The place I used to go to had a great instructor. He was open to all ideas and allowed whatever you wanted to use, but taught KM with sprinklings of Brazilian Jujitsu, Karate, Thai-Kickboxing, etc... I would use open hand strikes 60% of the time. It is focused on just as much as other ways of striking. Kicks were taught for knee level (or low quad area), groin area and solar plexus. The last being a defensive/offensive pushing kick that has taken me to the ground many times. I guard the solar plexus well now. Twice a week we had "Fight Class" which is basically heavy sparring most of the time but also lessons based on replicating real life scenarios such as 2 on 1, low-light encounters, night club environment (lights off, techno blasting, strobe light and/or black light on) and other things.
KM came in handy when I was attacked by a street person trying to persuade me to give him money by trying to put a rear pushing choke on me a little over a year ago. Happened very quick and was in no way in his favor.
Also, ground fighting instruction, from my experience, was top notch. Old school wrestling days really paid off here by giving me more of a feel than most but the techniques are simple, effective and in many cases are the same or derivative of many stand up techniques.
I can't say enough about my experience with KM but I can say that the quality of instruction has a lot to do with it. My place was great.
P.S. KM is much in line with the strategy of techniques that jive with what your mind and body will want to do when faced with an extremely stressful situation. Much gross motor skills stuff.
