Today, there’s a variety of martial arts one can learn. Two of the most popular ones are Krav Maga and MMA. While they have some similarities, they’re incredibly different at their core. Let’s examine the primary difference and how it may affect these styles.
The primary difference between Krav Maga and MMA is that KM is a self-defense system- while mixed martial arts is a sport. However, both are suitable for self-defense and any fighting purpose. For instance, you can use both of these martial arts to overcome street fights.
Honestly, I’m a big fan of Krav Maga since I practiced it for 2-years when I served in the military. The training changed my life since it provided plenty of mental and physical benefits.
Krav Maga is great for people looking to learn a high-energy art of self-defense that offers physical strength and fitness. However, MMA is more suited for fighters wanting to fight an opponent in a competitive sports environment.
This article will demonstrate many of the differences and similarities between Krav Maga and MMA. If you’re struggling to choose one to begin practicing, reading this post will allow you to understand them more thoroughly and make a wiser choice.
Before continuing, if you’re interested in progressing outside your fighting gym, consider reading a complete guide to training martial arts at home, I wrote.
Which is better, Krav Maga or MMA?
Comparing two martial arts is nearly impossible since each brings its values and benefits to the table. Nonetheless, this section will try and compare them for what they are. Again, if you’re struggling to choose which one to practice, I encourage you to read the following paragraphs.
MMA is better than Krav Maga since it teaches more effective techniques both for self-defense and fighting. However, although KM is a self-defense system, it is inferior to the movements you’ll learn in mixed martial arts. For instance, in MMA, you’ll study grappling and kicking.
I’m a big fan of Krav Maga- as you may already know. Because of that, I’m unbiased when I say that mixed martial arts is better. However, one will dramatically benefit from doing both fighting styles, so you can’t go wrong with choosing one to learn.
Yet, if you’re struggling to choose one, it’ll help if you think about your goals of learning martial arts. For example, if your goal is to study self-defense and self-defense only, Krav Maga is more suitable than the latter. On the other hand, consider MMA if you desire to become an active fighter capable of using various techniques and movements.
That said, Krav Maga beats mixed martial arts in various instances. For example, the first emphasizes it more than the second when discussing firearms. Because KM is a self-defense system, you’ll study every plausible scenario that may surprise you in real life. On the other hand, MMA doesn’t teach it to its trainees.
Differences between Krav Maga and MMA
Two prevalent fighting styles are Krav Maga and MMA. Although they’re similar in many instances, many differences create a gap between them. As a result, while one may suit you, the other might not.
If you’re struggling to choose a single one to learn, knowing their differences and similarities will be of great help. Hence I encourage you to read the following sections as each one will demonstrate one similarity or difference between them.
Again, while one may fit your desires and goals, the other may not. Consequently, knowing which one to choose- is critical for the future of your fighting career.
The techniques you’ll learn.
Every martial art teaches a unique set of techniques. Using them in fights or dangerous self-defense situations will allow you to overcome the attacker or opponent. For example, punching and kicking are two of them.
While in Krav Maga, you’ll learn striking, kicking, and various grappling movements, MMA teaches multiple techniques, such as grappling, kicking, submissions, and punching. Moreover, each fighting style has its take on the techniques, and therefore they’ll seem different with each side.
Krav Maga
The techniques of this martial art form draw inspiration from judo, wrestling, Muay Thai, and boxing. The Krav Maga’s techniques’ goals are as follows:
- Dealing with the immediate threat.
- Avoiding injury.
- The seamless transitions between attacking and defending.
- Using natural reflexes to your advantage.
- Attacking and striking the most vulnerable spots.
- Make use of nearby items and your surroundings to gain an advantage.
MMA
The primary mixed martial arts fighting techniques include the following:
Striking using hands, legs, elbows, and knees. Types of strike styles include jab, cross, hook, uppercut, elbow strike, knee strike, rear-leg push kick, and round kick body. Striking is from the same principles as Muay Thai, Boxing, and Kickboxing.
Clinching is derived from judo and wrestling. Types of clinching include Muay Thai plum, Wrestler’s tie-up, and Pummel clinch.
