Why is Krav Maga recommended for women's self-defense?

Krav Maga was developed by the Israeli military to be learned quickly and used effectively regardless of size or strength. It emphasizes leverage, technique, and situational awareness over brute force — making it particularly effective for women. Techniques focus on real-world scenarios including grabs, chokes, and ground attacks.

Do I need any martial arts experience to start?

No prior experience is needed. The course is designed for complete beginners. The system breaks down techniques into simple, repeatable movements that build muscle memory over time. Many women start with zero combat experience and report feeling significantly more confident within weeks.

She Prepared › Krav Maga for Women

Why Krav Maga Is the Best Self-Defense System for Women

Q: Can women effectively learn self-defense online?

Yes. Research from the University of Oregon shows that women who complete empowerment self-defense training are both more likely to avoid assault if targeted, and less likely to be targeted in the first place. Online Krav Maga courses offer the same techniques taught in person, with the advantage of learning at your own pace and rewatching techniques as needed.

Krav Maga is the self-defense system developed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) — not as a sport or martial art, but as a survival system. It was designed to be learned in weeks rather than years, effective under extreme stress, and usable by anyone regardless of size or athletic ability. For women specifically, Krav Maga addresses the core reality of self-defense: most attackers will be larger and stronger.

Recommended self-defense system for women by safety experts

80%+

Reduction in completed attacks with self-defense training

Weeks

Not years — time to learn effective Krav Maga basics

70+

Countries where military and law enforcement use Krav Maga

What Makes Krav Maga Different

Most martial arts were designed for competition between matched opponents. Karate has weight classes. Taekwondo has point-scoring rules. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu assumes a controlled environment. Krav Maga assumes the worst-case scenario: an untrained person facing a sudden, violent attack from someone bigger and stronger.

The system was originally developed by Imi Lichtenfeld in the 1930s to protect Jewish communities in Bratislava from fascist groups. It was later adopted and refined by the Israeli military, where it remains the standard hand-to-hand combat system. Today, Krav Maga is used by military and law enforcement in over 70 countries worldwide.

Unlike sport martial arts, Krav Maga has no rules, no points, and no referees. Every technique is designed with one goal: neutralise the threat and escape safely.

Why It Works for Women Specifically

Leverage over strength. Krav Maga techniques use body mechanics and leverage to generate force. A palm strike to the nose requires no upper body strength — it requires correct technique and commitment. An elbow strike is one of the most powerful strikes the human body can deliver, regardless of the attacker's size.

Targets don't have muscles. Eyes, throat, groin, knees — the vulnerable points that Krav Maga targets have no muscle protection. A 50kg woman striking a 100kg man's throat creates the same physiological response. Size is irrelevant at these targets.

Stress-inoculation training. Krav Maga training deliberately creates stress during practice — loud noises, disorientation, fatigue — so that techniques work under the adrenaline dump of a real attack. Most martial arts train in calm, controlled environments. Krav Maga trains for chaos.

Krav Maga vs. Other Systems for Women

vs. Karate/Taekwondo: Excellent for discipline and fitness, but techniques are optimised for tournament scoring, not street survival. High kicks are ineffective in confined spaces or while wearing everyday clothes. Krav Maga uses low kicks, knees, and elbows — techniques that work in heels, a car park, or a stairwell.

vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ): Outstanding ground fighting system, but designed for one-on-one grappling between trained opponents. On the street, going to the ground is the last place a woman wants to be — there may be multiple attackers, hard surfaces, or objects. Krav Maga teaches ground defense with the singular goal of getting back to your feet and escaping.

vs. Boxing/Kickboxing: Great fitness and striking fundamentals. However, boxing relies on sustained exchanges and wearing down an opponent. In a street attack, a woman doesn't want a prolonged fight — she wants one or two high-impact strikes that create an escape window. Krav Maga is built around this concept.

The Research on Self-Defense Training

Six major studies — including a large randomised control trial from the University of Oregon — found that women who complete self-defense training are both more likely to escape assault if targeted, and less likely to be targeted in the first place. Training changes posture, eye contact, and spatial awareness in ways that predators unconsciously detect.

A meta-analysis published in ScienceDirect found that self-defense training reduces the likelihood of completed assault by over 80% compared to no resistance. Victims with pre-assault training were more likely to say their resistance stopped the attacker or made them less aggressive.

89% of women who completed self-defense training reported feeling significantly more confident in their ability to defend themselves. The psychological benefits — reduced fear, increased self-efficacy, higher self-esteem — persist long after training ends.

What Women Who Train Say

"I did karate for 5 years as a teenager. Two months of Krav Maga taught me more about actual self-defense than all five years combined." — Krav Maga student, age 29

"The first time I practised escaping a choke from behind, I cried. Not because it was scary — because it was so simple. I'd spent my whole life afraid of something I could learn to handle in one session." — Be Prepared student

"My husband is ex-military and he watched my Krav Maga class. His exact words: 'This is what they should teach in schools.'" — Mother of three, started at 38

Ready to Be Prepared?

The Be Prepared course teaches everything on this page — and more — through expert-led video instruction by David & Eytan, certified Krav Maga instructors.

Get the Be Prepared Course

Sources

University of Oregon — Empowerment Self-Defense: 6 major studies on self-defense training effectiveness

ScienceDirect — Meta-analysis: Self-defense training and assault prevention (80%+ reduction)

CDC/NISVS — National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey

Gitnux Safety Research — Women's safety and fear of victimisation statistics

International Krav Maga Federation — History and global adoption data

She Prepared provides self-defense education, not a guarantee of safety. Always seek professional in-person instruction alongside online training. Consult a physician before beginning any physical training programme.