No-nonsense, reality-based self-defence…
…So One May Walk in Peace
Proud to be IKMF UK Club of the Year 2024
Do I need to be fit to start Krav Maga?
You need a baseline level of fitness, but nothing too extreme. Like any martial art, some physical effort is needed, but I’m not running a bootcamp either! Generally speaking, if you can handle carrying the shopping home, or a couple of flights of stairs, you should be ok! We take everyone as we find them, and you can work at your own pace - there is no shame in taking a breather as needed, especially during longer high-intensity drills. But, if you put in the effort, you’ll be amazed how quickly your fitness can improve!
FAQs
Can complete beginners join?
Yes, absolutely! No experience of Krav Maga or any martial arts is necessary. All levels train together, but beginners are never left to struggle, with the classes structured to ensure some fundamentals are always being covered. Additionally, we have a brand-new beginners roadmap specifically designed to help you progress through your first few months of training, and track your proficiency in the basics. Every session we want to ensure that every student at every level has gained something useful from it!
Am I too old to start?
Provided you have the base level fitness discussed above, there’s no upper-age limit. We have people in the IKMF training and teaching into their 70s! We can work around existing injuries & health problems. Krav Maga is intended to work for everyone! And should we find the regular classes are a little too much, we can try private sessions instead - there is always a solution!
Do I need to bring anything to class?
For your first class, dress for exercise and bring water. That’s it! Any equipment you need is provided.
What can I expect in the first class?
I generally split the classes into three chunks (noting that Juniors classes are a little shorter than adults classes): we do a warm-up and exercises, working something related to the class or Krav Maga - think high-intensity striking, bodyweight exercises, that sort of thing. I’ll then cover some foundational material: basic strikes or defensive work, like kicking or blocking a punch. Finally, we’ll cover some more technical material, deep-diving a particular technique or group of techniques, before then wrapping everything up with a summary drill. I have written a thorough breakdown of a typical class here.
Is Krav Maga dangerous?
Like any martial art, Krav Maga training carries injury risk. We’re training to encounter and survive real-life violence, after all! We are, however, very careful to minimise that risk as much as practically possible - injuries don’t help anyone. We practice with control and respect for our partner’s safety, and under close supervision from the instructor to keep things safe. The instructor is always first-aid qualified and fully insured, with a medical kit on hand for any mishaps that do occur.
Will I have to spar?
Krav Maga is a non-competitive system, but we do still spar on occasion as it helps us deal with unpredictability and a resisting opponent. However, I build this up slowly, starting with ‘tap sparring’ (basically playing ‘Tag’) to develop the basics without undue stress. When we do more freestyle sparring, it’s done with light power and control. As with injuries, a frightened or hurt student isn’t learning anything, and that is the key point of sparring: to learn, not to win. Read more about how sparring fits in for us here.
Is training full-contact?
Yes and no. Krav Maga is a full-contact system, but the training itself is better described as ‘semi-contact’. We do strike and grab one another, as this is required to actually learn our self-defence techniques - I can’t learn to counter someone grabbing me or striking me without actually receiving it. Some knocks and bumps are inevitable. However, striking especially is always done with control, and we never seek to knock out or otherwise incapacitate one-another in training - we save this level of force only for the Real Thing (which we hope to never encounter). As always, the goal is realistic, but safe practice. The primary goal of every class is that everyone walks away unharmed (bruises don’t count!)
What if I’m feeling nervous about training?
This is entirely understandable, especially if you’re brand new and coming to the class for the very first time, with no experience either with martial arts or exercise. We make a real effort to make beginners feel welcome and encouraged. All of the answers above apply: work at your own pace. Take it slow. Your journey is yours alone, and we’ll keep a close eye to make sure you’re moving forwards!
Is Krav Maga suitable for children?
Absolutely! We teach our Juniors classes (from Year 6 to 16 years old) according to the IKMF’s Juniors syllabus, which is an adapted, age-appropriate, version of the usual adults syllabus. It’s the same high-quality self-defence material, but with the focus on counter-bullying strategies. Like any martial art, Krav Maga is a fantastic activity for children & teenagers, building confidence, discipline & Real Life connections with their peers - no screens here! Check out this article on Krav Maga for Kids here.
Will training help my child’s confidence?
Yes, definitely. Learning how to look after yourself is an invaluable gift to a child that helps them walk taller and stand up for themselves. But even setting aside the self-defence skills, experiencing and overcoming hardships, be they the physical demands of a hard drill, or grasping a challenging technique, is also a massive boon for confidence - for adults and children alike! You start to learn what you’re actually capable of, and that inspires you to further achievement!
Is the training disciplined & structured?
As with the adults, we use a well-defined syllabus for the Juniors. This provides a framework for developing self-defence skills, from beginners to advanced. We offer regular gradings to give the students a goal to work towards and to demonstrate their progress. Diligent effort is encouraged throughout the class, as is the commitment to keep coming back and improving lesson by lesson!
What if I have a shy child? Will they be OK?
Krav Maga is brilliant for shy children! We work ‘soft’ skills alongside the physical, encouraging assertive use-of-voice and boundary setting, which can be a problem for shy kids (I know, I was once one of them). We have a great mix of students in our class: girls & boys, bold & quiet, big & small. Everyone trains together, with respect for one another. Sitting on the sidelines isn’t an option, but there’s no pressure either - we take everyone as we find them, and build them up at their own pace.
What makes Krav Maga different?
Krav Maga is a pure self-defence style, focused on dealing with real-world violent scenarios: sudden attacks, being grabbed, robbery situations etc. It is a hybrid style taking from numerous other martial arts to provide a comprehensive system to cover off any situation you can imagine. There are no competitions, no rote learning of katas. Most training is done by practicing with partners and dealing with the actual situations we’re concerned about, adding pressure & realism in a gradual, controlled manner. Visit this page for a more detailed history and breakdown of Krav Maga!
How often should I train?
Weekly is regarded the minimum frequency of training, and our membership subscription reflects this. However, more is more here, and the IKMF’s progression timing presumes that you’re training at least 2 hours a week. Training multiple times a week is absolutely beneficial - you learn more, and gain mastery of the techniques faster - and we have an unlimited membership option to encourage exactly this level of dedication!
How long will it take for me to feel more confident?
This is a fantastic question. We want you to finish every class with some feeling of accomplishment, but to really notice a difference, you need to stick with it for an extended period of time. Within 3 or 4 months of regular training, you will notice the improvements: improved fitness, greater confidence, and a well-practiced set of essential self-defence skills. We have a Beginner’s Pathway that maps out and tracks your progress over the first few months of your training, all the way to readiness for your first grading, where your aptitude in the self-defence basics are put to the test. Completing the pathway is the decisive marker that you have grown beyond your starting point - all you need to do is take the first step, and commit to the path!
Are you ready to take the next step and arrange a trial session…?