Self-Defence — New Zealand

Self-Defence Training in New Zealand

Practical self-defence is not about fighting ability or physical dominance. It is about awareness, making good decisions earlier, and building real capability that works in real situations. These pages cover who self-defence training is for, what it involves, and how the KMG approach is built around the situations people actually face.

Brad teaching a beginners Krav Maga class on Auckland's North Shore
Women

Women's Self-Defence in New Zealand

Awareness, escape, and real-world skills — practical self-defence built around the situations women are most likely to face.

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Older Adults

Is Krav Maga Good for Older Adults?

Krav Maga rewards judgement, awareness, and efficiency — not youth or athleticism. Why it makes sense at any age.

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Effectiveness

Is Krav Maga Effective?

What makes a self-defence system effective — and how the KMG curriculum is built to hold up in real-world situations rather than controlled conditions.

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NZ Context

Most Common Types of Assault in New Zealand

What the data shows about violent offending in New Zealand — and what it means for how self-defence training should be structured.

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NZ Law

Is Self-Defence Legal in New Zealand?

Self-defence is lawful under Section 48 of the Crimes Act — but only when the force used is reasonable. What the law says and what it means in practice.

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Awareness

Situational Awareness for Beginners

The most important self-defence skill is recognising danger before it becomes physical. How to build it and why it matters more than most people assume.

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Built around real situations, not sport

KMG New Zealand's self-defence curriculum is grounded in the KMG international system — developed under Eyal Yanilov, who trained directly under Imi Lichtenfeld, the founder of Krav Maga. Every element of training reflects a single priority: what works when a situation is real, unpredictable, and not subject to rules.

Find Training Near You

Find Training Near You