Delhi Police Gears Up for Close Combat, Adopts Israeli Martial Art Krav Maga for Enhanced Law Enforcement Training

New Delhi, India - In a bid to toughen up its force for real-world street fights and life-threatening situations, the Delhi Police has rolled out Krav Maga training—the Israeli martial art known for its no-nonsense, brutal efficiency. With the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) stepping in to help, the idea is simple: make Delhi’s cops ready for anything, especially when the baton and the badge aren’t enough.

The first batch—50 handpicked officers, including 19 women—is already sweating it out at ITBP’s training camp in Panchkula. These aren’t just any cops. They’ve cleared a gruelling mental and physical test to get here, proving they have what it takes to handle the 84-day intensive boot camp ahead.

Why Krav Maga?

For those unfamiliar, Krav Maga isn’t just another martial art—it’s survival training. Developed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), it mixes boxing, judo, karate, and wrestling into a brutally effective system designed for real fights, not dojo sparring. It’s meant to disable attackers fast—whether with a punch to the throat, a knee to the gut, or whatever works in the heat of the moment.

And let’s be real—Delhi cops need it. There have been too many incidents where unarmed officers have been overpowered, stabbed, or outnumbered. The streets aren’t getting any kinder, and firearms aren’t always an option. Krav Maga fills that gap, giving them the edge when things get ugly.

The Training Ground

At the ITBP’s Panchkula camp, trainers—who themselves have been trained by Israeli police—are putting these officers through the wringer. The course includes:

1. Hand-to-hand combat drills—because hesitation in a fight can be deadly.
2. Commando-style endurance training—to keep them sharp and fast.
3. Firearms practice—because knowing when to pull the trigger is just as crucial.

The plan? Once these officers make it through, they’ll head back to Delhi as instructors to train the next batch. Over time, Krav Maga will be woven into the fabric of Delhi Police training, making every cop on the street a tougher, more dangerous opponent for criminals.

Not Delhi Police’s Only New Move

This Krav Maga training is part of a broader push to make Delhi’s police force more hands-on and responsive. Just last week, the department also launched ‘Jan Sunwai’, a direct outreach program where officers not currently assigned to districts were sent out to listen to public grievances in person. Complaints pile up fast in a city like Delhi, and this move aims to cut the red tape and address them faster.

This isn’t the first time Krav Maga has been introduced in Indian security forces. Back in 2005-06, it was first picked up by the Special Protection Group (SPG)—the elite unit that guards the Prime Minister. The reason? Guns aren’t always an option in VIP protection. Officers needed a way to neutralize threats quickly without opening fire, and Krav Maga was the answer. Now, Delhi Police is following suit. And it’s about time.

With this no-holds-barred combat training, officers won’t just be keeping order—they’ll be ready to take the fight to the streets when needed. As batches complete their training and start passing it down the ranks, Delhi’s criminals might soon find out the hard way that the cops aren’t playing anymore.