Black Belt Krav Maga: Elite Techniques of the World's Most Powerful Combat System [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Well I guess the best way to start off this review is to provide you with a brief overview of what is included in this book. So with that in mind, here we go...

This book starts off with the obligatory definition and and basic overview of the history and philosophy of Krav Maga. The authors intentionally kept this section brief and advise the reader to refer back to their first two volumes in this series in order to get more detailed information on the subject. I felt that this was appropriate for this particular volume.

The authors then go into the training methodology of Krav Maga and even give you fifteen (15) different training drills that you can incorporate into your own training in order to add variety and enhanced training to your lessons. I really like the drills that they provided in the book and felt that you could easily add or adapt to those drills shown in order to create even more.

The next section was very nicely done, although I must admit that I don't adhere nor do I believe 100% in what they are saying in this section, and goes over the "Use of Force" as it relates to a self-defense situation. The one big thing that I disagreed with almost immediately was the sub-title underneath this section that said, "The rules of self-defense." I think this is a HUGE misconception because in a true self-defense situation there are no rules except to overcome your attacker and insure your own survival and well-being. Now I understand that you are supposed to only use that force which is necessary in order to stop your attacker. However, ask yourself this question, "Does your attacker really give two-cents about your well-being and is he or she going to play by the rules?" If they were, then they wouldn't be attacking you in the first place.

Now I am not advocating using lethal force just because someone grabbed your rear end or called your wife a filthy name, but when push comes to shove and you are left with no alternative but to actually get physical with your attacker, you need to make sure that they no longer pose a threat to you before you stop your counterattack. Yes, you can end up in jail and also end up being sued. Unfortunately you hear stories about criminals suing their victims and sometimes even winning. It isn't a perfect world by any means, and often times it seems like the criminals have more rights that the innocent victims, and often times that is actually true. However, you won't be able to do anything if you are dead or hospitalized because you didn't defend yourself.

This is a really good section and deserves some serious reflection time after you have read it. The authors also highly recommend that you research the laws in your own state, which I highly recommend as well.

This book is then broken down into eight (8) sections and this is where I had a few minor issues with the contents of this book. I will list those issues under the headings of each section.

HANDGUNS

Concerning Semi-Automatic Pistols:

"Note: If there is already a round in the chamber, holding the slide will NOT affect the round or prevent it from firing."

I don't know for sure what they were getting at here, but that statement is not entirely correct. If you are holding the slide and you move it out of battery even a couple of millimeters, the pistol will not fire. If you move it out of battery even more, depending upon how far and the type of gun you are dealing with, you can actually partially eject a round that is in the chamber and can cause the pistol to jam.

The next issue I had was with their adamant statement about never training with a real handgun. I have to disagree completely with this statement, although I will say that you shouldn't train for gun takeaways with a real gun that is loaded with live ammunition. I personally train and have my students train first with a rubber gun, then when they are ready, that is followed by a metal fully functional air-soft handgun. The metal variety. Then they will eventually work up to training with actual handguns under intense scrutiny from myself and only under the most careful of circumstances.

Now I did really like the layout of the entire book, however, I feel that the photographs should have been much larger and there was ample room to do so on almost every page. I also felt that they should have had some close up photographs of the actual gun takeaways as you really couldn't tell from the photographs and the brief descriptions exactly what was going on. Now if you have had some experience with these techniques you probably wouldn't have much of a problem deciphering them, but if you haven't, then I do think you would have some difficulty the examples shown in this book.

I also had some difficulty accepting some of the takeaway techniques demonstrated in this book, not only with the handgun section, but also some of the other sections. Now I don't know if it was just me, or if I do have a valid concern. I guess I will leave that up to the individual reader.

CARJACKING

This was a very welcome section and one I admittedly skipped to right away when I first got this book. However, I have to say that I was a bit disappointed in it and I felt that some of the techniques demonstrated were a bit lacking in my opinion. Now I was really disappointed in the fact that the authors never did mention what I feel should be your first defense in a carjacking situation, and that is to simply drive away (if possible of course). Although they did mention that as after-action option.

HANDGUNS VS. THIRD PARTIES

Okay, by this time I am really getting bored with reading the same three paragraphs about handguns. This should have been written once in a separate section about the basic of handguns just prior to the handgun section. To keep repeating the same paragraphs over and over throughout the book is redundant and aggravating. This was done with more than just the handguns.

I am a bit undecided on this section as I tried some of these techniques early this evening with my students in class and without exception, we were able to adapt each one into a better and more effective version than what was shown in this book. However, that in and of itself may be a good thing, so I will leave that up to the reader to decide.

EDGED WEAPONS

Once again, I didn't agree with everything in this section, but I did learn a few good things and a couple of others I adapted a bit and they came out okay.

BLUNT OBJECTS VS. EDGED WEAPONS

BLUNT OBJECTS VS. BLUNT OBJECTS

EDGED WEAPONS VS. EDGED WEAPONS

I actually really enjoyed these three section (listed above) and once again, although I didn't agree with everything in each section, I did learn a lot from them and felt that they were a welcome addition to this book.

