Danger Plus One: Assume They Are Stronger

In our Danger Plus One series, we have established two critical assumptions for self-defense: assume your attacker is armed and assume they are trained. These principles shape our mindset, forcing us to approach every encounter with caution, strategy, and a sense of humility rather than reckless overconfidence.

Now, we come to the third key assumption: assume they are stronger.

This is not about inferiority. It is about reality. No matter how strong you are, there will always be someone stronger. Strength disparities can turn a fight against you in an instant, which is why Krav Maga does not rely on strength to be effective. Instead, we train to maximize our power, precision, and explosiveness to end fights before size and brute force can become a deciding factor.

At Spartan Krav Maga, we instill confidence, but never at the expense of humility. Overconfidence and underestimating an opponent can be a fatal mistake. Strength and skill are not guarantees to victory—survival depends on situational awareness, decisive action, and efficient execution of techniques.

A skilled practitioner knows when to engage and when to escape. Maintaining distance, scanning for threats, and avoiding unnecessary conflict are just as important as striking with precision.

The Four Pillars of Krav Maga Training

We often revisit the Four Pillars of Krav Maga Training in class: Technical, Tactical, Physical, and Mental. Against a stronger opponent, both the Physical and Tactical Pillars become critical.

Physical: Conditioning & Explosive Power

Raw strength can be a factor in a prolonged struggle, but in a real fight, power and conditioning make the difference. Strength is the ability to exert force—how much you can lift, push, or pull. Power, however, is the ability to generate force quickly—how hard and explosively you can strike.

A Krav Maga practitioner does not engage in a test of strength. Instead, we focus on bursting force—delivering explosive, high-impact strikes and movement to overwhelm and neutralize threats before their strength becomes a factor.

As we often say, a T-Rex doesn’t care how much you can bench. It’s not about how much weight you can lift; it’s about how fast, hard, and accurately you can strike when it counts.

Tactical: Movement & Control

Against any opponent, standing still is not an option. You must move deliberately, either closing the gap to strike or establish control, or create distance to escape. We are constantly improving our position, adjusting dynamically to disrupt our opponent’s balance and momentum while maintaining control of our own.

Krav Maga practitioners don’t just move for movement’s sake—we move with purpose. We strike while moving, using footwork and angles to maintain the advantage. A moving fighter is harder to hit, harder to control, and harder to overpower.

In close proximity, we strike while maneuvering, driving our opponent, creating pain and instability. An off-balance opponent cannot generate full power, and this imbalance gives us the opportunity to dictate the terms of the engagement.

Targeting Vulnerable Points

Strength can be trained. Endurance can be improved. But no one can condition their eyes, throat, or groin to withstand damage.

A well-placed strike to a vulnerable area can immediately neutralize a threat, regardless of size. A shot to the eyes can cause temporary blindness and intense pain. A blow to the throat can restrict breathing and induce panic. A direct kick to the groin will cause an immediate reaction, no matter how tough someone thinks they are.

At Spartan Krav Maga, we train practitioners to see an attacker not as a single, imposing figure but as a collection of targets—focusing on weak points rather than size or physique. This mindset is especially critical when facing a physically superior opponent. Instead of engaging in a contest of strength, we exploit anatomical vulnerabilities, forcing involuntary reactions that create opportunities to strike, escape, or control the situation. The goal is never to overpower, but to end the threat as quickly as possible.

The reality is, the longer a fight drags on, the risks multiply exponentially. Fatigue sets in, mistakes become more likely, and new threats can emerge. The more time you spend engaged, the more opportunities a stronger opponent has to use their size and endurance against you.

This is why we don’t train for drawn-out encounters or submission holds. Our focus is on ending encounters in seconds—striking explosively, targeting vulnerable points, and escaping before the situation escalates further.

At Spartan Krav Maga, survival is the goal. Every movement, every strike, and every decision is made with one purpose: neutralize the threat and get home safe.

Looking Ahead: Assume They Are Not Alone

We have now covered three essential assumptions: Assume they are armed. Assume they are trained. Assume they are stronger.

But there is one more critical factor that cannot be ignored: Assume they are not alone.

Street violence is rarely a one-on-one affair. In the next installment, we will explore how to train for multiple attackers, how to position yourself to avoid being surrounded, and how to move strategically to create an escape route.

Until then, remember: train smart, stay aware, and never fight their fight.

About the Author

Cyrus is the owner and lead instructor at Spartan Krav Maga, Burlington’s top-rated Krav Maga school. A former Bay Street executive, he left the corporate world to help people build confidence and stay safe through realistic, effective self-defense training. With extensive experience in Krav Maga and Kapap, he has trained internationally and worked with civilians, law enforcement, and military personnel. Passionate about empowering others, he teaches practical self-defense to people of all ages, from young children to professionals. When he’s not in the gym, you’ll likely find him outdoors, fly-fishing or enjoying the wilderness.