What Is Krav Maga


Krav maga is a self-defense oriented martial art. It was developed as a means of self-defense for those Europeans concerned with anti-Semitic extremism. It is currently used by the Israel Defense Forces.
The underlying goal of Aikido is to protect your self while mitigating injury to your assailant.

Basic Philosophy of Krav Maga

Krav Maga is intended for self-protection and isn't sport oriented. The overall strategy is to prevent injury, practice dignity while defending yourself. Their belief is to do whatever is needed to cause as much damage as possible to your attacker and get away safely. It is simple, ruthless and efficient. Krav Maga looks primal in nature and aggressive.

Similarities between Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu

Both disciplines have a self-defense aspect to them. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu or GJJ places a heavier emphasis on self-defense than more sport oriented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The self-defense portion utilizes ground fighting techniques but also incorporates weapons training, closing distance to clinch, takedowns and powerful strikes.

However, this is where the similarities end.

Differences Between Krav Maga & Jiu-Jitsu

Krav Maga Incorporates Many Styles

Krav Maga is an eclectic system that takes useful elements from existing martial arts. Most notably it incorporates:
Strikes - similar to Karate and Boxing
Take-downs / Throws - like Judo, Aikido, and Wrestling
Ground Fighting - similar to Judo and Wrestling

Along with this, Jiu Jitsu usually incorporates a gi while Krav usually doesn't have a unified uniform.

Anything Goes Mentality

While Jiu-Jitsu and other martial arts may have certain etiquette in terms of their strikes Krav Maga focuses on self-preservation. So, they permit and train in groin strikes, eye pokes etc. The style is centered around survival and their techniques are a means to an end.

There Are No Competitions

Many Krav Maga organizations do not support a competition component. Their belief is that Krav Maga is not a sport. They maintain a belief that sports operate under principles of using safe techniques, doing minimal harm and wearing down opponents using tactics supported by the "rules" of safe competition.

Their belief is that Krav Maga techniques do maximum harm and significant damage and therefore is not suitable for competition purposes. They may have never seen a high-level MMA fight.

Jiu-Jitsu vs. Krav Maga: who would win?

While Krav Maga works in self-defense situations against Jiu-Jitsu the Krav Maga specialist would be like a fish out of water.

The Jiu-Jitsu fighter would close distance to clinch or initiate a takedown and establish side control or mount. A high-level BJJ practitioner would soften the Krav Maga fighter up with strikes from the top position until they exposed themselves and set in a quick submission.

What Is Akido

Aikido is a traditional Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido is oftentimes translated as "the way of unifying life energy" or as "the way if harmonious spirit".

The underlying goal of Aikido is to protect your self while mitigating injury to your assailiant.

Basic Philosophy of Aikido

The word Aikido itself holds clues into this martial arts basic philosophy.
Ai - joining, unifying, combining, fitting
Ki - spirit, energy, mood, morale
do - way, path
From a literal interpretation, Aikido means the "Way of combining forces".

Similarities between Aikido & Jiu-Jitsu

Aikido like Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling heavy martial arts that places a heavy emphasis on safetly subduing your attacker. Both martial arts pursue controlled relaxation, fluid movement of joints like your hips and shoulders and relies on endurance and flexibility.

Also, like jiu-jitsu there are a lot of basic circular movements. Both martial arts believe in harmony, rather than confrontation. Aikido take an aggressive linear attack and converts it into a circular motion that neutralizes the attacker.

Differences Between Aikido & Jiu-Jitsu

Aikido doesnt have live sparring sessions or tournaments

Aikido techniques are practiced as a self defense from a linear attack.

Unlike jiu-jitsu Aikido training is centered around partners rehearsing a set of pre-arranged forms rather than sparring or any freestyle type practice.

The other major difference between the two martial arts is Aikido is not a competitive art form. Jiu-jitsu can be used in competition and as a result has continue to grow in relevance. Whereas Aikido isn't and testing your skill set against a resiting opponent is difficult.

Aikido is completly reactive

Common Basic Attacks:
Front of the head strike - consist of a vertical knifehand strike to the head.
Side of the head strike - a diagonal knifehand strike to the side of the head or neck
Chest thrust - a punch to the torso
Face thrust - a punch to the face

While Aikido is centered around reacting to strikes jiu-jitsu offers a bit more offense to the martial arts practioner. Traditional jiu-jitsu has some basic strikes along with an emphasis on taking the fight to the ground and utilizing pressure or attaining a dominant position to set up submissions.

Jiu-jitsu has several submissions which can be used both offensively and defensively like joint locks, heel hooks, chokes and strangles.

People question its effectiveness


Its fairly safe to say people question Aikidos effectiveness both in a self defense situation and a sport combat application. I'm sure you've been on youtube recently and have seen the Aikido guy trying to spar with MMA fighters. It hasn't gone so well for him.