HAND GRENADES

I initially thought it was kind of silly to put this section in the book, but upon reading the section and giving it some serious thought, it was viable and could have actually been expanded upon even more so.

In closing I would have to say that this book is a welcome addition to my own personal library, although it isn't of the quality, in my humble opinion, of the first book in the series; Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 230 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques, nor is it of the caliber of Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault. However, having said that, I did enjoy this book and felt that there was enough good material in it to justify the cost and the space on the shelf.

I would also highly recommend that you obtain the following books and videos in order to further your education in Krav Maga, Kapap, and Haganah.

Krav Maga for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to the World's Easiest-to-Learn, Most-Effective Fitness and Fighting Program

Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method--for Fitness and Self-Defense

Advanced Krav Maga: The Next Level of Fitness and Self-Defense

Fight To Survive!: Hardcore Self Defense Against Armed and Unarmed Attack (Volume 1 1)

Kapap Combat Concepts: Martial Arts of the Israeli Special Forces

KAPAP Combat Concepts Vol. 1: Martial Arts of The Isreali Special Forces - Principles and Conditioning and the other three volumes in the series.

Krav Maga (Complete 5-DVD Set)

Shawn Kovacich
Creator of numerous books and DVD's.

Krav Maga is a reality based fighting system developed for the Israeli Military and has been adapted for use by civilians and Law Enforcement. I'd been waiting a long time for this book, after reading the prior books 'Krav Maga for Beginners' and 'Complete Krav Maga'. While there are some portions of this book referenced that can be applied to the lower KM levels, the actual black belt techniques shown are VERY high risk and without proper training, can cause serious injury. The book assumes you've already studied KM so this is NOT in any way a KM beginner's book and not all black belt techniques are shown. I've only studied KM (not a BB either) so I have no other system to compare these techniques to.

The Training Methodology section as described is exactly what I've gone through as a student. This section brought up all kinds of memories as I've been through just about every one of those drills as stated or in a variation. As a student of KM for several years, I can say the drills REALLY work and your body learns to respond to the threat. You don't think it. Your body just knows.

Use of Force - This section breaks it down to what constitutes self-defense, legal implications and 'Golden Rules of Self Defense'. While the basic rule in KM is there are no rules, one still has to defend themselves with a reasonable amount of force based on the threat. What's presented here one really needs think about before an attack ever happens at all. You have to check with the laws in your state to make sure you know the consequences of using KM as self-defense.

The rest of the book is broken down into the following sections - Handguns, Carjacking, Handguns vs. Third Parties, Edged Weapons, Blunt Objects vs. Edged Weapons, Blunt Objects vs. Blunt Objects (i.e. sticks, bats), Edged Weapon vs. Edged Weapon and Hand Grenades. You're presented with scenarios and given the Threat (or Attack), Danger and Solution along with photos. The photos really help one get a better handle on what's being described in each scenario and are broken down into manageable steps. The format here is similar to what's in the prior KM books. Unfortunately, in today's world, the scenarios presented are very real.

I'd seen a few of these techniques before but the amount of detail shown in the book is more than I expected. The Use of Common Objects as Distractions and Shields (pages 110, 128, 144) I do have to say aren't just for lack belt level as I've been shown a few of these in my lower level classes before. In weapons defenses, training weapons are always treated as the real thing. You fight the way you train. I've done some of the the techniques here and I've seen them work.

Unless you've studied KM before, you'll find references to techniques not explained in the book, as these are lower level techniques. The book does assume you've studied KM already. Examples are Gun Threat with Active Pushing (Hands Down Variation). The 2nd part of the first sentence 'and perform a sweeping motion (similar to an Outside Defense)..' is a Level 3 technique. In Gun Threat at Shoulder with Wrist Grab 'Your left hand will naturally make a wrist release.' is a Level 1 technique.

About the only section of this book that just looked weird to me were the defenses against hand grenades. Now I'm not saying a situation like this would never come up. As the average person, I don't know that I'd encounter scenarios like this unless I was possibly in Law Enforcement or the Military.

I've had the pleasure of training with both authors and what they do teach is the real deal. It was worth the wait for this book and for you fellow KM students, you're not gonna be disappointed. I know some may say the pictures aren't big enough. Well, this book is a reference and NOT meant to be your sole training guide.

The other reviewers cover almost all of it. I've been studying Krav Maga for about two years and have not reach black belt level just yet. But, its good to see whats next so, everyone can get a good idea what the program is going to be like from start to finish. I think its a good book, very well writing like the others two. Its does have a few type-o's but, nothing major. The part that discusses laws and when to use force and how much force to use will probably be the only reason this book will get bad reviews. But, the fact is, that most people have a problem with the laws about using force not the book itself. This book is just telling you that even though you may one day have to use force and fight for your life, does not mean that you won't end up in jail for saving your own life. Sucks but the book does not make the laws, they are just the messagers and please keep in mind that every state is very different. Somethings are allowed and no problem in one state can carry up to a year or more in prison in others. That basically what that whole section is saying, just know your laws and be carefully!!! Buy the book if you don't own the other two, get them first. This will make alot more sense after you have read the other ones. Hope this helps...