Take-downs typically use different wrestling techniques and include double-leg take-down and Leg-trip take-down.
Grappling. Types of grappling include Offense strikes using fists, Offense strikes using the elbow, Defense using fists, and Defense using the elbow.
Submission holds based on wrestling techniques. These submissions hold types: Rear naked choke, Triangle choke, Kimura, and Straight armbar.
Eventually, both fighting styles include many techniques that you’ll become capable of using in real life. Therefore, they’re practical and beneficial for many purposes, including as a sport, for self-defense, and even for self-improvement.
The rules
Rules are everything in the sport of fighting. However, certain fighting styles’ pursuit is self-defense. Now, no rules exist in the real world, and thus the fighting style won’t include any rules.
Because Krav Maga is a self-defense system, it has no rules other than to survive. On the other hand, MMA has a set of rules, as it’s a sport. Thus elite UFC fighters follow a fixed set of regulations. For instance, groin kicks are allowed in KM and not in mixed martial arts.
Krav Maga
The primary purpose of Krav Maga is to boost survival. It has no actual rules because unorthodox fighting is allowed and is even the best way to subdue your opponent. Krav Maga teaches students to attack and defend in a manner that causes the most pain. The practice emphasizes aggressive attacks, groin striking, and head-butting.
MMA
MMA has many rules fighters must follow. Mixed martial arts forbids various holds and moves like fish hooking and groin strikes. For example, MMA fighters are not allowed to:
- Hold the other person or the cage.
- Pull each other’s hair or spit on the opponent.
- Attack opponents when fighting time has lapsed.
- Bend the opponent’s fingers backward
- Pinch or twist an opponent’s skin
- Eye gouge or clawing.
- Downward elbow strike, head strike, spine strike, or throat strikes
- Heel kick the kidneys
- Use abusive language
- Throw an opponent outside the ring
As you can tell, the differences in rules are massive. As a result, it may influence your decision. Before we move on to the next difference, I must mention that MMA rules exist when the environment is sports. In real life, you can use the techniques you’ll learn in mixed martial arts classes and not follow any guidelines.
The purpose of the martial art
That may be the sole metric you need to make your choice. Whether you want to study self-defense, or you might desire to improve your physical shape, doing martial arts- is suitable.
However, not all fighting styles might fit you. For that reason, choosing one that’s purpose fits your desires- is critical for enjoying the learning process.
Krav Maga is a self-defense system, while MMA is a sport and a fighting style. As a result, you should choose KM if you’re interested in studying effective self-defense movements. On the other hand, choose the latter if you desire to become a dynamic fighter- capable of competing.
Krav Maga
The primary purpose of Krav Maga is self-defense, and it uses well-known fighting styles like wrestling, street fighting, and boxing. It is excellent for self-defense and can help you get fit.
MMA
The primary purpose of MMA is as a combative sport, and competitors must try to dominate one another using finishing holds and striking moves. The fighting happens in a controlled environment, and the chances of getting hurt are slim. MMA focuses more on training people to exhibit techniques and skills for competitions.
Krav Maga is simpler than MMA.
Choosing a martial art based on its simplicity- may be the metric you should follow since it may be the difference between staying consistent and quitting. However, it ought not to be the primary factor to follow, as you may fancy a more complicated fighting style.
Krav Maga is simpler than MMA since it teaches effective and quick techniques. As a result, learning and mastering them- won’t take as long as various mixed martial arts techniques, such as grappling, submissions, and different complex combos.
For example, many UFC fighters combine two martial arts, and as a result, they become more complete fighters. First, they begin by learning Boxing or Muay-Thai, and later they follow by studying grappling movements.
Elite UFC fighters know to use punching and kicking to beat their opponent quickly. Moreover, they can use Judo/Jiu-Jitsu/Wrestling techniques to ensure they’re capable of dominating their competition. Because of that, MMA is challenging and complex to learn. On the other hand, KM involves various easy-to-learn and effective techniques, such as eye gouges and groin kicks, to cause massive damage rapidly.
