Krav Maga Curriculum
The Krav Maga curriculum is logically organized by way of a progressive testing system, however the promulgation and distribution of belts/levels is certainly not the goal of the system. The Krav Maga belt testing system has not only been carefully conceived, but has been designed to motivate student participants, and foster and encourage a positive learning atmosphere. Most importantly, the belt system aids in the overall organization of subject matter and curriculum within existing class levels. The most important goal is to help you develop the ability to quickly and efficiently defend against any conceivable threat to you, a friend, or a family member. The important thing is to attain the actual ability to perform realistic defenses against a variety of attacks. Thus while achieving an advanced belt level is important, it should be secondary to your pursuit of knowledge.
Click Here to open a printable (pdf) version of the complete curriculum guide.
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Level 1
White belt testing to Yellow belt
In level 1, you’ll learn basic strikes and defenses against the most common attacks. |
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Level 1 curriculum includes: |
- Straight punches and palm strikes
- Knee strikes
- Elbow strikes
- Basic kicks
- Basic punch and kick combinations
- Basic punch defenses
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- Defenses against chokes from the front, back and side
- Defense against headlock
- “Soft techniques” including wrist releases and verbal de-escalation of threats
- Basic ground work
(movement, getting up, kicking from the ground)
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Level 2
Yellow belt testing to Orange belt
Level 2 builds on level 1 by addressing more complex defensive situations and by teaching more technically difficult, but still very effective, strikes and counters. You’ll also start learning how to operate in a ground fight using techniques taken from wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. |
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Level 2 curriculum includes: |
- Hook and uppercut punches
- Punch combinations and kick combinations
- Side and back kicks, advancing kicks
- Punch and kick defenses with counters
- Defenses against carotid and tracheal (“armbar”) chokes
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- Defenses against chokes against a wall
- Defenses against bearhugs
- Basic fall breaks (side and back)
- Basic ground work (working from the guard, escaping the mount or guard)
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Level 3
Orange belt testing to Green belt
In level 3, students learn advanced material such as advanced ground fighting and defenses against multiple attackers. |
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Level 3 curriculum includes: |
- Advanced combatives (headbutts, overhand punch, heel kick, spinning back kicks, slap kick and others)
- Reflexive punch and kick defenses
- Defenses against hairgrabs and reverse headlock
- Advanced bearhug defenses, including being lifted from the ground
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- More advanced ground work (locks and work from choke, headlock, side mount, and guard)
- More advanced fall breaks and rolls
- Introduction to weapon defenses (gun and stick defenses)
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Level 4
Green belt testing to Blue belt
In Level 4, students learn advanced material such as weapons defenses, grappling, and joint locks. |
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Level 4 curriculum includes: |
- More advanced combatives (Spinning heel and slap kicks, axe kick, ridgehand strikes, chops, and inward angle knee)
- Sweeps and multiple rolls
- Advanced kick defenses (to side and spinning kicks)
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- Stick, knife, and gun defenses
- Wrist locks
- Ground work including grappling, defense vs. headlock and defense against mount with wrists pinned
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Level 5
Blue belt testing to Brown belt
In Level 5, students learn more advanced material including more weapon defenses, specific ground techniques, as well as throws and holds. |
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Level 5 curriculum includes: |
- More advanced combatives (Punch combinations, switch kicks, jumping kicks and multiple punch/kick combinations)
- Defense against back kicks
- Advanced stick, knife, and gun defenses
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- Throws / Holds
- Advanced scenario headlock defenses including full nelson defense
- Advanced fighting drills
- Elbows against multiple assailants
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Advanced Training
At more advanced levels, students learn improvisation and dynamic technique combinations in preparation for black belt testing, through dynamic drills and multiple attacker scenarios. |
