Author Description

Krav Maga, developed by Grandmaster Imi Sde-Or (Imre Lichtenfeld) in the 1930s, was once a method of hand-to-hand combat strictly confined to security agents, members of Mossad and the Israel Defense Forces. The method has been adapted so that civilians of any age, sex, or physical ability can utilize it. Based on natural reactions of the human body, the discipline is easy to learn and perform and practical to use. Written by Imi Sde-Or and his senior disciple and follower Eyal Yanilov, Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Physical Attack presents key principles and training methods for unarmed combat. Laid out in an accessible, step-by-step format, the book covers the basics—from safety in training, warm-up, stretching, and flexibility to principles of attacks, stances, and starting positions. The authors offer strategies for every imaginable scenario: defending punches and kicks, choke escapes, headlocks, throws, and more. Emphasizing the psychological underpinnings of the discipline, the book expands its usefulness with sections on mental training, vulnerable points, multiple attackers, and women’s self-defense.