Customer Reviews

Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 230 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I was able to get a copy of this book last weekend and WOW, it's even more detailed than I thought. I have been involved in the Martial Arts for 30 years now (since I was a kid) and I must say that not only is this book easy to follow and learn from, it includes great "Tips" for training and I must say is factually and pictorially on-the-money accurate!

For a comprehensive guide, it's laid out easily for the beginner to follow through from start to finish. DON'T try to skip through to higher level techniques, the text refers to lower level stuff that you need to know before trying the harder ones...just like Krav Maga is taught on the training floor.

I have a deep understanding of Krav Maga as I've been training in it for the last 10 years, and this book lays out the techniques exactly as they should be done. The pictures are taken from great angles too and show really good progressions. Thank you Darren and John and Krav Maga Worldwide for putting this book out to help all students of Krav Maga better "Walk In Peace".

With hundreds of excellent photographs, COMPLETE KRAV MAGA provides readers with clear explanations of Krav Maga techniques. I teach Krav, and have already made regular use of this book as a handy reference. For the 12 years I've trained in Krav, I've hoped for a book just like this to come out. John Whitman and Darren Levine have done a terrific job in organizing and presenting a wide range of material in a format that is both user-friendly and in-depth.

This book is amazing.
You will see that a lot of thought and work went into making this book. The self-defense techniques are grouped by belt levels in a graduated learning approach.

This book is about self-defense techniques (not so much about street, war or sport fighting). The emphasis is on defend, counter, and escape.

Each of the techniques are described in detail and illustrated with 3 to 5 pictures. This book is so well written and illustrated that it is like a text book for a class.

I highly recommend getting this book if you are interested in self-defense.

This was the first 'complete' publication of the US Krav Maga branch* (see below for debate on the US vs International) and for the most part the first publication that deals with unarmed techniques.

Pros
For those of you currently studying from versions 1 -3 (as I am testing into 3), you'll find this a helpful study guide. The accompanying photos are large and offer decent detail with a general step by step description of techniques that grow more advanced as you move throughout the book. I would advise it as an excellent supplement (not a replacement) to anyones training - in fact, I'd consider it a foundation for future books of Krav Maga both to inspire from, and learn from their mistakes.

Side Note: You may find discrepancies from the books techniques compared to your school techniques: this is a product of an expansive, living, modern Martial Art. Talk with your instructors, as I did, to find out if these are watered down or improved variations. I'm listing this here, since I consider it neither a pro nor a con.

Cons
The photos would have been better in color; I know, I know, they most likely kept it black and white to lower the cost for their demographic, I am an Art Director after all, but it cheapens the quality of the finished book. I would have easily paid double for the same high resolution photos they have in color; it would have added a unique dimension to the book that lacks in many Martial Arts publications.

You may also find that the quality of writing is fairly watered down (or as I've heard some joke, Americanized) compared to the international publications. Most of the descriptions are quick/bulleted examples compared to Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault which uses narratives that describe not only 'how' but also 'why'. As a result, this book didn't help me much with a philosophical foundation of the training. You also start off with a forward, written by a talented professional fighter, that sounds like a 15 year old wrote a pitch for Slim Jim. I therefore use this book for the visual guidance, rather than the poor written detail.

In the end
If you're a student, it's a worthwhile purchase to compliment your training but let's hope the next round includes color photos and higher quality writing. If you're a first time learner with no Krav training, I'd choose any of the International books that delve more into the detail of the history prior to reading this.

*Footnote: Before you get too immersed into the discussion, know this was written from the US Krav Maga school, and there has been open controversy still in debate about the authority of Krav Maga. Although it's roots are very much in Israel, David Levine of Krav Maga US in LA has, or atleast the news outlets say, been on a hurried path to copyrighting the term 'Krav Maga' and to control much of the expansive growth. The result has been a divide between what some see as professional, and what others see as a McDojo... with even further speculation on David Levine's Krav certification. This has mostly been ignored in the US, or regarded as a proper path to protect Krav Maga with certifications and registration from the very McDojo some would argue they're becoming. My personal reading has made me largely skeptical of the LA group, but as an educated man, I understand that opinions can very considerably and have seen quality counter debate... especially regarding who you know, and what you've read. Keep an open mind of course, but investigate yourself before taking anything in this book as Bible.

As a police officer and former Marine, I know your life may depend on your CQC skills and this book does not do Krav Maga justice. This book is a poor overreach at explaining what I have seen to be an extremely effective fighting system. From sport ground fighting (not street combat), ineffective combative movements, to sloppy weapons defenses this is a poor rendition of Krav Maga training. A few examples of the bad techniques:
On pages 41-42, the other cover hand is left down, exposing your face and prohibiting a second strike with it. On page 126, this defense will not work if someone pulls back with force--which is likely. A simple turn and counterstrike will work against any type of rear pulling attack. On page 248, without stepping off the line of attack, this defense can get you stabbed.
On page 250, this defense does not move to the deadside and will get you killed as the attacker falls back from your punches and retains control of the handgun. The handgun is designed for him to hold--not you. If he falls to the ground you are in danger. To preform the defense properly you must move to the deadside while delivering strong, simultaneous counterattacks while controling the barrel.
On page 253, again, this defense does not move to the deadside and will get you killed as the attacker falls back from your punches and retains control of the handgun.
If you know Krav Maga, you'll know this book has too many mistakes to be an effective guide to anything, much less Krav Maga.

"Complete Krav Maga" is the companion book to the Krav Maga Worldwide program. It divides up the material into sections matching the "belt" levels in Krav Maga, and will cover techniques in the chronological order they will be introduced in class. The book covers all the material from blue through brown belt, including principles of Krav Maga and basic fighting stance/movement, through upper level weapon defenses and ground fighting.

The book explains the techniques by breaking them up into steps, using mostly photographs with captions, which is great for visual learners like me. Unfortunately, the pictures are in low-resolution black and white, occasionally making it difficult to see exactly how to perform the technique. Also, the captions tend to provide only general descriptions, often omitting the specifics of hand and foot placement. In this way, I don't recommend this book to learn techniques outright (I don't believe it was designed to stand alone); there is no substitute for spending hours in the gym with an experiences instructor.

I use "Complete Krav Maga" to learn the basic motions of a technique before class, allowing me to spend class time refining these techniques with the advice of trained instructors. I'm sure it will also serve as a nice review tool before tests.

(+) Closely matches the Krav Maga Worldwide program
(+) A very comprehensive guide to lower through upper level Krav Maga
(+) Teaches with photographs...
(-) ...that are occasionally difficult to interpret clearly
(-/+) No substitute for time in the gym (no book will ever be)

The book is a good reference for someone who is practicing Krav or is familiar with self-defense/MMA technique. One must realise as has been said by many - do not try to learn a martial art from a book. THe descriptions are thorough, the pictures that are there are good. My wish is to have more pictures in between of those shown, to make action easier to follow, less fragmented. Otherwise the book is well laid out and clear.

Being a student and practitioner of Krav Maga, I have a tendency to seek out most material that is published on the subject and have to admit, the book is lacking in certain areas.

There are several times throughout the book, where after an initial defense is made and an opportunity to trap or control is presented, the defender disengages then starts over again. They will block with one hand and instead of delivering a strike with the other, they will switch hands and attack with what I can only assume is the defenders dominant hand.

This makes no sense and is counter to what Krav Maga is meant to be. Efficient.

In one particular illustration, they showed a 2 handed block to a high roundhouse kick to the head, with the defenders one hand, next to his head, trying to stop the attackers kick, while trying to trap with the other.

I've never seen that particular defense, but can only say that it will not stop a shin bone from nailing you in the temple. Very dangerous to say the least against a powerful kicker.

There are also some knife disarms which are dangerous as well. In particular, on p 311 the defender brings the knife up near his throat.

They apparently do not know how to use taisabaki(body rotation\movement) when applying a cavalier, which would make the take down infinitely easier. If it is done at all in the book, it is done in very wide movements, which is incorrect.

There are also many examples of defenders staying live side and in harm's way. ?????????????????

My lasting impression is if they are trying to mass market a product and their book contains dangerous flaws, the personal instruction must leave a lot to be desired.

Usually, things are worse than advertised.

What if it's not very good to begin with?

I've been taking Krav classes for about 1.5 years now in the Krav Worldwide system. This book really helps to memorize techniques that are shown in the classroom that you might go home and forget otherwise. You can't buy a book and expect to learn any martial art, but this is a great suppliment to classroom instruction. You can't go wrong with this book. Very good pictures and explanations of techniques. Darren Levine is...well...Darren Levine. 'nough said.

I purchased this book out of curiosity of what other techniques were at the higher levels being that I am still a few years off from seeing. I have trained KM for about a year now at kravmagaLA ([...]) and I found this book to maintain some of the basic principles but I would have to dock points for some watered down techniques and some impractical balance of techniques. When I noticed the book was written by the krav maga instructors from Krav Maga Worldwide that's what lead me to my conclusion. I have not trained at KravMaga worldwide facilities but I know enough to know they are a bit lacking on technique at times. Students from their dojo would come in to where I would train and said to have had a belt or two more experience than others and well to my surprise they were really lacking, in technique and general knowledge. I only say this about KMWW because they are the ones that put out this book, and those who see only this kind of KM need to know that it's not completely authentic and seems a bit more watered down, maybe because they are a little more corporate?...I did find the book of some help however in terms of it's concepts with the color photos and step by step analysis, but as I mentioned I really don't see all of them practically applicable in a self defense scenario. They are their own governing body and don't really report to KM taught in Israel by the IDF.