Do you need to be fit to start Krav Maga?
Not Really
The short answer is no. Thinking you need to be fit to start Krav Maga, is like thinking you need to be a professional chef to boil water. Krav Maga is a self-defence system that is accessible to people of all fitness levels, making it an ideal choice for those who may feel intimidated by the idea of starting combat training.
Krav Maga - Elbow Strike
Training at Your Own Pace
One of the most significant aspects of Krav Maga is that it allows individuals to train at their own pace. This means that regardless of your current fitness level, you can progress gradually in a way that feels comfortable to you. A lot of times this is easier in a 1:1 session, equally however, class instructors are trained to accommodate various abilities, levels of fitness and mental confidence ensuring that everyone can participate and improve over time regardless of their starting fitness level.
Krav Maga training will not have you hit 100 push-ups or do endless burpees. Of course it helps if you are strong and fit. But instructors know that not everyone can sprint like a gazelle. Being able to train at your own pace (or lack of), means that if you need to take a breather after a round of “how to escape from a mount”, that’s perfectly fine. At the end of the day, a brown belt with a six pack isn’t going to be better than a brown belt without it!
Self-Defence is not Choreography
Unlike some martial arts that require you to memorize intricate moves that look like they belong in a West End show, Krav Maga is all about practical movements. You don’t need to be fit to learn how to defend yourself against an attacker. The techniques are straightforward, and they focus on using your natural instincts. So, if you can flap your arms and scream your head off “Get out of my face” you could be halfway there!
The Krav Maga Community
When you step into a Krav Maga class, you’ll find a community that’s very supportive. Classmates cheer and help each other to master the art of the Technical Stand-up or the elbow strike. Nobody cares if you can’t do a single pull-up!
Above all. Let’s face it
At the end of the day if you’re waiting until you’re fit to start Krav Maga, you might be waiting forever. We all know that the best time to start something was 10 years ago while the next best is now. An attack may not wait another 10 years to happen for you to be running triathlons!