The KMG Level System Explained — How Krav Maga Progresses

Where Does the KMG System Come From?

The KMG curriculum was shaped directly by Eyal Yanilov, who began training under Krav Maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld in 1974. In 1987, Imi appointed Eyal as Head of the Professional Committee, tasking him with restructuring and formalising the Krav Maga curriculum. In 1996, Imi awarded Eyal the Master 3 grade — the highest level in the system at the time — and entrusted him with evolving Krav Maga into the integrated, principle-based system it is today.

That history matters because the level structure you train through at Krav Maga Auckland isn't invented by a local school or a franchise — it's the direct product of that lineage. When Instructor Aaron and Instructor Brad teach the P1 curriculum, they're delivering the same framework that Eyal developed and that KMG operates across 60+ countries.

Key takeaway: The KMG level structure has genuine provenance — designed by Imi's closest protégé and refined over four decades of real-world application.

What Are the Four Tiers of the KMG System?

The civilian KMG curriculum runs across four tiers. Each tier has a distinct character — not just in terms of technique difficulty, but in what kind of practitioner you're becoming at each stage.

Key takeaway: The four tiers aren't arbitrary divisions — each one represents a genuinely different level of capability, from solid foundation through to adaptive mastery.

How Long Does Each Level Take?

Timelines vary depending on how often you train and your physical background — but the following gives a realistic guide for students training around two hours per week. P1 typically takes 4–6 months, roughly 40 classes. From P2 onwards, each Practitioner level takes around 6–12 months. Graduate levels are 12–18 months between gradings. Expert levels are a serious long-term commitment — 2–4 years between levels — and are typically reached only by students who have also pursued the instructor pathway.

At Krav Maga Auckland on the North Shore, grading isn't rushed or commercially driven. Instructor Aaron and Instructor Brad assess readiness based on genuine technical competency and the ability to perform under pressure — not on hours logged or fees paid. Students grade when they're ready, not on a schedule.

If you're just starting out, the Krav Maga Essentials course is a structured entry option — or you can jump straight into a regular class trial and see how it feels from day one.

Key takeaway: Progression is real and measurable, but it's not a race. The goal is capability, not certification.

What Exactly Do You Learn at Each Tier?

Each tier doesn't just add new techniques — it raises the standard expected of everything you already know. A P5 student performing an inside forearm defence looks different from a G3 student doing the same thing — faster, more economical, combined with a counter before the attack has finished. The curriculum is designed so that every level deepens what came before, not just stacks more on top.

Practitioner (P1–P5)

Straight strikes and circular strikes with hands and legs. Defending punches and kicks. Escaping grabs to clothing, wrists, hair, chokes, and headlocks. Ground basics — falling, recovering, striking from the ground, escaping from underneath an aggressor. Introduction to weapon threats (knife at range, stick overhead). Situational awareness and pre-fight tactics. By P5, students are handling bearhugs, multiple aggressors, and basic firearm threats.

Graduate (G1–G5)

All P-level material performed with greater speed, precision, and against non-compliant partners. Throws and takedowns. Standing chokes and restraint holds for control. Advanced knife attack defences — from all angles, against repeated attacks. Pistol and rifle threats. Third-party protection scenarios. Ground fighting against multiple standing aggressors. Tactical positioning, environmental adaptation, and the fighting tactics that separate instinctive reaction from strategic response.

Expert (E1–E5)

Warrior-level capability across all domains simultaneously. Expert grading includes a comprehensive test of the entire P and G curriculum before the E-specific material is even assessed. Students at this level work against fully resistant, non-compliant partners in scenarios involving multiple aggressors, weapons, restricted environments, and third-party protection — all at the same time. Advanced weapon counters including machetes, submachine guns, and combined weapon and physical attacks.

Does KMG Train Anyone Other Than Civilians?

Yes — and the breadth of who trusts the KMG system is part of what makes the civilian curriculum credible. Beyond the P, G, and E levels that civilian students train, KMG's Tactical Department runs specialist instructor courses for law enforcement, military units, and VIP close protection teams. SWAT teams, air marshals, and intelligence agencies across multiple countries use KMG as their training system of choice.

These specialist tracks aren't separate systems — they're built from the same technical and tactical foundation that civilian students train. That's the point. A law enforcement officer and a civilian student doing a G3 takedown are using the same mechanics. The context changes, the fundamentals don't.

Key takeaway: The civilian curriculum you train is the same foundation that law enforcement and military units build on. That's not marketing — it's the architecture of the system.

How Does Becoming an Instructor Fit Into the Level Structure?

KMG instructors qualify through the General Instructor Course (GIC) — a structured three-level programme that runs parallel to, but separate from, the civilian grading system. GIC Level 1 (5 days) qualifies you to teach P1 curriculum. Level 2 (7 additional days) covers up to P3. Level 3 Full Instructor (7 more days) awards the G1 grade and qualifies you to teach the full curriculum up to G1 and beyond.

Instructor Brad completed the GIC in November 2019 — having come through as a student under Instructor Aaron before pursuing certification. That pathway — student to trained instructor via the official KMG route — is exactly how the system is designed to propagate. It keeps the quality consistent across the global network.

Key takeaway: KMG instructors aren't self-certified. Qualification requires completing a demanding multi-stage course assessed by KMG's international coaching team.