The Sessions

1:1 dynamic Women’s Self Defence sessions in Hampstead, Hampstead Heath, NW3, general London areas or home incorporating Krav Maga techniques, boxing and ground drills teaching fighting skills and improving confidence, technique and stamina.

Sessions incorporate training methods to build a fighting spirit and to train students how to respond both mentally and physically when under attack eliminating the danger of “freezing” or “shutting down”.

Nicholas Polo runs Corporate Self Defence Workshops for London based organisations. The workshops cover aspects like awareness, de-escalation, speed of response, techniques and explosiveness. The sessions include light physical activity for participants to get a feel of basic striking.

Nicholas Polo also provides coaching to Security and Close Protection Operatives with jobs that require the protection of principals including business leaders, high-net-worth individuals, celebrities and high-profile public figures and families.

For Corporate Self Defence Workshops please email train@nicholaspolo.com

• Awareness

• De-escalations

• Defences

• Counterattacks

• One to One Sessions

• Corporate Workshops

• School Workshops

Why Combat

Nothing prepares you better for combat than combat itself. The idea of the training is to keep the sessions dynamic and to gradually provide a good physical and mental understanding of what a real threat or attack might feel like.

Krav Maga is a self defence system which is about developing confidence and skills not only to defend but also to counterattack and gain the mindset of a fighter rather than feel like a victim.

Krav Maga is used to train everyday people to become proficient in hand-to-hand combat in a short period. The system comes from a military mindset that is all about survival. It’s not a choreography like other martial arts. It’s about making quick and effective strikes when there is simply no time for fancy movements.

Nicholas Polo’s students are taught techniques on how to defend themselves against common chokes, grabs, bear hugs, hair pulls and other attacks often used by larger, stronger aggressors. Teaching includes dealing with sticks, knives and firearms threats and attacks. Sessions also include boxing, ground fighting drills and grappling to build endurance and technique on the ground.

Self Defence vs Martial Arts

Self-Defence is not a competitive sport neither a choreography. It’s a group of techniques to use to protect yourself from an imminent danger and escape quickly and as unharmed as possible. And this is why it involves more that what most people think.

1. No Rules: Martial arts and Combat sports have rules. Even MMA does. Boxing, for example, is a sport where you use your arms to hit your opponent. You could be a good boxer but are you technically equipped to avoid a kick or a takedown? In real-life situations, there are no rules when someone physically attacks you with the intent to hit, rape or kill you. Some countries may have laws which prohibit the use of excessive force to defend yourself. My view however is that if someone breaks into my house and my child is in clear danger it all goes and I’ll have to deal with the law afterwards!

2. Multiple Attackers: While most Martial Arts and Combat Sports are based on one-to-one fighting, in a self-defence scenario you may encounter multiple attackers. Trying to BJJ your way out of such a situation would not be practical or feasible. Self-defence systems like Krav Maga teach how to scan your surroundings for multiple attackers, make sure when you are dealing with one attacker, his friends don’t suddenly show up behind you and how to physically put up a fight with more than one person at the same time and still manage to escape.

3. Weapons: When looking at statistics, a good number of attacks these days involve weapons like sticks, knives and firearms. Self-defence teaches you how to deal with weapons in both a threat and an attack situation.

Kids Self Defence

Teaching kids self defence is slightly different as there are certain moves which someone of much smaller size and strength might not be able to apply. So although showing a range of techniques might not work at a very young age it might still hold some benefit going over them. Kids will be able to adopt these moves easier as they get older.

Kids self defence Krav Maga sessions in Hampstead and central London are all 1:1 and they mainly concentrate in teaching techniques more suitable to youngsters. The teaching emphasises in practicing awareness, using kicks, hammers, screaming, running, asking for help and other tools that can lead to safety. Teaching often engages parents and going over tips or family code words which can be used in case of abduction attempts, etc.

Security and Close Protection Training

Nicholas Polo provides training to Security and Close Protection operatives who primarily devote their time looking after the safety of principals when at home, office, events or on the move. While most people regard self-defence training as the learning of techniques to protect themselves from an attack, training security officers also emphasises on the protection of others. Elements like awareness, building confidence, and coordination among officers in preventing but also defusing a threat to their principals play a huge role in their work. You simply can’t run away leaving your principal exposed to someone who is running at him with a knife!

