Krav Maga Self Defence & Fitness Training Free guide to beginning Krav Maga

Krav Maga Self Defence & Fitness Training Free guide to beginning Krav Maga

Contents 1 - Introduction 2 - What is Krav Maga? 2.1 - Is Krav Maga right for me? 2.2 - What s it all about and what will you learn and achieve? 3 - The Fitness Side 3.1 - Why is Krav Maga good for fitness? 3.2 - You set the pace 4 - The Krav Maga Grading System 5 - History of the system 5.1 - The founder of Krav Maga: Imi Lichtenfeld 5.2 - The first generation: Eyal Yanilov 6 - Testimonials 7 - Conclusion 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 9 10 11 13 2

Introduction Hi, I m John Miller and I m the head coach at IKMS Krav Maga Self Defence and Fitness. Thank you for requesting your personal Free Introductory Guide to get started in Krav Maga. I m pleased you are interested in starting Krav Maga self defence and Fitness training and I m totally sure your personal guide will give you all the information you need, and provide you with that little nudge to get you started on your amazing journey in Krav Maga Self Defence and Fitness with IKMS. 3

What is Krav Maga? Krav Maga is a modern, effective and realistic system of Self Defence and Fitness that was developed in Israel in 1940 s. It is based on your body s instinctive, natural reactions. It builds on them, teaches you to accept and manage them rather than try and change them. Why would you want to change them anyway? They work! But, more importantly, Krav Maga allows you and everyone who trains with IKMS to: - Get fit - Stay safe - Be in the best shape of life! So, let s start with what s important to you right now. Is Krav Maga right for me? Browse any Krav Maga website or ad for a Krav Maga class and you ll probably come across a phrase that is widely known and used in Krav Maga circles, Krav Maga is for everyone!. I know what they mean when the say it: they are trying to convey the idea that things like age, ability, fitness, sex, and previous experience are not really important. However, personally I think that this is not enough. Why? Well, I believe Krav Maga is for you if you want to achieve any or all of the following: 1. Improve your self confidence in the ability to make good decisions. 2. Learn effective Self Defence skills to protect you and loved ones 3. Improve your health and fitness and be in the best shape of your life 4. Improve your ability to manage stress effectively 4

What is Krav Maga? What s it all about and what will you learn and achieve? Krav Maga is all about you getting fitter and stronger while learning practical self defence skills to protect you and your loved ones. You ll learn a variety of self defence techniques that are based on a set of core principles. You ll learn to use the techniques in every situation you can imagine. You ll train from standing, sitting, from being on the ground, while protecting a loved one, and many more. All the skills you ll learn are relevant to your everyday life. The training methods used in Krav Maga are unique. I believe that s what makes Krav Maga very special: the simple, goal orientated, structured approach makes learning efficient and, equally important, fun! Learning these awesome new skills will give you more confidence in your ability to deal with any potential conflict situations. However, that s not all. In general everyday life you ll see a difference in your confidence levels and your stress levels, and you ll be better equipped to manage both, coping better with the ever increasing demands of modern life. I m so confident that training in Krav Maga Self Defence and Fitness with IKMS will get you the results you want, that I guarantee after 12 weeks of regular consistent training you ll feel fitter, more confident, and will have learned some new and practical self defence skills to keep you and your loved ones safe. I know that s quite a statement, however I passionately believe in what we teach and know that it will provide you with life changing skills and start you on an amazing journey. 5

The Fitness Side A significant part of what we do in IKMS Krav Maga Self defence and Fitness training focuses on ways to make you fitter, stronger, more flexible, and generally healthier. The main reason is fairly obvious: the better shape you are in and the better prepared you are physically to carry out the techniques we train in, the better the chance you ll be able to pull them off should you ever need to. Think of a boxer or MMA fighter: you won t normally see a professional fighter who s not in shape stepping into the ring/cage! They train specifically for the requirements of their chosen sport. They are fit. What does that actually mean? What is fitness? Fitness really is subjective. For example, compare a marathon runner s physique to a 100m sprinter s one. Both are fit, but they have developed very different types of fitness through carefully selected skill specific training. The marathon runner needs endurance and stamina, while the sprinter needs power and explosiveness. Why is Krav Maga good for fitness? In Krav Maga training with IKMS we work on preparing you to be able to cope physically with the demands of a real life confrontation or violent situation. You will get fit and lose weight with regular training in Krav Maga (your diet plays a big part too, and we can advise on that), you ll develop the fitness required to achieve your goals. So, the excuse we here every week of I ll get a little fitter first, then I ll begin Krav Maga really is just that, an excuse! You ll get fitter and healthier in no time with IKMS (remember my 12 week Guarantee?) and the best part is you ll have a ball doing so and learn valuable new life skills. 6

