KRAV MAGA

Krav Maga is an Israel Martial Art system developed for the IDF Israeli Defence Forces. Krav Maga directly translates to “Contact Combat”. Modern Krav Maga can vary a lot from organizations to different schools of thought, training, and teaching methodologies. Traditionally Krav Maga is a combination of Aikido, Judo, Karate, Boxing, and Wrestling. The quality of the system comes down to the expertise and experience of the Instructor and his / her Martial Arts and Krav Maga background.

1) Aikido

A Japanese form of self-defence and martial art that uses lock, holds, throws and the opponent's own movements.

2) Judo

An unarmed modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.

3) Karate

An Okinawan and Japanese martial art, Modern karate is primarily a striking art that uses punches and kicks, traditional karate training also employs throwing and joint locking techniques.

4) Wrestling

Greco-Roman wrestling, style of wrestling practiced in Olympic and international amateur competition. In Greco-Roman wrestling the legs may not be used in any way to obtain a fall, and no holds may be taken below the waist.

5) Boxing

Boxing is a sport that involves strategically punching an opponent while defending yourself from their return punches.

Each of these systems have elements in them that is taught in Krav Maga however Krav Maga as a stand alone system was develop for Self Defense and not sport. Krav Maga only takes the techniques and principles from each of these systems that have proving to work against weapons, Gun, Knife and Stick with in the correct context to each weapon and a lethal attack.

Krav Maga was originally developed by Hungarian-born Israeli Martial Artis Imi Lichtenfeld. Imi had become a well-rounded and experienced street fighter using his training in boxing and wrestling to defend Jewish neighborhoods against anti-Semitic gangs in the late 1930s.

In the late 1940s, Imi began to organize his combat experience into a system as he began teaching Jewish paramilitary groups that would later form the IDF. This system would later become known as Krav Maga and would be taught in the IDF at different levels long after Imi left.

After Imi completed his service and left the IDF he would establish a civilian Krav Maga school in Netanya Israel, the IKMA Israeli Krav Maga Association. The IKMA is the original governing body for Israeli Krav Maga, recognized by the Israeli government and headed by Grandmaster Haim Gidon. Haim was a member of Krav Maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld’s first training class in the early 1960s.

Today there are many organizations in Krav Maga some with a direct lineage to Imi and the original IKMA and his system and others that have no connection to Imi. Krav Maga is constantly evolving however principles in combat with always remain a constant. There are many great teachers and experts in Krav Maga today.

Ryan Davies founder of PRIMAL- training and education started in 2010 when he took it upon himself to travel to the IKMA to study Krav Maga under Grandmaster Hiam Gidon and his top students. Ryan qualified his full Krav Maga instructorship over 4 years of training tours back and forth from South Africa to Netanya Israel training alongside some of the biggest names in business, Yigal Abriv, Vitor Martins, David Khan, and Ricardo Pinto to name a few. 

In 2014 Ryan decided he would like to test his knowledge and training under Military Krav Maga instructor and IDF Major Itay Gil eventually passing his 40-hour full Krav Maga instructor exam in Jerusalem Israel. In 2023 after 16 years of professional Krav Maga teaching and practice, Ryan would Achieve his black belt under Dr Itay Gil and the Protect Krav Maga Academy (Yamam Krav Maga)

Other Israeli Martial Arts

Beyond Krav Maga, Israel has some of the world's best combative instructors and teachers. This is for obvious reasons. The holy land has been entrenched in conflict for centuries. Israeli Martial Arts extend beyond just Krav Maga. There are very good systems that deserve to be mentioned Kapap, Akban, and A.C.T Armed Combat & Tactics. Ryan has had the privilege of learning the A.C.T Knife and practical weapons system directly from both Noah Gross and Alexander Zhelezniak.

PRIMAL Krav Maga was officially established by Ryan Davies in 2009. Ryan had the plan to become the best self-defence instructor he could be to serve a greater South African public in desperate need of good quality schools dedicated to Martial Arts for Self Defense and Survival. Today Ryan is recognized by as the father of both original Israeli Krav Maga (IKMA), Protect Krav Maga (Itay Gil), and A.C.T Armed Combat & Tactics in South Africa.


Striking in Krav Maga

There is no Krav Maga without proper knowledge of striking. Striking both with all 9 limbs, punches, kicks, knees, elbows, head butts, and with striking weapons- Bats, sticks, poles, bottles, stools, bladed weapons knives and machetes. A Krav Maga black belt will be able to teach both Boxing and Kick Boxing. Depending on a Krav Maga school's lineage, the striking style they train might be influenced by either Boxing, Karate, or MuayThai. Like all these individual arts the algorithm should be developed on target striking or pad work. A great Krav Maga teacher/coach will be great at holding and teaching his / her students how to hold pads and create fight context through all the ranges from long, mid, close and clinch back out to long range.


Grappeling in Krav Maga

There is no Krav Maga with no Akido, Judo and Wrestling. Most military hand-to-hand combat systems have a foundation in Judo and Wrestling. A Krav Maga black belt “should” have a decent level of judo-throwing didactics of Judo and wrestling. In Krav Maga Judo wrestling is combined with striking much like modern MMA Mixed Martial Arts. Throwing happens when is close and clinch range. Krav Maga makes use of aggressive head butting, elbows and knees strike 1st to set up reaction and off-balancing (Kazushi) to set up throw and ground controls.


