Programs · Self-Defence & Combatives
Classic Krav Maga.
The classic system, taught as Grandmaster Lichtenfeld taught it — a belt ladder from Yellow to Black, for adults building complete self-defence and fighting fitness.
01 — What “classic” means
Classic Krav Maga was initiated by Jyrki Saario. His goal was to return to the roots of the system — as they were taught by Grandmaster Lichtenfeld. Not a new interpretation. The classic curriculum, kept whole.
02 — Heritage
A lineage you can trace, year by year.
Jyrki Saario meets Grandmaster Imi Lichtenfeld in Israel.
Instructor certificate from Lichtenfeld — all krav maga grades, including expert level 2 black belt.
Founds the Finnish Krav Maga Federation and holds the first instructor course in Northern Europe.
The Krav Maga 30th-anniversary event — Lahti, March.
Est. 1994 — the mark worn on the mat and on the crest.
03 — Who it is for
For adults who want the complete skill.
Classic Krav Maga is for adults building complete self-defence and fighting fitness. The ladder runs from footwork and the first strikes through releases, weapon defences and throws — into sparring.
And through every belt runs one conditioning thread with a name of its own: Fighting Fit.
04 — The level structure
Yellow to Black.
Six belts. Each has its own theme, its own exam — and its own round of Fighting Fit.
Yellow
Where everyone starts. Footwork and breakfalls, Defense 360 and the A-block — then the first weapons you own: straight punches, hammerfists, elbows, front and groin kicks.
Exam roundFighting Fit + 90-second pad combinations
Orange
Defences against punches and kicks — with counters. Hooks, uppercuts, knees and the stomp kick. Releases from wrist grabs, and the escape from the mount.
Exam roundFighting Fit + punch–kick pad combinations
Green
Releases: bearhugs, strangulations and headlocks — from the front, the back and the side — plus chokes on the ground. And the first sparring.
Exam roundOne 90-sec boxing round — semi-contact head, full-contact body
Blue
Weapons. Knife threats and knife attacks, stick and baseball-bat defence, gun threats from the front, the side and behind — with the straight armbar and rear naked choke.
Exam roundFull Fighting Fit competition round + sparring
Brown
Throws — outer reap, hip throw, sacrifice throw. And everything from the previous belts performed in reverse fighting position, against a left-handed aggressor.
Exam roundTwo rounds of kickboxing sparring
Black
The instructor levels — Group Leader and Club Instructor. Knife against knife. Multiple attackers. The system, taught forward.
Exam roundThree rounds of full-contact Fighting Fit
05 — The thread through every belt
Fighting Fit.
Classic Krav Maga’s named conditioning format — one 90-second round, at every belt exam.
Once a year it becomes a competition of its own: the International Fighting Fit Cup — Budapest, October, open for everyone.
06 — The instructor path
From the mat to the front of the class.
Group Leader
The first instructor level — tested at black belt.
Club Instructor
The second instructor level.
Krav Maga Black Belt course
By Head Master recommendation, after the brown belt test — held in Lahti each June.
Black Belt 2–5
Higher degrees follow waiting periods of two to five years, with further Saario Academy courses along the way.
Classic Krav Maga is taught in clubs under one Academy structure — Leader, International Office, coordinators, instructors. Official certificates come through your coordinator.
07 — The year in Krav Maga
Courses, camps, one cup.
Krav Maga courses
Level 1 and 2 instructor courses through the year.
Lahti · Warsaw · BudapestKrav Maga Camps
Two camps a year on the Krav Maga calendar.
Gołoborze · Feb — Lahti · NovMasterclass & Black Belt course
The Krav Maga Masterclass and the Black Belt course, back to back.
Lahti · JunKrav Maga — 30 years
The 30th-anniversary event.
Lahti · Mar 14, 2026International Fighting Fit Cup
The Fighting Fit round as a competition — open.
Budapest · Oct08 — Certification
Graded by authorised examiners. Recorded.
Belt exams are held only by authorised Saario Academy examiners.
“Examination results are officially recorded in official logbooks/passports.”
Saario Academy Regulation
09 — Questions
Before you start.
Do I need any experience to start?
No. Everyone starts at Yellow — footwork, breakfalls, Defense 360 and the first strikes are the curriculum. The ladder is built to be climbed from zero.
When do I spar?
The first sparring comes at Green: one 90-second boxing round — semi-contact to the head, full contact to the body. From there it grows with you: two rounds of kickboxing at Brown, three rounds of full contact at Black.
What makes it “classic”?
The program was initiated by Jyrki Saario to return to the roots of the system — as they were taught by Grandmaster Lichtenfeld, from whom he received his instructor certificate in 1995.
How are grades awarded?
By exam, held only by authorised examiners — and every result is officially recorded in official logbooks and passports. Your grade is documented, wherever you train next.
What is Fighting Fit?
The named conditioning round that runs through every belt: 90 seconds — ten push-ups, sprint, ten sit-ups, sprint, ten squats, sprint, ten burpees, sprint. Once a year it becomes the International Fighting Fit Cup in Budapest — open for everyone.
One standard
Step onto the mat.
Classic Krav Maga is taught in Saario Academy clubs across Europe. Find yours, and start at Yellow.
Classic Krav Maga · Saario Academy