The Fitness Side You set the pace Thankfully, we are all different. It d be a boring world indeed if that were not the case! We learn in different ways and at different rates. This applies especially with physical skills required in disciplines like Krav Maga. We are all different in age, height, weight, flexibility, strength, fitness and confidence levels. All theses factors and our preferred learning styles all influence how quickly we develop new skills. Training in Krav Maga, you set the pace, you learn at the rate best suited to you. The IKMS team is passionate about this. Helping you achieve your goals in the way you prefer is what makes us stand out. From the very first time we meet you (actually before we even meet in the gym) we are learning all we can about your goals, your preferences, your learning styles, and how we can help you. 7

The Krav Maga Grading System Practitioner (1-5) The Practitioner Levels of Krav Maga are the core of the system. You ll learn how to defend against the most common attacks, as well as building on your fighting skills and learning how to avoid a situation or what to do after a confrontation. Training also improves fitness, strength, flexibility and mental determination. Graduate (1-5) You are eligible to move into the Graduate program 6 months after completing your P5 grade. More advanced skills are taught at G level, including dealing with more complicated situations. You are expected to have a full understanding of all the P grades and continue to keep those skills at a high level whilst you progress through the Graduate program. Expert (1-5) Expert Grades are held by very experienced instructors who have a complete understanding of Krav Maga, after passing the coveted Expert Test. E Levels are normally also qualified to teach in more specialist areas such as the Military, Law Enforcement or Security Sector. You can take your Expert Level exam in Israel 1 year after passing your Graduate Level 5. 8

History of the system The founder of Krav Maga: Imi Lichtenfeld Imi Lichtenfeld was born into a Hungarian Jewish family and grew up in Bratislava. His father was a Chief Inspector in the police force and owned a gymnasium where he taught self-defence. As a young man, Imi was a successful boxer and wrestler. In the 1930 s, riots threatened the Jewish population of Bratislava. Imi helped to defend his Jewish community against gangs and realised that sport had little in common with real combat, and began developing a system of practical self-defence for life threatening situations. In 1940 Imi left his homeland to serve in the Czech Legion and then settled in Israel. Israel s leaders immediately recognised Imi s fighting skills and he began to train Israel s first fighting units in military close quarters combat. This training included fighting, fitness, sentry removal and any other military-oriented problems that required a creative solution. He became the Chief Instructor of Physical Training in the Israel Defence Forces and it was during this time that his system became known as Krav Maga. 9

History of the system The first generation: Eyal Yanilov Eyal Yanilov began practicing Krav Maga in 1974, at the age of 15, under the personal tutelage of the system s founder, Imi Sde-Or. Eyal eventually became the Grandmaster s closest student and assistant. He is the only individual to whom Imi personally awarded both the Founder s Diploma of Excellence and the then-unprecedented rank of Expert Level 8 the highest rank in Krav Maga. Together, Imi and Eyal wrote a series of books laying out the principles of the Krav Maga system in an accessible format, aimed at the civilian sector. Soon after, as head of the Israeli Krav Maga Association s professional committee, Eyal created a new curriculum for Krav Maga, and transformed it into an organized, formal system built on principles of action and unique instructional methods. Alongside efforts to spread the discipline of Krav Maga among the general public, Eyal was also training anti-terrorist units in Israel according to the principles of combat as expressed in Krav Maga. Eventually, Eyal travelled abroad and began to teach the system in many countries around the world. In the United States and Europe, Eyal taught Krav Maga to special military and law enforcement units, as well as to civilians. In order to manage the challenge of making Krav Maga truly international, Eyal founded an international federation and served as its president, under the tutelage and with the support of Grandmaster Imi. In practice, Eyal has personally trained most of the world s first generation Krav Maga instructors. 10

