Getting yourself to class is sometimes straightforward; sometimes it takes effort and a little forward-planning. Here are some tips to ensure you’re getting the most out of your Saint Fury Krav Maga experience.
1) Preparation
Plan your week; how many sessions you are going to attend and where they are located. Make sure your kit is sorted beforehand. Have a kit bag that you can interchange clothes and towel for classes while everything is in one place and bits and pieces won’t be forgotten. It takes dedicated and brave souls to train without their groin guard!
2) Nutrition and Wellbeing
Training to be a confident, technically proficient badass takes good fuel. Training on an empty stomach isn’t advised, neither is a double kebab with a side of burgers a good idea. No need to be a dietary monk all the time but plenty of hydration before and after class is key, as well as a solid healthy diet that helps support your stamina and muscles before, during and after.
Sleep: Stay rested. This isn’t just a general tip for your psychological welfare but it helps your focus, attentiveness in class and when learning new information its retention. Focusing will help you and your training partners avoid injury.
It goes without saying that when on the street if you’re less focused on your environment you become an easier target if Zzz are coming out of your head.
3) Warm-up
Every class or seminar will include a warm up and cool down. Don’t just sit or stand but ensure you partake making sure your muscles are suitably warm. This makes it easier to elongate and strengthen muscles so you can train more efficiently without getting injured. This is particularly needed during the arctic winter why-did-I-leave-my-bed months.
4) Drills
You’ll be presented with various drills and scenarios when training. You will repeat these. Try and focus on real world situations or imagine when you would use the techniques or when someone else would: your walk home from work, your local pub or even on public transport. These techniques will be made manifest not in a dojo or gym but in places you frequent.
Try not to only focus on the pad or melon you’re striking but imagine different targets, imagine your limbs making contact with them, imagine leaving the scenario safely with your loved ones. Visualisation is a key part of developing your muscle memory and response times.
5) Learning environment
Try and attend different classes or workshops. Each class is different with different people and different instructors. Additionally outdoor seminars or workshops immediately changes your mindset and the ways you apply your knowledge.
6) Predictability - Dodge the comfort zone!
If you find yourself repeating a common counterattack, tactic or strike combination – try something different! Don’t always rely on the same things, as this may not happen under stressful conditions. Try and stay dynamic, focused and unpredictable. (This is a key sparring tip that helps both you and your partner practice techniques and adaptability under stress.)
A general training tip is to not get too comfortable with an exercise or drill. Challenge your body by adding stress or changing the scenario. Growth comes via the challenge.
7) Sparring
Normally for more advanced participants. Stay calm and unemotional. If you get hit, it’s not necessarily the best tactic to try and ‘avenge’ by hitting back immediately, as this may leave you open to more damage.
As said above, this is an opportunity to practice techniques a little harder and faster dependent on the setup and to also learn from your partners. Speed usually tops power, try and be fast and accurate continually seeking new targets, continually trying to apply what you've learned in the class.
8) Notebook
There’s no harm in making notes during or after the class. This helps you recap and review for your own training development and to know what you’ve covered (also if preparing for a grading or a bout). Training isn’t just what happens in class. Thinking over techniques and scenarios when out in the world is fully part of it. Thinking over class notes combined with relaxation is meditative and beneficial for your overall Saint Fury Krav Maga experience.
9) Push yourself
You don’t have to go into apocalypse mode during the warm-up but leaving your comfort zone and pushing yourself will help your body and mind under stress and your overall development. The person that can only do 1 push-up but is striving to do 2 has more of the right attitude than the person that can do 10 and always does 10 without the grit to do more.
10) Be kind, have fun!
Look after your training partners! If paired with someone that isn’t as powerful, no need to Mike Tyson them during the warm-up. Conversely if you want your partner to go a little harder, there’s no harm in talking to them and saying so. All should be learning and avoiding unnecessary injuries.
There’s a lot to learn from play and a relaxed attitude. When the time comes for the stress response that’s when the tempo goes up.
***
Saint Fury is based out of Hackney and operates across the Greater London area.
Krav Maga self defence, kickboxing, fitness and mental health coaching for the individual or company are offered.
We pride ourselves on bespoke, holistic training that fortifies the mind and body, relieves stress promotes fun, safe and engaging activity.
Further reading: