360° Defense with Counterattack

“Defend and counterattack at the same time” is a basic principle of Krav Maga. 360° Defenses can easily be made with a simultaneous counterattack.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance.

Defend against any attack with a 360° Defense. Add a punch to the face with your free hand.

Tips: The punch should be simultaneous with the defense. You should train from different

states of readiness. If you are early, you should burst forward with your feet. If you are late, you may not have time to move your feet but should still put weight into the defense and counterattack.

Reflexive Defense against Front Kick

This defense is reflexive, and assumes that you are not expecting an attack of any kind and can only respond instinctively. This kick also assumes that your hands are down at your sides at the beginning of the attack.

Starting Position: Passive/neutral stance.

As the attacker’s kick develops, sweep your left hand across your body. Bend at the waist to reach the kick at an early point. The movement of your arm should be on a diagonal, out and away from your body. Your arm should be stiff and straight, with fingers extended. Make sure your wrist is straight! You do not want to create any angles against the kick.

With this rigid defending arm, redirect the side of the kicking leg. At the same time, make a body defense, leaning in with your left shoulder, pivoting your right shoulder and hip out of the line of the attack. Your right hand should rise up and across to the left side of your face. This puts your hand in a position to defend either a left or right punch.

As you make the defense, burst in. Trap with your right hand, then switch the trap to your left hand to counterattack with your right.

Variation: Alternately, with your right hand, trap the attacker’s right hand, counterattacking with the left. This is faster, but may be less comfortable and powerful.

Tips: To protect your defending arm from hyperextension, you may bend your elbow slightly.

Outside Stabbing Defense against Front Kick

This defense is made from a fighting stance when your legs are unavailable to defend, such as when you’ve lost your balance or your legs are injured.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance.

As an attacker’s kick develops, stab down toward the attacker’s knee with your right (back) hand; burst in toward the attacker at a slight diagonal. Keep your elbow in and the meaty part of your hand pointing back toward your body. This ensures that your arm is straight, creating no angle against the kick.

Keep your shoulders square to your attacker—turning your right side in will redirect the kick to your body, not away from it. Be sure your left hand is up, protecting your face, in case the kick is followed by an immediate punch. As soon as you’ve redirected the kick, move your right arm slightly outward, creating a larger defense.

Tips: If the attacker did not throw a punch, use your left (forward) hand to punch. Make the punch as soon as possible after the kick, and follow with a right punch and additional counterattacks.

If the attacker threw a punch, use your left hand to defend then trap, and counterattack with the right.