Defending Yourself Against A Horror Movie Slasher (NSFW)

You're hanging out with a group of friends on Halloween night. You stumble across a golden puzzle box that appears to be ancient. As one person badgers everyone to solve the puzzle, saying something like, "what's the harm?," you stop and think - "can my Krav Maga training help me in case this goes sideways and demons try and suck us into a portal to hell?"

Yes! But only to a point.

Avoid haunted houses, ouija boards, summoning demons, or cabins in the deep woods

In Krav Maga, our number one way to win a fight? Avoid the situation. Maybe that means not staring into Michael Myer's abandoned house on Halloween night. Or realizing that a cabin in the woods that you can't locate on a map might not be the best place for a quiet weekend.  There are typically red flags everywhere in these situations and it can be easy to brush them aside. But you don't want to find yourself hiding in the bathroom, wondering how you got there. Listen to your instincts - they'll save you every time.

Situational awareness is your friend

This is not the time to be walking in dark alleys, going outside by yourself to use the bathroom, or letting people in off the street. Pay attention to mirrors, all reflective surfaces, and where any light switches or breakers might be. And we always suggest carrying a tactical flashlight.

If you've decided to stick it out while your friend is gambling with your lives, stay aware of your surroundings - are there objects nearby that you can use to defend yourself? Where are all the exits located? Are there locks on the bathroom windows? Having a few plans in place can help you when the chaos starts shortly.

You'll definitely need more than one hit/punch/weapon

It's too late - you've already found yourself in a situation with a slow-moving monster. If you remember your Krav Maga training, you're starting with your long range weapons and common objects - maybe a rake, a bat, or something that you found while trapped in a shed or basement. There have been multiple times that you assumed he was dead, but he just keeps coming back. In Krav Maga, we need to make sure that we're giving multiple attacks, depending on the weapon the person is using against us.

When can your Krav Maga not help you?

Have you and your friends hit someone with your car and made a pact to never tell anyone? Have you had sex earlier in the evening? Have the people stalking you inexplicably been able to rewind when you start to win?

I'm sorry, but it might be too late for you. Your greatest hope now is going to be a psychic, hope that one of you is pure of heart, or be a blond, white, female who somehow has incredible survivalist skills or military training (who doesn't love the final girl?).

More than anything, when it comes to surviving an encounter with a homicidal and possibly immortal maniac, your best bet is to avoid, avoid, avoid.

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You've made it past Jason only to run into the Day of the Dead? We've got you covered there too! The best Krav Maga moves to defend yourself for the zombie apocalypse.

Sure, you have your Permit to Carry, but have you pulled your weapon from your holster while a blood-thirsty zombie comes screaming towards your neck? Sounds like Defensive Shooting Courses might be good for you. Good thing that Valley Self-Defense has one of the only IKMF-certified Defensive Shooting Instructors in the United States!

Krav Maga near me? There is! If you're looking for a Krav Maga class near you, Valley Self-Defense is a proud member of the International Krav Maga Federation with schools located across the United States. To find a school near you, visit the IKMF USA website.