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  LEVEL 5 OVERVIEW

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Summary
This class is for advanced students only and covers all the advanced curriculum including fighting, ground fighting, advanced self defense, all weapons defenses, and third party protection.

Overview
Brown Belt is the final level before the Black Belt test. You will sometimes see this listed as “Level 5”, which denotes classes designed for Brown Belts, Black Belts, and above.

At this level you will continue to learn to defend against guns, knives and sticks. The angles of attack become harder to deal with, and the stress level increases, but because this is Krav Maga, the principles remain the same. In addition to handguns, in the firearms section we learn to deal with long guns such as shotguns and assault rifles.

Expect to train at least 12 months at this level, assuming a minimum of two training sessions per week. By the end of Brown Belt training, you should feel that you can stand in the middle of a room, eyes closed, and be able to defend against any sort of attack: a bearhug, a choke, even an attack with a weapon.

Combatives
The combative techniques described in the Brown Belt curriculum include more-advanced techniques, especially kicks that move beyond the fundamentals Krav Maga emphasizes. Among them are a number of kick combinations that include “switch kicks”. Think of switch kicks in this way: the second kick is already en route as the first kick is recoiling. It is the switch that makes the kicks a true combination, rather than just one kick followed by another.

Throws
Brown Belt introduces throws and holds not emphasized in earlier belt levels. In general, Krav Maga prefers to strike rather than throw, since in self-defense the defender is not responsible for taking the attacker into custody, nor necessary in eliminating the attacker – only in eliminating the threat. Given this goal, a strike is often earlier and more available than a throw. However, there are situations in which, due to balance or position, a throw may be the easiest way to reduce or eliminate the threat. You should understand that the main goal is to slam the attacker straight down to the ground, not to throw them far away.

Defenses and Self-Defense
Brown Belt includes hand defenses against knife attacks, as well as advanced defenses against high-risk handgun threats and long gun threats.

Edged-Weapon Defenses
Although we teach a kick defense against knife attacks in Blue Belt, we assume that most often the attacker will surprise us, making hand defenses necessary. One prerequisite for understanding knife defenses is a basic understanding of common ways to hold the knife. The three basic are regular (overhead) stab, underhand stab, and straight stab.

Very tight slashes can look a lot like straight stabs. Advanced training should include recognition of the angle of the knife hold. For example, if the arm is coming very straight toward the defender but the blade is angled outward, it is most likely a slash. This attack cannot be treated like a straight stab because the knife, angled out, prevents the defender from getting to the arm. By the same token, if the attacker keeps the point of the blade very much forward, even if he intends to slash, the defender can treat it as a straight stab. While disarms should be taught, real-life attacks and realistic training prove that they are not always possible. You should train to disengage at various points, such as:

  1. Defend and counter, then disengage and look for common objects or other weapons;
    2. Defend, counter, and deliver knees, then disengage and look for common objects or other weapons;
    3. Defend, counter, deliver knees, get two hands on the weapon, then deliver more attacks.

A good understanding of state of readiness is vital to realistic knife-defense training. Once the technique is introduced and the basics have been mastered, you should learn to make the defense from varying states of readiness:

  • Very early; the defender is able to send the hands but also burst forward with the feet and defend the knife while it is back.
  • Moderately early; the defender is able to send the hands and get his weight very much forward, but there is minimal foot movement at the beginning.
  • Moderately late; the defender is able to send the hands forward and get some weight into the defense and counter, but with no footsteps at all.
  • Very late; the defender succeeds in making the 360 Degree Defense and counterattack, but without much forward shift of weight. In this case, the defender gets as much weight into the defense and counter as possible.

This last detail underscores an important element of Krav Maga training. All movements should cause the defender’s weight to move forward so that, even in very late stages, you are in the habit of putting as much weight as possible into the defense and counterattack. From all states of readiness, the defender must move forward aggressively, regardless of his ability (or inability) to move his feet.

Level 5 Mindset and Tactics

Entering Level 5 of East Texas Krav Maga, you are now progressing into more advanced territory. This level requires a solid grounding in all the mindsets and tactics you've learned so far and introduces more sophisticated concepts to your training.

Mindset

The mindset for Level 5 focuses on 'Speeding Up your OODA Loop' and 'Problem Solving Under Chaos.'

Speed Up your OODA Loop: The importance of a fast OODA Loop continues to be emphasized at this level. The situations students face in training become more complex and unpredictable, requiring even quicker and more accurate decision-making.

Problem Solving Under Chaos: At this stage, students are trained to stay calm and think clearly even under chaotic conditions. This might involve dealing with multiple attackers, navigating through a crowded environment, or responding to sudden changes in the situation. It's about maintaining mental flexibility and making effective decisions even when under intense stress.

Tactics

The tactics for Level 5 are 'RCAT Principles' and 'Using Environment for Control.'

RCAT Principles: Building on the R.C.A.T. framework introduced in Level 4, students now learn to apply these principles in a wider range of situations. This might involve dealing with different types of weapons, adapting the techniques for different environments, or combining them with other tactics learned previously.

Using Environment for Control: This tactic involves using the environment to your advantage during a fight. It could mean maneuvering an attacker into a narrow space where they can't swing their weapon effectively, using a wall or a piece of furniture to unbalance them, or even turning everyday objects into improvised weapons.

Why are They Important to This Level and Beyond?

The mindset at Level 5 is all about precision, speed, and clarity under pressure. These traits are crucial in high-intensity situations where hesitation or panic could be fatal. This mindset will not only enhance your performance in Krav Maga but also prepare you for real-world scenarios that require quick thinking and problem-solving under chaos.

The tactical focus at this level advances your ability to navigate and control complex situations. A deep understanding of the RCAT principles and the ability to use your environment strategically are key to dealing with multiple threats or unexpected situations. These tactics will be invaluable as you progress further in your Krav Maga journey.