Upward Headbutt

This can be used when you shoot in unsuccessfully on your opponent and want to drive upward to catch his chin.

Starting Position: Stand facing your opponent. Duck down so that your head is at his chest level.

Keeping your neck fairly stiff and your jaw tightly closed, drive your head upward, striking with the top/back part of your skull, striking your opponent’s chin.

Headbutt to the Side

This can be used when you’re grabbed in a bearhug or any other close-in situation where your head is sideways to your attacker’s face.

Starting Position: Stand with your opponent close to your side, as if he is about to put you in a bearhug.

Turn your head sharply so that your forehead faces the target.

Keeping your neck fairly stiff and your jaw tightly closed, drive your head forward using your legs and upper body, striking with your forehead. Because of the angle, you may strike near the side of your forehead. However, do not strike with the side of your head. This may injure you.

Headbutt to the Back

This strike is most often delivered in the context of bearhugs. It can be delivered to someone grabbing from behind, or to someone facing you when you are doubled over (in a position similar, say, to reverse headlock), when the headbutt is driven upward, but using the back of the head.

Starting Position: Stand facing away from your opponent, who has you in a bearhug.

Send your head back sharply, flexing your neck muscles and tightening your jaw, to strike with the back of your head (near the top).

Defensive Back Kick with a Spin

Krav Maga training de-emphasizes complicated kicks. However, of the “fancier” techniques, spinning back kick is the most practical because the direction of the kick opposes any forward motion of an attacker.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance, facing an opponent.

Step your left foot across and forward slightly. Turn sharply so that the heel of your forward (base) foot is pointing at the target. Your back is also to the target, but turn your head so that you can see the target. You should be in the same position as a regular back kick (page 103).

Extend your right leg back to make a back kick.

As you recoil, turn to face the target.

Tips: Spinning kicks are always made using the rear leg.

The first step can be removed as you become more proficient, but it ALWAYS facilitates the turn.

Offensive Back Kick

Offensive back kick is delivered to a target behind the defender when the opening is on a horizontal plane (e.g., the groin, or the head/chest when the attacker’s body is leaning forward).

Starting Position: Neutral stance, with an opponent behind you.

Raise your right leg backward, making sure it is relatively straight. At the same time, drop your body forward and swing your hips back so that your weight goes into the kick. Be sure your kicking foot rises straight up. Just before contact, bend your knee to add extra power to the kick and protect your knee from hyperextension.

Make contact with the back of the heel.

As you recoil, turn to face the attacker.

Tips: If training from a fighting stance, the leg farthest from the target will be the strongest.