The knife problem

Defense against a knife attack is not practiced in any sport grappling or striking school. Krav Maga must address the knife problem in all ranges. With distance you have the upper hand and boxing under a knife context will give you tools to keep long-range without forcing the clinch. Without stating the obvious, mid and close range is the range that a knife lands, the range you get hit/stabbed die against a blade. This is why distance. In Krav Maga, the objective is always to be on your feet and wherever possible or capable of getting out back to distance, back to safety. There are of course situations where this might not be possible. This is why striking and throwing against weapons is necessary to train in all ranges with long being the optimal range and close and clinch being forced on you. 

P.A.C.T Armed Combative Training

PACT is based on the methodgy of ACT founder Akesander Zheleniak. PACT teaches edge and Impact weapon fighting. PACT teaches the practical use of knife, baton, pen, weapons that can be improvised and traveld with, used for self protection purposes. PACT for an integral part of PRIMAL Krav Maga training.

“Fight to survive, not to win.”

PRIMAL Armed Combative’s:

We teach how to fight against weapons with and with out weapons:

1) Knife

2) Machete

3) Expandable Baton

(All weapons are safe simulators design for sparring to prevent injury)

P.A.C.T is a scenario based full contact weapon fighting system. P.A.C.T combines principles from Israeli Krav Maga with Armed Combat & Tactics ACT system.

Under the pressure and simulation of a life threatening armed attack- We teach how to carry, conceal and improvise the transition from empty hand to armed with a weapon.

We train and practise to fight with full contact sparring that is competitive in its nature however P.A.C.T is about fighting to survive and not to win. This is not sport!

The only way to get good at fighting in any domain, be it striking, grappling or weapons is to do exactly that- FIGHT. If you have never fort with a weapon, how do you know if you can?

It all begins with an idea.

PRIMAL Krav Maga comes from the Source of all Krav Maga.

Tested by the best.

Ryan Davies has tested his knowledge, skills and teaching methodology under Dr Itay GIL.

