Many people have asked about the difference between Krav Maga and Haganah.

It depends on what you consider Krav Maga. I will go from what we hear from the certified KM instructors we have met and trained (as to their view of the differences), Mikes experience and knowledge of Krav Maga, and all of what I have seen and practiced and what I have read (which I am sure is far from everything). Also, for a more Krav Maga oriented view ask John Whitman. He certainly knows Krav Maga and he has seen our DVDs, so as to H2H components, I am sure he has a view. Good punches, kicks, knees, gouges, etc. are elements in both. Targeting vulnerable areas- throat, groin, eyes etc are too. No rules philosophy is also. Simplicity is likewise a principle both build on instinctive responses. I would argue that because of technique funneling (described below), Haganah is simpler to learn (John might argue the reverse). Some differences? , I am sure this will be way too long but. Complete Combat vs Contact Combat Structure Structurally the Haganah system itself consists of fitness and conditioning components, Hand-to-hand and empty hand versus weapons components, its own tactical knife fighting component, its own combat shooting component and a series of tactics many of which are based upon what is referred to by some counterterrorist units in Israel as LOTAR- designed for use by law enforcement, military and other professional operators. Krav Maga contains the first 3 components within it, but so far as I know does not contain within it any comprehensive weapons training systems - certainly no shooting. Therefore, for the purpose of all that follows I will only address 2 of the first 3 component areas- Hand-to-hand and empty hand versus weapons components Rapid Deployment vs Belt Based Training Haganah is a self defense (civilian or professional) and street fighting system. It is not taught in a martial arts belt oriented format (except with appropriate material to youth). It is designed to be taught in a rotation format, where 95 % + of all relevant material is taught over a few months (3 to 4 depending upon the program) and people get deployable skills in that timeframe. This is not to say that they are completely proficient that comes with repetition of the material and ever increasing intensity and attack variation in training. Students learn empty hand versus weapons (knife defenses and gun disarms) at the same time as they learn hand-to-hand self defense and fighting skills during the 3 or 4 month rotation. On average, a student who has been training for 8 months or more will be more adept than one who has been training for 4, but they will be training in the same tactics. This is not to say that the 8 month student wont have been exposed to a few more things to supercharge their defensive and fighting tactics. Objective Oriented Self Defense and Fighting The biggest tactical difference is that most Haganah H2H and Empty-hand knife defenses use points of reference and objective oriented fighting. These defenses are structured so that within 1 to 3 moves you end up funneling into one of 4 tactically advantageous positions- points of reference. These are positions of momentary dominance and control. From there you choose how the fight ends escape, restrain the attacker (1 sequence), incapacitate the attacker (second sequence), or terminate the attacker (third sequence). These sequences are patterns of strikes. This makes people very good at ending the fight with very little training. Then they can focus on building skill in the entry. To clarify 12 of 18 core street attack defenses used in training - against punches, kicks, chokes, bear hugs end up in the same position after 1 to 3 moves. 6 of 7 knife attack defenses end up in the same position after about 3 moves. In 4 months, a student learns all of the defenses, but because they are structured to end up at the same points the student practices the same fight ending sequences repeatedly. This allows for very rapid skill and confidence development. This point of reference structure also gives the student an intermediate goal in the fight a place to try to get to if he initially reacts wrong. Knife defenses - in Haganah are taught in the first 4 months and generally dont advocate blocking but rather advocate seizing the knife wielding arm. I have seen well trained Krav Maga practitioners successfully block attacks in training and well trained Haganah practitioners use the seizing method against the same attacks with equal success. We advocate seizing because with a block the knife arm (and therefore the knife) is still alive and can inflict damage. Properly seized it is not fully alive. Knife defenses in Krav Maga also generally target a disarm (standing) or if not an escape. Haganah does not. Our defenses all provide 3 alternatives incapacitate, terminate or restrain and disarm. Gun Disarms are taught within the first 4 months and some entries are the same as KM, some different. Because Haganah includes combat shooting training, we train practitioners what to do with the gun once it is in their possession and it is shown systematically on our DVDs. The entries that are different are different frankly in general because of feedback from more recently active Israeli Special Forces operators, and sometimes

because of tactical considerations raised in the US. An example is the front gun threat to the head. Both disarms move the body to get out of the line of fire and simultaneously seize the gun and redirect the LOF. Krav Maga teaches to redirect the gun sideways then down. We assume that this action will result in a discharged bullet at chest height of bystanders (if any). We redirect the gun upward to avoid this. Its a tactical decision. I will say that the desire many seem to have to pit Haganah and Krav Maga against each other is a failure to recognize that Haganah contains Krav Maga elements, and adds to them. Krav Maga is a good system. We believe that Haganah both expands upon Krav Maga, uses to its best other Israeli systems and tactics (Hisardut, Lotar, etc) and uses an innovative deployment and training structure. We think practitioners of either system can benefit from exposure to the other. I hope this gives a bit of an idea. The best bet is to buy all of the Haganah and Krav Maga videos and compare them. A picture paints a thousand words.