Security and Close Protection training is offered in Hampstead and general London areas and it mostly takes place outdoors to replicate real-life scenarios.

Corporate Self Defence Workshops and Classes

A increasing number of corporate organisation host women’s self defence workshops for their employees. Companies are recognizing the benefits of self-defence training for their staff including improved confidence, stress management, personal safety skills, and team building. Nicholas Polo has been providing corporate women’s self defence and Krav Mage workshops for various London based organisations.

As an example, London’s private Cleveland Clinic women’s self defence workshop was attended by 45 female doctors and practitioners. The first part of the workshop covered awareness, de-escalation, technique and physical explosiveness. Focus was given on today’s increasing safety threats (people under the influence of drugs or mental health conditions), and review of real examples of staking, use of spy glasses in places like gym, etc. random knife attacks, etc. The second part of the workshop included light physical practice of certain moves like knee strikes, elbow strikes and kicks.

A very special thanks to my friend and student Nicole who assisted me in demonstrating in action some advanced standing and also ground defending moves to give the participants a feel of what could take place in a real life scenario.

Stalking: More common than thought

According to Safe Horizon, approximately 15% of women and 6% of men in the US have experienced stalking at some point in their lives. Young people are at an increased risk, with over 50% of female stalking survivors and over 30% of male stalking survivors first stalked before age 25.

it is therefore not surprising that a large number of clients who come to Nicholas Polo for Krav Maga and general self defence training have experienced stalking or know someone close to them who has. Stalking is illegal, a crime and must be taken seriously.

The combat based self-defence sessions aims to empower individuals with the skills and confidence to protect themselves in threatening situations. The sessions incorporate physical techniques to deter or escape from an attacker, situational awareness to identify and avoid potential threats, and psychological strategies to manage fear and stress helping to reclaim a sense of security and independence in daily life.

A very special testimonial

My name is Kate Guna Kulniece, a journalist at The Sun and one of Nicholas' former gym friends in Camden.

Back in October I bravely waived my anonymity and shared a first-piece piece about how I had been sexually assaulted at the age of 13 and then again, ten years later, at the age of 23 by a man I had gone on a date with.

The story, which was published on our site, gained huge attention and amongst those who'd read the harrowing events was also Nicholas.

Nicholas and I know each other from a few years ago when I first joined PureGym in Camden and he was training there, and we both were following each other on Instagram - where I also shared a link to the article on my Instagram Stories.

The response was something I'll forever be grateful for, with so many of my friends and acquaintances bravely sharing their own horrific and traumatising experiences with sexual assault and rape.

However, Nicholas' response was something that touched my, and my family's, heart. He reached out to me, offering me his self-defence classes, free of charge. He's been ever so kindly teaching me to defend myself once a week for over a while now and no amount of ''thanks'' will ever be enough to express mine and my parents' gratitude.

Thanks for the feedback!

Alla Ouvarova

CEO, Two Chicks

Nicholas is an amazing coach, and his combat self defence training is literally the best! This is the only training where both my body and my brain get recharged and are fully engaged in the combat, making me forget everything else.

Nicole Couzens

Lawyer

Nicholas is an amazing women’s self defence combat trainer who is very knowledgeable, always energetic and teaches you something new each time. The sessions are tough but fun, and they really help to develop your strength, stamina, and confidence. Not only do you learn how to defend yourself but also to fight back and get the upper hand if ever needed too. A must for all females!

Mercedes Villagran

Personal Trainer & BOXING COACH

An amazing well detailed session learning the basics of Krav Maga and self defence. My boxing background has helped with the punches but was great to learn the power of my hips and legs.
Definitely feeling more confident and safe from the first session!

Nicholas Polo, MSc

• Instructor Member of The British Combat Association

• Krav Maga trained at the Institute of Krav Maga UK

• Boxing Padwork Certified

• Author of “7 Best Exercises to Lower your Cholesterol”

• Articles at Men’s Health, Women’s Health, MailOnline

• Health and Fitness Product Testing Panelist for Hearst

• Member of One Heart Clinic, Harley Street

• Collaborations with Harley Therapy, Harley Street

• Self Defence Workshops volunteering for EGA girls school