Editing Krav Maga (section)

==Basic principles==
[[File:קרב מגע.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] soldier sparring in full combat gear]]
[[File:Desert Eagle 110310-F-VU439-369.jpg|thumb|upright|US Air Force and British Royal Air Force security personnel during Krav Maga training.]]

Like most martial arts, Krav Maga encourages students to avoid physical confrontation.<ref name="kravmagaguild">{{Cite news|url=https://kravmagalosangeles.com/krav-maga-is-the-best-self-defense-for-the-streets/|title=Krav Maga is the best self-defense for the streets |work=Krav Maga Los Angeles|language=en-US}}</ref> If this is impossible or unsafe, it promotes finishing a fight as quickly and aggressively as possible. Attacks are aimed at the most vulnerable parts of the body, and training is not limited to techniques that avoid severe injury; some even permanently injure or kill the opponent.

Students learn to defend against all variety of attacks and are taught to counter in the quickest and most efficient way.

Ideas in Krav Maga include:<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090128/jsp/entertainment/story_10446686.jsp|title=Contact combat: Self-Defence classes to stay safe|author=Poulomi Banerjee|date=28 January 2009|work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]|access-date=5 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725033548/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090128/jsp/entertainment/story_10446686.jsp|archive-date=July 25, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* Simultaneous defense and attack.
* Developing physical aggression (not to be confused with emotional aggression or anger), with the view that physical aggression is the most important component in a fight<ref>''Black Belt'', July 2000, Vol. 38, No. 7, p. 37 [https://books.google.com/books?id=ns8DAAAAMBAJ Krav Maga’s Top 10], Active interest Media</ref>
* Continuing to strike the opponent until they are completely incapacitated<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ns8DAAAAMBAJ ''Black Belt'', July 2000, Vol. 38, No. 7], p. 35</ref>
* Attacking preemptively or counterattacking as soon as possible
* Using any objects at hand that could be used to hit an opponent<ref name="auto">[https://books.google.com/books?id=ns8DAAAAMBAJ ''Black Belt'', July 2000, Vol. 38, No. 7], p. 37</ref>
* Targeting attacks to the body's most vulnerable points, such as the [[eye]]s, [[neck]] or [[throat]], [[face]], [[Celiac plexus|solar plexus]], [[groin]], [[rib]]s, [[knee]], [[foot]], [[finger]]s, [[liver]], etc.
* Using simple and easily repeatable strikes<ref name="auto"/>
* Maintaining awareness of surroundings while dealing with the threat in order to look for escape routes, further attackers, or objects that could be used to strike an opponent
* Developing [[muscle memory]] for quicker fighting reaction
* Recognizing the importance of and expanding on instinctive response under stress<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kahn|first1=David|title=Krav Maga Defence: How to Defend Yourself Against the 12 Most Common Unarmed Street Attacks|year=2016|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1250090836|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OQkmCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA30|access-date=13 April 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Levine|first1=Darren|last2=Hoover|first2=Ryan|title=Krav Maga for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to the World's Easiest-to-Learn, Most-Effective Fitness and Fighting Program|year= 2009|publisher=Ulysses Press|isbn=978-1569755372|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5eEEqqJlVz8C&pg=PA31|access-date=13 April 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What is Krav Maga? |url=http://www.kravmagainstitute.com/self-defense/what-is-krav-maga/|website=Tactica Krav Maga Institute|access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref>

Training can also cover the study and development of [[situational awareness]] to develop an understanding of one's surroundings, learning to understand the psychology of a street confrontation, and identifying potential threats before an attack occurs. It may also cover physical and verbal methods to avoid violence whenever possible. It also teaches mental toughness, using controlled scenarios to strengthen mental fortitude in order for students to control the impulse and not do something rash, but instead attack only when necessary and as a last resort.