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Developed in Czechoslovakia in the 1930s by Imi Lichtenfeld, Krav Maga was originally conceived as a self-defensive art. It was used in Bratislava by Jews against the Nazis to great effect. Later, he taught it to Jewish underground freedom fighters in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine. Finally, at the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948, Mr. Lichtenfeld became the primary instructor of close combat to the Israeli Defense Forces. All Israeli Defense Force soldiers are trained in this fighting art, though most spend only a few hours a week training.

Krav Maga is characterized by its principles. Starkly different from traditional martial arts (at the time of its founding, that is) was Krav Maga's treatment of women, who were put through the exact same regimen as men studying the same art. This was rare in the martial arts of the time, though it has since become standard. Krav Maga emphasizes a sort of no-holds barred type of defense, with any and every tactic being utilized no matter how unsavory it might be considered by outsiders. Nothing is off limits to a Kravist.

During initial training, novice Kravists wear padding and protective gear, but this is quickly phased out. Most sparring between intermediate and experienced practitioners more closely resembles an actual fight, though there are a few rules to keep either party from getting severely hurt. As a martial art, Krav Maga was built to assimilate and improve upon other martial arts. Techniques recognizable from numerous other arts are easily visible, though Krav Maga tends to refine them to follow the strict control necessary to maintain the structure of the art. A good example is the round kick (called the roundhouse kick in some arts) which is thrown in most martial arts with a heavy emphasis on follow through. In Krav Maga, the round kick is carefully measured and strict leg control is used to ensure that the person throwing it maintains complete balance and form during the strike. While this diminishes the force noticeably, Krav Maga's emphasis on combinations and careful counterstriking compensates nicely for this fact.

The primary moral principle of a kravist is fairly simple. Use any tactic necessary to protect yourself and those around you. In deeper teachings of Krav Maga, this diametrical approach to force suggests a careful gauging of the situation so that exactly the right amount of exertion is applied to reach resolution. Thus, all parties involved in a combat are unlikely to be harmed unduly. If a punch is sufficient to terminate an engagement, that is the only maneuver the will be used by a kravist. Force may be escalated as necessary, with lethal techniques being resorted to only when absolutely required.

Krav Maga is free in its form. Everything about it is designed to integrate and implement any technique found that works in any situation. The unfortunate side effect of this can be that the art seems a bit generic. It takes a delicately trained eye to note the difference between Krav Maga and other modern martial arts with a similar focus. The primary difference lies in careful restraint and counterstriking where other martial arts of a similar type might emphasize different methodologies of striking. It is also important to note that Krav Maga has fewer takedown and ground techniques than many modern martial arts, instead preferring an emphasis on control holds and basic, simple throws.

The final thing to note about Krav Maga is its emphasis on disarmament. Most of the original practitioners of the art taught my Imi Lichtenfeld were disadvantaged against those they fought by the fact that they did not own guns or other weapons. Thus, a comprehensive set of rules and techniques governing the neutralization of weaponry was created and taught. Kravists are taught how to disarm and neutralize weaponry very early on in their training, often from the very first week on. They are also often taught how to utilize the weapons that they are disarming, both gunnery and melee. All traditional kravists are taught in the signature weapons of the art, the combat knife and the bayonet (both affixed and by itself.)

In short, Krav Maga emphasizes efficient, tightly-controlled and restrained techniques in rapid combination. Counterstrikes, control grapples and striking techniques are utilized to quickly and safely end a situation by any means necessary. While Krav Maga resembles other military martial arts, its stands alone in significance as one of the most recognized military fighting styles on the planet.

It is good, then, that there are lots of places popping up worldwide to study it.

I know it's not known for it ... but krav maga does have some groundwork ... I think ... can you deliberate ...?