Testimonials Some of our members, whose stories tell about impressions, feelings and achievements they experienced since joining IKMS. I started training with IKMS in mid July of 2013. I needed a change in lifestyle and wanted to learn something effective as well as lose some weight. I weighed 125kg and couldn t do five press ups to save my life. With the help and support of the IKMS instructor team and the other club members, I learned about mental determination and how to push myself far beyond the limits that I thought I had. I am now 82kg, on my way to my current goal of Graduate level, have made loads of new friends, and have learned fighting techniques and tactics that have allowed me to protect someone who needed help on the street. Fitness, friends, and the ability to protect yourself and others. Sounds good, right? Go for it! - Jesse I started Krav Maga classes in Glasgow in January 2016. I had watched some youtube videos on self defence and was attracted by its practical, effective nature and gender inclusivity. The fact that it s a system based on technique rather than strength means that you don t feel out of place as a smaller person. During classes people of all levels get paired together and I have always found the more established members friendly and helpful. The instructors and class as a whole really couldn t be more welcoming. There s always a great sense of fun and it s always a pleasure to go to class, even if you do end up with some interesting bruises! - Orlagh 12

Testimonials I have joined many fitness clubs in my life but this is the only one that has given me the motivation to keep going back to classes, as I usually gave up after the first month of joining. The club has strong foundations, based on teacher and member commitment, on mutual support, equality and respect across all the members, independent of gender, age or ethnicity. As a young woman I understand how challenging it can be to join a club of one of the most dynamic self-defence forms. However, the classes are not a competition but a learning process through which you challenge your boundaries with constant support from the instructors. Within only a 3 month time period, I understood the impact that krav maga had on my mind and my body. Apart from the fitness aspect, which is obvious, Krav maga trained my mind not to be afraid of confrontation when needed, and for me this has been the most important element. - Hera Before I joined IKMS I had no previous experience of any sort in martial arts or selfdefence systems. Didn t know what to expect at first and I kept holding back from signing up because I wasn t sure I could keep up with everyone. Once I had my first session i was hooked! I was welcomed with open arms and all the instructors and members are really friendly and encouraging! Nobody makes you do more than what you re capable of, you do your best and keep pushing that little bit harder every session. I have learned so much a short space of time which has given me a lot more confidence, I highly recommend giving it a go. Now I m trying to convince my other half to sign up! - Kaleem 12

Conclusion The question nearly everyone asks me Krav Maga is a huge part of my life. It s my hobby, my livelihood, my passion, my kids train in it, my wife has trained in it, my friends train in it, so I spend a fair amount of time talking about it. By far, I keep getting asked this common question: How long will it take me to learn Krav Maga and get fit? You ll often see Krav Maga advertised online as easy to learn ; and it is, to a degree. What is meant by being easy to learn is that Krav Maga is based on the bodies natural instinctive reactions. It does not mean that coming to a few classes will make you jump around like Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher, or James Bond! Krav Maga is a series of skills and, like any new skill, it has to be acquired, practiced, practiced more, and practiced more again before competence and confidence are achieved. There are no short cuts: the only way to learn is to invest the time and effort with a well structured training plan that focuses on goals. That s exactly what we do at IKMS. So, the magic answer to the question? That depends completely on how much time and effort you dedicate to achieving your goal! I can guarantee that after 12 weeks of regular consistent training you ll feel fitter, more confident, and will have learned some new and practical self defence skills to keep you and your loved ones safe... However, if you d like to take me up on my guarantee, I d like you to agree that: 1. You want to learn Krav Maga for the right reasons, to learn valuable life skills and to get fitter and more confident in everything you do 2. You are a motivated and committed person who wants to learn with like minded people 3. You are prepared to invest your time, effort and a little money to achieve your training goals. Sound fair? If you agree with the above three statements, then you re probably ready to get started. The first step is easy: all you have to do is visit our website www.ikms.co.uk and book an induction at a time and place that suits. 13

Conclusion I hope you enjoyed reading this guide and it has given you the information you need to decide if Krav Maga Self Defence and Fitness Training with IKMS is for you. Getting started in something new and unfamiliar can be daunting, I know. I spend a fair bit of my time introducing new people to Krav Maga and almost always their apprehensions basically boil down to: Will I get hurt? Am I fit enough? And probably, most importantly Will I fit in? You will never feel intimidated or vulnerable at an IKMS class, we will not tolerate anyone who doesn t respect everyone. With regards to fitness, as previously said, you will get fitter, stronger and healthier in time. You ve got to start somewhere! As for fitting in? IKMS members are a special bunch. Our ego free club atmosphere really is contagious and unique. You ll be welcomed with open arms and will soon be part of a thriving Krav Maga community and have many new friends. Thank you for taking the time to read this guide and finding out about Krav Maga Self Defence and Fitness training with IKMS. See you soon on the training floor. Best wishes, John Miller IKMS founder 14