Two men in martial arts training uniforms practicing martial arts in a gym.
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Group of men in black martial arts clothing, posing outside a building with a Krav Maga sign, some crouched, most standing, in black and white.
Ryan Davies and Grand Masted Haim Gidon IKMA Israel Krav Maga Association 2010
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A woman practicing self-defense using a knife against a man wearing protective gear.
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Two men sparring in a martial arts dojo, with one executing a high kick towards the other's head.
PRIMAL Founder Ryan Davies and Major Itay Gil Johannesburg South Africa 2015.
Group of people in martial arts uniforms posing outdoors
Group of people wearing martial arts uniforms outside a building with a sign in Hebrew and English, possibly related to Krav Maga training. The sign includes a web address and phone number.
A group of people practicing martial arts in a dojo, wearing black uniforms and gloves. A banner with Hebrew text hangs above them. The setting appears to be an indoor training space with various equipment and decorative items on the walls.
Two people engaged in martial arts practice in a room, with one person mid-kick and the other blocking with an arm. The foreground is blurred, showing hanging keys or chains.
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Three people in a martial arts training session, with two practicing a technique while an instructor observes. They are in a gym setting with punching bags in the background.
Ryan Davies and Noah Gross Armed Combat & Tactics
Two people with headbands and gloves practicing martial arts with sticks in a park on grass, holding sticks and engaging in a sparring match. In the background, a few children and adults are walking and standing.
Two men in judo gis, one with a black belt and one with a white belt, standing on a dojo mat, engaged in a judo practice or demonstration, with wooden walls and small windows in the background.
Two men wearing traditional white judo uniforms with black belts, standing in fighting stance on tatami mat, inside martial arts dojo.
A woman and a man practicing martial arts outdoors in front of a garage with a wooden wall while wearing face masks.
Two men practicing martial arts on a padded floor, with one man lying on his back and the other leaning over him holding a pair of focus mitts, in a training room.
A woman practicing boxing with a trainer in a gym, shown in silhouette with a motivational sign in the background.
Noah Gross teaching in South Africa 2017 at PRIMAL gym rosebank.
Ryan Davies the founder of Primal Krav Maga training at the Israeli Krav Maga Association.
A man in boxing gloves stands in a gym with punching bags hanging from the ceiling and a stack of weights in the background, preparing for training.
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Person wearing a black T-shirt with 'PRIMAL' printed on it, holding a black baseball bat while wearing gray gloves. The person has tattoos on arms and is seated against a chain-link fence.
Ryan Davies the founder of PRIMAL system
Text on black background reads: 'Do you know the Krav Maga?' in bold yellow letters.
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A man with a beard and tattoos, wearing gloves, holding a gardening tool with a curved blade, standing against a chain-link fence.
A man sitting on the floor in a martial arts training room, with a banner behind him that reads 'A.C.T. Armored Combat & Tactics'. Items such as bags, water bottles, and a bottle of hand sanitizer are on the floor next to him.
Group of people in a martial arts class, some wearing shirts that say "KRAV MAGA" and others with graphic designs, gathered and listening to an instructor in a gym with gymnastic rings and fitness equipment.
Ryan Davies sparring Alexander Zhelezniak Armed Combat & Tactics South Africa.
Ryan Davies, Alexander Zhelezniak and Noah Gross Telaviv Israel 2017. Ryan Davies had just past his full ACT Knife and Machete Instructorship.
PRIMAL system by Ryan Davies
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A young woman and a man are practicing martial arts or self-defense moves inside a home. The woman is preparing to punch, while the man, wearing a hoodie, is blocking her punch with his arm.
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Two men in black shirts with yellow Xs practicing self-defense techniques in a gym with wooden walls and gym equipment in the background.
Noah Gross co founder of ACT Armed Combat & Tactics sparring at an ACT fight camp 2018, Israel.
Primal Founders Ryan and Zanalee Davies Training Krav Maga Striking.
ACT Armed Combat & Tactics Founder Alexander Zhelezniak sparing Ryan Davies PRIMAL South Africa.
Two men boxing in a training room, one throwing a punch and the other holding focus mitts, with a wooden wall and a digital clock showing 10:46 in the background.
Two people practicing martial arts or self-defense in a room with wooden walls, fitness equipment, and sunlight coming through windows.
Ryan Davies Israel 2018.
A woman in athletic wear lifting a blue kettlebell in a gym with a black wall background.
Yigal Abriv sparring Ryan Davies Israeli Krav Maga Association 2012.
Person performing a handstand on adjustable push-up bars in a gym with a skull and wings mural in the background.
Ryan Davies training Krav Maga under Haim Gideon Israeli Krav Maga Association.
Multiple people practicing self-defense or martial arts in a training gym, with some wearing protective gear such as goggles, and engaging in simulated combat or training exercises.
Two men are practicing sparring with swords on a cracked outdoor court while three others watch in the background.
Two men in black T-shirts holding swords, standing in front of a black chain-link fence at a martial arts or self-defense training facility.
Black background with various fitness and health icons in outline, centered logo of a stylized wolf head with 'PRIMAL GYM' text and 'ESTD 2009' underneath.
South Africa flag with a glowing spear and the words 'ACT' and 'South Africa' beneath.
People practicing martial arts or combat training with focus mitts, punching bags, and protective gear in a gym. They are wearing black shirts and shorts, with some using protective eye gear.
Two men in combat gear practicing martial arts or self-defense outdoors at night, surrounded by trees and with backpacks on the ground nearby.
A martial arts instructor and a young student practicing with foam swords in a training gym. The instructor is dressed in black martial arts uniform, and the boy wears a t-shirt, martial arts pants, and protective glasses. The gym has training gear,
A man practicing a martial arts pose on a sandy beach near the ocean, wearing a hoodie, pants, a cap, and striking a high kick with one leg while the other foot is on the ground.
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Illustration featuring three individuals in martial arts poses in front of a large dragon and sword background, with the word "MONGOOSE" at the bottom.
Collection of knives placed on a drawing of a snake and a wolf in black and white on a wooden surface.
Two men training in a boxing or martial arts gym, one holding a black stick and the other in fighting stance wearing protective glasses.
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A martial arts instructor demonstrating a kick to students in a gym.
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A shirtless man in red shorts holding a yellow card, standing indoors with a large yellow exercise ball and another person in the background stretching or exercising.
Noah Gross ACT and Ryan Davies PRIMAL Israel 2017.
Israeli Krav Maga Association Instructor Course 2010
Group of people practicing boxing in an outdoor training area, with some partners sparring and wearing boxing gloves.
Two men in black T-shirts with fighting stances posing for a photo in a room with curtains and other people in the background.
A group of six men and a woman standing outdoors in front of palm trees and cars, with one man taking a selfie in the foreground. The photo is in black and white.
Two individuals engaged in a martial arts sparring session outdoors, with one holding a weapon and the other in a fighting stance, on a grassy area with trees and parked cars in the background.
Israeli Krav Maga Association Instructor Course 2013. Ryan Davies
People practicing martial arts in a gym with a boxing instructor and training equipment.
Two men standing in a forest, holding large knives, with serious expressions. The man on the left has dark hair, is wearing a black t-shirt, black shorts, and black sneakers. The man on the right has a beard, is wearing sunglasses, a black t-shirt, g
Armed Combat & Tactics International Instructor team.
A group of 16 people, including children, teenagers, and adults, posing outdoors in front of a large tree on a sunny day. Some are holding sticks or equipment, and most are smiling or displaying a serious stance.
A group of people playing laser tag outdoors under the shade of trees, with one woman preparing to throw a punch or defend herself, holding a toy gun, near other participants who are standing or sitting with backpacks and equipment nearby.
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Armed Combat & Tactics International School Israel.
Two people engaged in a playful outdoor boxing or wrestling match in a grassy field with trees in the background.
PRIMAL Krav Maga School Rosebank. Ryan Davies and Alan Mann.
PRIMAL Krav Maga School Rosebank. Ryan Davies, Major Itay Gil and Alan Mann.