Krav Maga vs. Kung Fu differences

If you have been in a situation where your life was on the line, and you had to choose between krav maga vs. kung fu, what would you use?

Ideally, it is hard to compare the two fighting styles since each teaches effective defensive tactics which will not leave you vulnerable to your attackers.

Tag along as we compare the two styles to see which suits your situation best.

Contents

About Krav Maga

Krav maga is a Hebrew word for “contact combat .”It was originally developed by the Israeli army in the late 1930s as a self-defense system that could protect them from experienced fighters and powerful attackers.

As such, it is the official martial art for Israel’s defense forces. It is effective for both defense and offense.

It enables you to escape a potential attacker, and then it also allows you to go offensive against them.

Its philosophy focuses on simultaneous offense moves and immediate action toward aggression. Krav maga stresses attacking the opponent before they attack you.

It has been used by various law enforcement agencies and government organizations to teach students how to become effective fighters and survive life-threatening situations.

It is a practical self-defense technique that improves your physical and mental strength and helps you build confidence as it teaches a variety of fighting maneuvers that will help you survive absurd encounters with attackers.

Krav maga prepares you to be able to take immediate control even in the event of impromptu attacks.

It does not rely on the rigid traditions of martial arts, which emphasize elegance when executing the moves.

Instead, it implores the practitioner to be versatile and employ every tactical and logical approach when dealing with nasty confrontations.

About Kung Fu

Kung Fu, which translates to “hard work” in Chinese, is a style of martial arts that requires patience to master.

It is an umbrella name for many Chinese martial arts and focuses on developing the mind and body so as to perfect the art.

It encompasses martial arts that utilize a combination of punches, kicks, blocks, and strikes to defeat an opponent.

Kung fu training employs repeated choreographed moves to enhance combat efficiency. This helps build confidence, self-discipline, and restraint.

The most employed techniques in Kung Fu include throwing, grabbing, hitting, kicking, wrestling, and weapon training.

All these movements help improve your flexibility and strength. It is thus an effective fighting style that can give you an edge in any fight.

Differences between Krav Maga and Kung Fu

Krav maga is widely used in Israel, while Kungu is worldwide, though common in Chinese.
Krav maga is all about attacking before your opponent attacks and quickly responding to aggression. Kung fu, on the other hand, teaches self-restraint, and one should not attack before the opponent showcases the intent of causing harm to you.
Krav Maga is taught for the purpose of immediate survival, while Kung Fu is taught for the purpose of self-defense training.
Krav maga is versatile and will allow you to use a variety of techniques to subdue your opponent. Kung fu, on the other hand, relies on choreographed forms that one must efficiently master and correctly use during fights.

Similarities between Krav Maga and Kung Fu

Both martial arts are taught for self-defense.
Both styles teach you how to neutralize an aggressive opponent.
Both can be used in street fights.

What to choose?

It’s hard to make a decision on which one is better because both fighting systems are effective in their own way.

However, if you are concerned about safety and effectiveness, I would recommend Krav Maga. Krav maga techniques are focused on realistic self-defense scenarios.

As such, it is a go-to martial art if you want to survive real-world confrontations. However, if you want to learn something that will be useful for self-defense and fighting without getting into much risk, the choice is Kung Fu.