However, jiu-jitsu's effectiveness has been proven time and time again. For example, the gracie challenge was an open invitation issued by members of the famous Brazilian Gracie family known for their jiu jitsu mastery. It stated to all other martial artist of various style to fight them in a vale tudo match. They did this to solidify the effectiveness of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

No one in the Aikido discipline has ever been able to do this. Nor any other traditional martial art.

Learn More About Aikido
Aikido Belts

Originally went Aikido arrived it Europe it had two colored belts White and Black. But it was difficult to implement.

In many Western Aikido schools the belt system is similar to this structure:

6th kyu – white
5th kyu – yellow
4th kyu – orange
3rd kyu – blue
2nd kyu – brown
1st dan – black
2nd dan – black with thin gold stripe
3rd dan – black with red stripe

Does Aikido Work?

Aikido works in the gym when both parties are cooperating and can help in some self defense applications. However, as a combat sport it is not effective.


Aikido Fighting Style

Aikido is a modern japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a result of his philosophy studies, religious belieffs and culmination of his total martial arts studies. Aikido focuses on: irmi (entering), and tenkan (turning) movements.

What Is Karate

Karate is an asian martial arts systems that emphasizes the hands and feet to deliver strikes. This martial art physical aspects seek the developmetn of defensive and counterattacking body movements. The overall theme of karate is you never attack first. This martial art is centered around fighting and self defense.

Karate was developed within the Ryukyu Kingdom and was influenced by Chinese Kung Fu. Karate is predominantly a striking discipline focused on ounches, kicks, knee strikes, elbow and open hand attacks. Today there are four styles of karate in Japan: Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Wado-ryu.

Basic Philosophy of Karate

Karate is centered around cultivating a calm temperament and self control with mutual respect to your opponent. This is evident by the arts belief in,: "There is no first attack in Karate."

Similarities between Karate & Jiu-Jitsu

While jiu-jitsu is primarily a ground based martial art it does have some basic strikes as well. Both diciplines utilize strikes for self-defense situations.

Both disciplines embrace similar philosophys. Jiu-jitsu places an emphasis on humility, honesty and respect. Karate also promotes being humble and open to Karate's many lessons and being open to criticism.

Differences Between Karate & Jiu-Jitsu

Karate Emphasizes Striking

Sure while there are some basic strikes in jiu-jtisu it is primarily a grappling martial arts. Karate focuses more on striking through teaching katas or forms. The kata is a formalized sequence of movements which represent various offensive and defensive postures. However, these postures and katas are based on idealized combat situations.

In Karate they call there sparring sessions, a "meeting of hands" or Kumite. It varies by school and focus there is everything from full contact karate which resembles kickboxing like K1. Then there is light contact like the World Karate Federation.

Belt Progression Is Much Faster

In karate, it takes a typical adult student who attends class two times per week to earn a black belt in five years. Contrast that with jiu-jitsu at five years you would just be eligible to test for your brown belt. In rare instances, Karate gyms have been known to give out a black belt in as little as 3 years.

Karate Places Emphasis In Striking


Karate practicioners train a series of open hand and closed fist strikes. Common strikes learned are:
Haishu uchi - Back hand strike
Haito uchi - Ridge (back of sword) hand strike
Ipon ken - forefinger knuckle strike
Ipon nukite ken - first finger spear strike
Kai ko ken - open fist strike
Kakuto - head of the crane / goose neck strike
Ko koo - tiger's mouth strike
Kuma de - bear hand strike
Keito - head of the hen strike
Nakadaka ipon ken - middle finger knuckle strike
Nihon nukite - two finger spear strike
Nukite - Spear hand strike
Seiken - clenched fist strike
Shuto uchi - Knife (sword) hand strike
Teisho uchi - Palm heel strike
Tetsu tsui - [iron] hammer fist
Uraken uchi - Back fist strike
Washi de - eagle's beak strike
Wan to - sword arm strike

Contrast this with jiu-jitsu and there are basic self defense that are utilized for setting up takedowns and to really implement a strong bjj game.

Learn More About Karate

Originally went Aikido arrived it Europe it had two colored belts White and Black. But it was difficult to implement.

In many Western Aikido schools the belt system is similar to this structure:

6th kyu – white
5th kyu – yellow
4th kyu – orange
3rd kyu – blue
2nd kyu – brown
1st dan – black
2nd dan – black with thin gold stripe
3rd dan – black with red stripe

Who Would Win: BJJ vs. Karate

Going back to the Gracie challenge BJJ would win over Karate. While certain forms or variations of Karate would be effective in self defense situations it isn't enough against BJJ.

While Karate focuses on the striking aspect Jiu-Jitsu practitioners work to take the fight to the ground to gain an advantage. The jiu-jitsu fighter would move in quickly to close distance and set up a takedown. The BJJ fighter would quickly establish a dominate position once on the ground and would soften the Karate fighter up with strikes. From there its only a matter of time before they are easily submitted.

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