated into the Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP) - the official martial arts program of the US Army.
In Europe, the French GIGN, British SAS, German Bundeswehr, Polish Counter-Terrorism Police and Eastern European elite forces all use Krav Maga or its variants.
The Singapore Army also trains in Krav Maga - Photo: SA
In Asia, India's MARCOS and NSG (Black Cats) have included Krav Maga in their curriculum from an early age. The Singapore Army has also incorporated Krav Maga into its unarmed combat training program.
In addition to the military field, Krav Maga is also widely applied in police forces, VIP protection, UN peacekeeping forces, and even in civilian training.
Why Krav Maga is the Most Popular
From a tactical perspective, Krav Maga meets all the criteria that a modern military martial arts system should have:
1. High practical effectiveness: Techniques are designed to be applied immediately in real situations, without tricks or competition.
2. Minimal movements - easy to teach - easy to learn: Krav Maga is simplified so that it can be quickly taught to thousands of new recruits in a short time.
Krav Maga has highly regarded close combat skills - Photo: IDF
3. Adaptable to all body types: Does not require outstanding physique, suitable for both men and women, rookies or senior officers.
4. Comprehensive weapon protection: One of the few systems with specialized programs to protect against knives, guns, bombs and multiple attackers at the same time.
5. Highly international: There are hundreds of certified training centers worldwide, with a system of levels and training methods.
In the context of modern warfare with urban, asymmetric battlefields and widespread terrorism, military martial arts are no longer a secondary element but an essential survival skill.
Among the many martial arts systems, Krav Maga is proving to be a clear superiority in terms of combat effectiveness, mass training capabilities, and versatility.
With its spread to more than 60 countries and integration into the curriculum of many of the world's leading special forces, Krav Maga is currently the most popular and effective martial art in today's militaries.
Krav Maga Summary
Krav Maga techniques focus on instant reflexes, attacking weak points on the body such as the eyes, throat, groin, and knees to defeat the opponent in seconds.
Unlike traditional martial arts, Krav Maga does not involve competition or demonstration, but is based on the principle of “go straight – finish fast”.
The technical system includes punching, kicking, wrestling, chokeholds, escapes, as well as resistance to weapons such as knives, sticks, and guns.
An important part is training to deal with multiple opponents and unexpected situations. Krav Maga uses simple, easy-to-learn movements that are repeated many times to create unconscious reflexes, suitable for soldiers, police, special forces or civilians who need quick self-defense skills.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vo-thuat-cua-nuoc-nao-pho-bien-nhat-trong-quan-doi-the-gioi-20250625215151427.htm
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