Their origin
The origin of the martial art shouldn’t influence your decision on whether or not to learn it. However, the source of the martial art affects its general style more often than not. This section will demonstrate Krav Maga’s and MMA’s origin and whether they influenced its overall style.
Krav Maga
In the early 1930s, a Jewish person named Imi Lichtenfeld constructed a new fighting system. He desired to teach the Jewish community in Czechoslovakia self-defense- so they could protect themselves.
As time went on, the Israeli military adopted this martial art for their special forces since it’s relatively simple to learn. As a result, they wanted their operators to know a fighting system quickly and effectively.
Today, more armies have adopted Krav Maga as they noticed its effectiveness. It’s both uncomplicated and incredibly effective.
The origin influenced the overall style of KM since it created the base for it, which is to disable anyone as rapidly as possible.
MMA
There were first traces of MMA the sport in 648 BCE. They found that it was a part of an Olympic game. The game was fighting with rules, which resembles today’s mixed martial arts.
The sport influenced the guidelines that many MMA platforms, such as the UFC, implemented. So, as a result, it’s more of a sport than a martial art.
Similarities between Krav Maga and MMA
Thus far, we have gone through the differences between Krav Maga and MMA. Such gaps are the source of struggle for many people. Hence they’re incapable of choosing which one to begin practicing, as they’re confused over the many differences.
However, with the many gaps comes various similarities. They will assist you in making a wiser choice regarding which style you should begin learning.
If you’re struggling to choose between these two martial arts, I highly encourage you to read the following sections and re-read the differences. Consequently, making a wiser choice- will come naturally and effortlessly.
Both are suitable for self-defense.
The main goal of martial arts is to teach people to fight appropriately. However, many have struggled to learn the basics of fighting throughout the years. Hence they were vulnerable to any sudden attack.
Such a case is emphasized in today’s changing world. Not only did the crime rate increase, but hostiles had more options to attack. You may encounter a firearm or a knife attack, and if you’re not ready to react, you’re in for a world of trouble.
Both MMA and Krav Maga are suitable and adequate for self-defense since they teach various fighting techniques. As a result, using them for real-life situations- will come naturally. For instance, in both styles, you’ll learn to punch and kick, which are effective for disabling an attacker quickly.
I must note that Krav Maga- at its core, is suitable for self-defense- as it’s a system made for such a purpose. Consequently, all the movements you’ll learn will be appropriate for such instances.
On the other hand, mixed martial arts is a sport. Thus all the movements you’ll learn will not bypass any guidelines the sport itself presents. Hence some techniques you may learn be not be as suitable for real-life self-defense- dangerous situations. For example, you won’t learn to deal with firearms, including pistols and knives.
However, because Krav Maga is a self-defense system, you’ll learn about disabling firearms in all their forms.
Krav Maga and MMA teach punching and kicking.
The primary similarity between Krav Maga and mixed martial arts is the techniques they both teach. They’re the core of any well-rounded and qualified fighter. Thus they both emphasize using these movements, which we’ll discuss next.
Both KM and MMA teach punching and kicking since they’re highly effective for fighting purposes. As a result, they both emphasize using these. For instance, you can finish many fights alone using these two fighting techniques, such as hooks and axe kicks.
You may be familiar with Kickboxing. Essentially, it’s a fighting style that utilizes punching and kicking exclusively. If you ever saw a kickboxer in real life, you know that one knows to fight appropriately. Consequently, these two movements are the core of fighting, and you’ll be solid if you know them.
However, more techniques may assist you in your fighting journey. For instance, one of the primary techniques every elite fighter should know is grappling. Many martial arts, such as Judo and Jiu-Jitsu, teach these movements as they’re surprisingly effective.
The following video demonstrates the power of kicking and punching. The video is about a Kickboxing competition, and I encourage you to watch it to understand how powerful these movements can be.
They provide various mental and physical benefits.
Doing any martial art will lead to yourself benefiting in some way. Some of the results you may experience vary anywhere from physical to mental. Let’s look at how and which ones you should expect to gain.
MMA and Krav Maga provides various mental and physical benefits, such as increased confidence, better physical shape, better self-esteem, and reduced stress and violence levels. As a result, participating in them- is highly valuable and beneficial.
