Trying Krav Maga for the first time can seem intimidating, especially when you see long-time Krav Maga students on the mat. Their mastery and understanding of the self-defense system makes every move powerful and lethal. If you’re excited to dive in, here’s helpful advice to help you make the most of your sessions.
Get the Movements Right
Don’t try to speed through the movements. Many first-time students try the exercises, expecting to move like the old-timers. But if you’ve recently enrolled in Krav Maga classes in New York City, your body needs time to get used to the stances. It takes time, so start slow. Rushing won’t work if you don’t refine and master the moves first.
Learn and Understand the Principles
Understand the spirit of the discipline before signing up for Krav Maga classes in New York City. Some mistakenly believe it’s a form of martial arts, but that isn’t the case. It’s a self-defense system built for survival. What’s the difference, you ask? Martial art forms tend to have a belief structure beyond self-defense. For Krav Maga, though, that is its sole focus. Understanding that will help you move forward with the right mindset as you attend sessions.
Know Your Why
People love Krav Maga for different reasons. Some use it as an exercise program to stay fit and healthy. Others think it’s fun and love the challenge of learning the techniques. And you might have signed up for it, thinking it’s an excellent idea to learn self-defense. Knowing your reasons for attending the classes helps improve your motivation. There are days when you wake up like you’re ready to conquer the world. And then, there are days when you want nothing more than to crawl back into bed. When your motivation is low, knowing your why can help you get yourself out of bed and back in your classes.
Be Ready for Bruises
Your strength and endurance will improve once you join Krav Maga classes in New York City. But you’ll also start getting more and more bruises. No worries. That’s what happens when you practice with other students. Even with a padded floor or mat, falling and executing the stances often means bruises on your arms, legs, and knees. That brings us to the following advice on this list.
Invest in Protective Gear
Do you have bruised knees after every session? Get knee pads. You’ll find them tremendously helpful, especially in performing the stances. Some also use ankle pads to support their ankles and prevent them from twisting their ankle when they kick or strike. Some also put on shin guards or pads to protect against kicks. Wrist guards can also help. It might seem funny to walk around with numerous pads, but as a beginner, you’ll be thankful for your gear. Once you get used to the techniques, you’ll find it easier to move without the gear.
Consistency Works
You’ll continuously improve with every session. By attending your classes, you build muscle memory. It might not seem possible right now, given how much you struggle with the stances. But with enough practice, your body will learn those movements by heart. Doing the exercises a few times a week outside your classes will help your body and mind retain the information faster. It won’t be long before you do those stances with your eyes closed.
Be Part of the Team
The best thing about attending Krav Maga sessions is the community. Being part of a group helps you improve faster. You have someone to talk to about your issues. You can ask them for advice on how to get through a stance if you can’t seem to perfect the movement. You have people to help you. And that works both ways. When you’ve learned enough, you can share some of your experiences when newbies come in.
Physical Improvement
Once you start practicing Krav Maga, you’ll see the effects in other aspects of your life. The sessions build stamina and strength. That’s probably one of the reasons why you can now stand longer sessions. It’s not strange for many rookies to finish their first classes exhausted and sweaty. But as your body learns to adapt, you’ll notice that the routines don’t make you sweat as much now. You don’t struggle as much, too. You might even have perfected the move or understood it enough to put a spin on it.
Socialization
There’s something relaxing about going out to lunch or dinner with your classmates after a satisfying session. Since the classes attract diverse people, you can meet people you might not have met otherwise. That could be the start of great friendships and relationships. You might befriend someone twice as young or old as you. If you want a bit of socialization, this is an excellent activity to add to your schedule.
