Mastering Krav Maga volume 1 with David Kahn – Video Review

Self-defense and Krav Maga instructor David Kahn has put together a very comprehensive program on this Israeli self defense system. I reviewed it some time ago, before this site was going strong, and so now I want to post the review here for Your Warrior’s Edge readers.

The Review of the DVD set:

The six-disc Mastering Krav Maga volume 1 with David Kahn contains a tremendous amount of instruction in the Israeli Krav Maga self-defense system.  We all know that training with a live, qualified,  instructor is best, but I also believe you can learn a lot from books and DVDs if you study and practice what you study.  With that, this DVD set was originally filmed for “in-house” student and instructor development.  For this purpose, it is an excellent supplement to live training that you can review at home to reinforce things learned in the training hall. However, even if you don’t train with Kahn, or in his style of Krav Maga, this DVD set will provide you much to work on at home or in the gym, and will supplement any other training you do.  If you want to learn some Krav Maga, or just want to work on your self-defense, there is a lot here to help you achieve your goals.

Kahn is very respectful to his instructors, and I really like that.

I like that Kahn pays respect and gives thanks to his instructors at the beginning.  The program is filmed well, with clear picture and sound.  Kahn does a great job instructing, and shows things from multiple angles and actually teaches to the camera.  (I like instructors that teach to the camera, rather than demonstrations with voice over instruction.)  Sometimes, between scenes and at the ends, the video is cut without the smoothest of transitions.  Also, sometimes Kahn’s “sound effects” made me smile.

Disc 1 contains:

The first disc contains a brief Introduction, Stance & Footwork, Elbow Combatives, Punches, Additional Combatives, and Opportunity Weapons.  When you “play all” the elbow techniques are the first to be taught, and then stance and footwork.  This seemed out of order to me, but in reality, after watching the DVDs through once to become familiar with what is on them, you will pick and choose chapters based on your day’s training objectives, so it really doesn’t matter what order the lessons are taught.  The additional combatives are things such as palm heel strikes, finger strikes to eyes, throat strikes, hooks, uppercuts, combinations, headbutts, eye gouges, etc.  The weapons of opportunity section opens your eyes regarding using items to defend yourself.  One thing he uses is an umbrella, something I’ve also been known to teach.  There is also a short interview with Kahn for the last five minutes or so.  The disc is just under 63 minutes long.

Always remember to pay attention to weapons of opportunity!

Disc 2 contains:

The second disc is just under 60 minutes long and contains Upper Body Defenses, Push Defenses, Defenses vs. Straight Punches, Defenses vs. Hook Punches, and Defenses vs. Uppercuts.   Kahn starts with a few principles, the first being simultaneous defense and attack, and then goes into the defenses with getting off line of attack being the first lesson.  I also like that Kahn talks a bit about getting hit, something you must consider and train for to be prepared when things go physical.  The defenses are simple, direct, and once practiced, effective in self-defense situations.  The bonus lesson in the last five minutes of the disc contains a gun disarm and short interview segment.  I also like that he mentioned the importance of awareness, something I think he could have added a bit more of.

In a fight, you are going to get hit, so learn how to handle it.

Disc 3 contains:

Disc 3 contains two parts, first it teaches Straight Kicks & Knees, Roundhouse Kicks & Knees, and Sidekicks.  Then it teaches Defenses against these techniques.  The disc is 62  minutes long, and again contains good instruction on these basics.  Intertwined with the instruction are little gems to think about, and the observant watcher will be better off if you listen to, think about, and incorporate these into your system.  At the end of this disc Kahn talks a couple minutes on timing, an important element to fighting and defending oneself.  There is also another gun defense shown quickly at the very end.

This disc reminded me of the chapter I wrote for Fighter’s Fact Book: Streetfighting Essentials by Loren Christensen. I wrote the chapter on kicking: Kick em low, kick em high, kick em fast, kick em hard.

Disc 4 contains:

The fourth disc in this set has chapters on the Fundamentals of Retzev (continuous combat motion), defenses vs. shirt grabs, chokes, bear hugs, and nelsons.  It’s a little under 63 minutes long and contains some good defenses to these popular attacks.  The concept of Retzev is like the continuous attack principle I’ve taught, and Kahn does a good job of getting you to think about this principle and how to incorporate it.  It isn’t a “set combination” but rather a principle to adopt with all your techniques.  The defenses section starts with demonstrations of various releases from grabs that sets the foundation to the other defenses.   The defenses are simple, but that’s what works.  You’ll find them, or similar variations in most martial arts and self-defense programs.  Short interview about Krav Maga at the end of this disc.

Continuous attack, or retzev, is a principle you should learn and incorporate into your self-defense training.

Disc 5 contains:

The fifth discs contains chapters on Takedowns, Sweeps, Cavaliers, Fallbreaks, Clinching, and Multiple Attackers.  I think the instruction on falls should be before the takedowns, so you can practice safely, so I’d advise training in those first, if you don’t know them, before progressing to throwing each other to the ground.  The disc also includes defenses to different types of tackles.  I wasn’t sure what he was going to cover in “cavaliers,” but it turned out to be his variation and take on what is often called an outer wrist lock.  Some of the takedowns were very similar to those we do in Hapkido.  I probably liked this disc the best because of that.  Multiple is a reality you might face, and Kahn provides some good advice and strategies for this kind of situation.  The last 14 bonus minutes of this 62 minute long disc continues with a lesson on multiple attackers and another lesson on weapon defense.

Make sure you learn to fall properly so you can practice throws and takedowns safely.

Disc 6 contains:

On the street, the ground is the last place I want to be, regardless if I’m in control.  However, I also realize that you must train in and know groundfighting skills.  This final disc of the series contains chapters on Foreleg & Heel Brace Position, Mount & Guard, Front Choke Defenses, Armbars & Defenses, Rear Mounts, and Leglocks.  There are some good simple things here, but there are also a few techniques that are more “grappling” where I’d rather get away and get back to my feet quicker.  When buddies are kicking you in the head, you don’t want to be on your back locking him in an armbar or ankle lock.  Sure, even if you snap the arm or ankle like Kahn teaches, your face is up as you are on your back, and a good stomp from a buddy just put you out. (And yes, Kahn does briefly address a friend coming up while you are down on the ground with a guy, but I think more could have been shown on this.)  With that, I still like learning and practicing grappling skills, just be aware of the dangers of being on the ground.  Kahn does a good job of teaching some ground fighting basics, without going into as much detail as a grappling program would.  The last couple minutes of this 69 minute disc is an interview with Kahn as he shows some pictures of some of his instructors and others.

Remember, being on the ground is a dangerous place and you should get to your feet as quick as you can, but if you do go to the ground, you need to know what to do when you are down there.

 In conclusion:

This is a very good program, with a lot of information.  I don’t agree with everything Kahn does, and some of what is contained in this program isn’t what I’d do or teach.  But that’s okay, I’m sure he wouldn’t agree with everything I do and teach.  However, even when an instructor is teaching something different from what you do, I think it is important to learn and analyze these differences to make you better.

Learn from different sources and make things your own to become the best you can be.

Overall, I believe you can learn an awful lot from David Kahn and his Mastering Krav Maga DVD series.  It’s solid fundamental instruction on this self-defense system.  If you watch the lessons, and then get to your training area and practice what’s taught, you will increase your ability to defend yourself.  Yes, the best scenario is to find an instructor, but if you can’t, this DVD set will help.  Additionally, even if you have a good instructor, this set is great for additional at home learning. Learn from it and train hard.

Mastering Krav Maga from amazon:     Review of Mastering Krav Maga II: Impact & Edged Weapon Defenses.