The article below entitled “An Offensively Defensive Strategy: Attack the Attacker” was written by David Kahn and is an excerpt from his book, “Krav Maga: Fundamental Strategies” (copyright David Kahn, 2021 – used with permission). The topic is important as it used to be a relatively straightforward concept, especially when Krav Maga was primarily created for the IDF. Someone looks like they’re going to be attacking you – strike first. They’re wearing enemy uniforms you don’t need to know much more than that.
It used to be taught as “pre-emptive striking.” Today, as David Kahn discusses, defending has a clear legal advantage over pre-emptive attacking. It is becoming less common to hear responsible Krav Maga instructors (especially in the United States) focus on pre-emptive striking. We have a responsibility to mention and teach it, but worry that students will take the offensive and “pre-emptively” and seriously injure someone and be proven to be the attacker. David’s proposal of how and when to “attack the attacker” is a great bridge between the practical, safe, and legal.
An Offensively Defensive Strategy: Attack the Attacker
“Because of Israel’s small geography and condensed population centers, the Israeli defensive mindset is to preclude any fight from happening on Israeli soil. In other words, don’t absorb an attack. The doctrine of the Israel Defense Force (IDF) is to take the fight to the enemy outside of Israel’s borders. Violence in the Middle East is usually curbed by one inalterable fact: fear of greater counter-violence. The same intuitive reasoning holds true of street violence: if someone doesn’t think he can win, he won’t attack.
Accordingly, the IDF’s policy is to initiate action against a threatening or attacking enemy—on his turf whenever possible. Israeli Krav Maga is an extension of this doctrine: attack the attacker. Avoid absorbing damage and use counter-violence to preempt an attack or, if necessary, utilize a combined defense and attack. A preemptive self-defense strategy (attacking the attacker during his preparation to assault you) is vital.
Translated from the macrocosm of war to the microcosm of hand-to-hand combat, the principle of attacking the opponent with all synchronized facets of your combat arsenal (all of your limbs) interchangeably without pause focusing on deliberate anatomical targeting (not sideshows against hardened anatomy) is designed to overwhelm an adversary and not give him firm footing to fight back.
Tactically, especially when ambushed, you may not always be able to attack the attacker. In other words, you may not be able to preempt and prevent an initial violent onslaught. Rather, you may have to stop an attack as close as you can to its inception and then overwhelm the attacker with your own superior counter-violence.
Alternatively, if you recognize an imminent threat or someone spoiling for a fight, you may wish not to initiate, but rather wait with maximum preparedness. If you cannot de-escalate the situation to avoid violence, this strategy allows you to bait him advantageously for him to commit to an attack. By waiting for him to initiate the attack, his actual physical committed movement provides you with an opening to administer a devastating counterattack. (Note: Once again, this might not be the wisest strategy if you are facing multiple assailants.) Of course, always bear in mind that defending rather than attacking often has a clear legal advantage: any witnesses are likely to confirm that you were not the aggressor.
In short, if you are caught unaware or recognize the incoming attack late or are simply in a defensive position poised to counterattack, you must capitalize on the advantageous small window of opportunity that defending any attack affords. An attacker, by closing the distance or extending a limb, will present a vulnerable anatomical target for you to immediately damage. You need to pounce on it. If you must redirect an attack using your limbs, you will fleetingly expose a vulnerable anatomical target. Damage it.”
David Kahn is the US Chief Instructor for the IKMA under Haim Gidon and the author of multiple best-selling Krav Maga books. David teaches law enforcement and military/security units at the local, state, and federal level. He is on the FIMA Board of Directors and the Director of FIMA’s International Combative Tactics Association.
Recognizing imminent threats and excelling in situational awareness is a skill that Krav Maga can help develop. It is one of the many mindsets benefits from Krav Maga that is discussed in the upcoming book, Krav Mind. UFC Hall of Famer and Krav Maga instructor, Bas Rutten says, Krav Mind is “A Must Read” and David Kahn wrote, "I highly recommend this insightful, compelling book; a truly great addition to the Krav Maga world!" Krav Mind will be available on Amazon October 15th, 2023 at $19.99. For the next few weeks, you can pre-order a signed copy of Krav Mind for just $12.99. If you’re a Krav Maga student (as we all are) these are essential pearls of knowledge about Krav Maga. If you’re also an instructor, you owe it to your students to know the mental side of Krav Maga and how to apply the lessons to the rest of your life.
Krav Maga is more than just a physical discipline and a set of standard techniques. It is just as much a mindset. Bas Rutten exemplifies someone who knows the mental and physical game. He’s had his share of fights in and out of the octagon.
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Stay safe, train hard.
Lori