Mastering Krav Maga II Impact & Edged Weapon Defenses with David Kahn

Mastering Krav Maga Volume II: Impact & Edged Weapon Defenses with David Kahn is a comprehensive 5 DVD set that covers a plethora of techniques from beginner to expert that will keep the Krav Maga or self-defense student learning and training for a long time. These are companion DVDs to the YMAA published book, Krav Maga Weapon Defenses and a continuation of the Mastering Krav Maga DVD series. (Note: this DVD series compliments the book very good, but includes some bonus techniques not found in the written materials. They can be used together very well.) Review of the book Krav Maga Weapon Defenses here. Review of Mastering Krav Maga vol 1 here.

The DVDs are all filmed well with different angles, slow-motion, and principles in text on the screen to facilitate better learning. The sound was clear, but I did have to smile a bit at some of the sound effects. The DVDs were filmed in different gym settings (including some seminar footage), and the sound, while audible, is not always consistent, and at times there is a little movement of the camera, but nothing that is too distracting. As an instructional tool, these DVDs instruct very well. I do think having a good understanding of the Krav Maga principles and techniques taught in the first set of DVDs would help a viewer learn these more easily, but even without the previous set, most people with a general understanding of self-defense basics will be able to learn and perform the techniques in this program with some practice. (And obviously, the more you practice, the better.)

Disc 1: Impact weapon defenses & core fundamentals.  Brief introduction while footage showing Kahn and others performing techniques plays, then Kahn provides a more formal introduction. From there, Kahn goes into teaching impact weapon defenses and core fundamentals that are the focus of this first disc. The primary defenses taught against impact weapons in this DVD  are shown against various weapons and types of attacks. There was a bonus lesson discussing training with Blue Guns and facsimile weapons. With credits, the first disc is a little over 84 minutes long.

Disc 2: Awareness, tactics, preemption, and control holds are covered. There is also a quick review of core combatives principles (punching, elbow strikes, knees, kicks, stance, and footwork). There is a bonus section on moving off line against open handed attacks. At the 42 minute mark, the program gets into the take down and control techniques with cavaliers or control holds. There are several holds and variations taught against various bladed weapon attacks.  There are a couple of bonus lessons including what to do if someone gives you “the finger” and a cell phone technique. The total length is approximately 83 minutes.

Disc 3: Edged weapon overhand attacks and bailouts are the focus of this third DVD. Kahn begins by teaching the fundamentals of his system regarding knife attacks. One of his keys is simultaneous defense and attack. Some of the defenses on this disc depend on the viewer understanding the cavalier techniques from the second disc. Kahn makes a point of showing wrong and correct ways to perform the Krav Maga techniques he teaches to allow the student to troubleshoot and better learn the material. He also shows a variety of overhand attacks and situations. The bailouts are techniques to get out of the way of the blade, deliver a kick, and get away. There are a variety shown, including if you want to close and take the knife away rather than getting away. The entire program is just under 70 minutes long.

Disc 4: Edged weapon straight/off-angle/underhand stabs and slashes are covered in disc four.  The program continues, building on what was learned before, while focusing on different kinds of knife attacks. Kahn again shows correct and incorrect ways to perform the Krav Maga knife defenses. Getting off line and deflection are two of the many concepts taught. While the techniques that incorporate kicking in this program use low kicks, a person will have to train in kicking to perform these techniques, and for some kicking takes longer to master. This disc is approximately 82 minutes long.

Disc 5: Edged weapon combination/complex attacks, feints, ground survival & threats. The fifth and last disc in this set contains important lessons that didn’t quite fit with the other discs. Different knife attacks and defenses are presented, including those attacks that are a combination of knife, fists, and feet coming at you. Defending against feints is covered as is defending against being grabbed. There was also an interesting segment with instruction against edged weapons while you are on the ground. This is definitely a possibility on the street and should be practiced. The discussion on threats included a review of pre-deployment that was first presented in disc 2 as well as showing preventive techniques. (There’s even a little blooper footage near the end.)  The entire program on this disc is just under 81 minutes.

Conclusion:

As you can see, with 400 minutes of instruction, this set contains a lot of information. There are strategies, tactics, techniques and tips presented throughout the program that when combined provide a very good weapon defense curriculum. There are techniques I didn’t care for, such as a diving/rolling toward attacker defense and some of the kicking defenses, but that is okay, because there are techniques in my own art that I don’t care for when it comes to practicality, but I understand their purpose and still teach them when passing on the complete art. Even if I didn’t like every technique in this program, there is so much here, I still found more than enough to add to my weapon defense knowledge and training. When you look at the totality of the program, these five DVDs contain a wealth of self-defense and Krav Maga instruction that will enable any student of Krav Maga or self-defense to learn and train to be better prepared to face a weapon wielding assailant on the street.

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