Krav Maga - Defense Against Straight Punch (Covering)

A common complaint from Krav Maga students when they first start sparring is they have trouble making their inside defenses work against their sparring partner's straight punches.
This video explains why inside defenses don't always work when you're sparring. It shows examples of when and when not to use this defense.
When inside defenses don't work we suggest switching to covering defenses. This video demonstrates and explains in detail how to perform covering defenses from the front.
Finally, the video states if you want us to make a video to help you with any aspect of your Krav Maga training you should contact us!
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The videos on this RUclips channel are NOT a replacement for actual instruction. They do not teach techniques, but instead isolate and fix problems within the technique or its individual components. The videos are designed to help the student who has already learned the technique under the instruction of a qualified instructor.
Important Note: These videos are specific to the techniques and curriculum taught to the students at our facility. Students from other Krav Maga schools and organizations are more than welcome to watch and use these videos and we hope they find them useful! However, variations may be taught that are different from the techniques taught at other Krav Maga locations. This doesn't mean one variation is wrong or the other is right. They are just variations...plain and simple. The most important question for any technique or defense should be this: Does it work for the individual who is performing it? As long as it does, then the technique or variation has merit, regardless of where it comes from! That's the number one principle that we emphasize at our school.
Transcript:
"Hello everyone. This is Randall and Glenda with KravMagaTraining.com. In this video I'm going to show you guys how to do covering defenses from the front.
And this is the reason why I like to teach this technique. Here's the scenario. Glenda and I are sparring and I'm relatively new to sparring. The general rule is that when you see straight punches coming at your face we use our inside defenses. Which is a Krav Maga staple. So I'll, we'll just do a quick review of that. Inside defenses. Yeah, and don't get me wrong. Those work great. But, a common complaint from beginners, especially when they're first getting into sparring, is they constantly tell me "I'm having trouble making my inside defenses work when I'm sparring". So Glenda and I are sparring. She's throwing these. I'm having trouble reading them and, especially if your sparring partner is very quick and you're new to this, it's very hard to make your inside defenses work. So what I would suggest is switching to covering defenses when this scenario happens.
Now before I actually get into the covering defenses, let me explain a few reasons why you might be having trouble making your inside defenses work on, when you're sparring.
Here's the first one is... when we're sparring, Glenda's relatively close to me. She barely has to take an advance step to be able to punch me. At this range, I don't like to do inside defenses because she barely has to move forward and the punch is already close to my face and I don't have time to do the inside defense.
My preference is when I do inside defenses, I want to be a little bit farther away. I want to be at least this far away so if Glenda has to take a big step forward it's a lot easier to see it coming. So don't get me wrong. It's not like I don't ever do inside defenses when I spar. A matter of fact, I would prefer to do inside defenses because it makes your counterstriking ability a lot better. However, I only do it at that range. When the person is really far away. Part of the problem is beginners, they let their sparring partner get a little too close like this and at this range I don't have time to see it coming. It's happening too quick. Also, if your sparring partner is very quick or they fake a lot, you're not really sure which, if it's going to be the left or right hand coming, it's just very difficult..."
"The subject of this video was requested by one of our viewers (thanks Glenn from Vermont)! If you want us to make a video to help you with any aspect of your Krav Maga training, contact us!"
Krav Maga Worldwide Official Training Center - Self Defense * Fighting * Fitness - Pompano Beach, FL (South Florida).