According to a study conducted in April of 2019, Krav Maga is an intense workout that burns 616 calories an hour. As a result, losing weight and decreasing body fat goes hand-in-hand with martial arts training. Source
“. . . exercisers can expect a moderateto-vigorous intensity workout that teaches self-defense techniques while simultaneously providing a full-body workout.”
Dr. Porcari
A significant benefit of martial arts is its increase in cardiovascular health. It’s a fantastic cardio workout and effectively prevents various chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and depression. MMA is one of the best workouts for fat or weight loss.
Source
I believe I don’t need to show any other proof for you to comprehend how beneficial learning these martial arts is. Consequently, I have no doubts you can enjoy training and improve your physical and mental states.
Should you learn MMA or Krav Maga?
If you’re incapable of choosing whether you want to practice KM or mixed martial arts, along with the previous sections, the following paragraph is for you. By reading and re-reading the differences and similarities I mentioned in the earlier areas, you’ll understand these fighting styles better and thus choose one- suitable for your needs.
If you’re interested in learning a dynamic martial art that emphasizes sparring and the practice of many effective techniques, consider learning MMA. On the other hand, Krav Maga is for you if you desire to practice a self-defense system exclusively for that purpose.
From personal experience, Krav Maga is one of the most effective styles one can learn. I practiced it for 2-years+, so I’m capable of explaining the basic principles to you. Additionally, I know plenty about MMA since that’s what my website has been about for the past 2-years.
If you want to become the best fighter, you ought to choose mixed martial arts since you’ll become an incredibly well-rounded fighter. However, if you wish to master the art of self-defense in all its forms, Krav Maga will be most suitable.
Which is better for fitness, Krav Maga or MMA?
One of the primary benefits of training for martial arts trainees is a better physical condition. While some will notice changes post a couple of sessions, others may experience these changes after more extended periods.
MMA is more suitable for fitness than Krav Maga since it provides the trainees with a full-body workout. As a result, mixed martial arts practitioners will notice a better physical shape faster than KM trainees. That said, Krav Maga is a suitable way to improve physical condition.
I must note that although I generalized that MMA is better than KM when discussing fitness, that doesn’t mean that the latter isn’t a suitable way of getting in shape. In fact, I’ve noticed physical changes when I practiced KM rather quickly, as I’ve invested plenty of effort into the process.
Next, I’ll quote a study that checked whether Krav Maga is an effective workout. It’s safe to say that results found that it is, indeed, suitable for bettering your physical shape.
“Overall, the results of this study indicate that the Krav Maga workout used in the study met ACSM guidelines for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and managing body weight.”
Source
Who wins, Krav Maga or MMA?
When discussing the comparison of two martial arts, there’s more room to make mistakes than one may initially think—this entire realm involves more individualism than most sports. Because of that, we must generalize these fighting styles to make the following answer exist.
MMA wins against Krav Maga since it’s more dynamic and involves more real-life sparring. As a result, MMA fighters will become more capable of dealing with self-defense and overall fighting. Moreover, Krav Maga is a self-defense system, its sole purpose.
Although I’m a big fan of Krav Maga, I have no issues saying that mixed martial arts is superior. Therefore, if you’re interested in learning an all-around, dynamic, suitable for self-defense martial art, consider choosing MMA as your primary style.
On the other hand, comparing two martial arts is close to impossible. As a result, I recommend taking the answer with a grain of doubt, as Krav Maga may be more suitable than MMA for your desires and needs. Thus learning it will be wiser.
Final words
Krav Maga and MMA are different forms of fighting, and they both include elements of various forms of martial arts for self-defense. However, while Krav Maga teaches a brutal form of self-defense, MMA teaches a controlled and competitive style of sports fighting.
With the information I’ve shared, which of these appeals to you? Please choose the one that fits your needs and interests best. Consequently, you’ll enjoy the learning process more than if you were to pick an unsuitable one.
Lastly, if there’s a single piece of advice I’d like you to take, you should begin training immediately. It doesn’t matter if you decide to change martial arts- as long as you start experiencing this incredible world.