5 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A KRAV MAGA Orlando SELF DEFENSE school
PERSPECTIVE FROM A BOARD CERTIFIED THREAT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST AND ISRAELI CQB KRAV MAGA INSTRUCTOR ON HOW TO FIND A LEGITIMATE SELF DEFENSE SCHOOL ORLANDO.
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT FOR A SELF DEFENSE CLASS CAN BE DIFFICULT.
At Shaan Saar Krav Maga, we aim to simplify the process of choosing a self defense facility and instructor. We understand that researching various martial arts styles and self defense programs can be time-consuming. That's why we provide clear and transparent information to help you make an informed decision. In this blog post, Chief Instructor, Gabriel Mora provides guidance on selecting a Krav Maga instructor, self defense classes Orlando, and choosing a Krav Maga training center.
1. ARE THEY JUST TEACHING MARTIAL ARTS and calling self defense, OR ARE FACILITY INSTRUCTORS ISRAELI TRAINED WITH CURRENT IDF AND ISRAELI CQB PROTOCOLS?
It can be challenging to find a facility that offers authentic Krav Maga self-defense classes. This is because many American Krav Maga facilities are commercialized and do not have affiliations with current Israeli operatives or high-level units of the Israel Defense Forces. As a result, you may not receive training on the latest protocols of Israeli Krav Maga. Rather, chances are you while American facilities are under large commercial organizations the founder may be Israeli and trained in the IDF, but the thousands of instructors or school owners underneath the banner are multiple times removed from the founder and not routinely trained under counter terror specialists in Israel on a routine basis.
Further, the majority of these instructors work as part time instructors with backgrounds in martial arts versus working in professional threat management, licensed professional protection, CQB, or criminal behavior analysis. At Shaan Saar Krav Maga our instructors are professional threat management specialists who work in the field of criminal behavior and protection. Practicing the most current up to date concepts in self defense is something our instructors lives and clients lives depend on.
In fact, our family has over 70+ years in professional protection with military, law enforcement, and highest security facilities in the world. While you are shopping self defense schools be sure ask what the instructors do for a living, how extensive their training, licensing, and education is, whether or not they hold security clearances / background checks, and how frequently they receive recurrent training.
Consider the following.
Your life could depend on it.
Do not assume that because the owner of their self defense school or martial arts facility trained under someone once removed from Imi Lichtenfeld that they are qualified to teach a skill set that can ultimately be responsible for the safety, life, and well being of you and your loved ones. Qualified instructors and professional protectors do not complacently rest on the laurels of their predecessors.
Shaan Saar Krav Maga is the gold standard in Orlando for self defense, referred to for Evidence Based Self Defense and Trauma Informed Self Defense by clinical psychologists and law enforcement. We provide the most up to date Krav Maga self defense classes. Our defensive tactics self defense concepts come directly from counter terror units. To us safety and self defense is more than a hobby; it is a family business and each of us works in professional protection capacity outside of teaching self defense classes Orlando.
2. DO THEY TEACH KRAV MAGA AS A MILITARY APPLICATION OR AS A MARTIAL ART?
Yes, there is a difference and the instructor you speak with in your first meeting should know it. Krav Maga has not, and was never intended to function as most martial arts, or any martial art for that matter. However, when Imi Lichtenfeld, credited for creating Krav Maga, retired from the Israeli security forces in 1964 he modified the military application of Krav Maga Self Defense to fit the needs of Israeli LEO and civilians.
Imi, having a background in martial arts decided it was best to give civilians to a way of measuring progress and achievement, thereby adapting the Japanese belt ranking system. Prior to this there was no division between military, LEO, or civilian Krav Maga classes. Krav Maga was simply defensive tactics or close quarters combatives used for practical survival purposes during wartime.
The Israeli military continued the idea of updating and adapting as they faced new and challenging threats from terrorist threats. Today combat training in Israel incorporates a variety of defensive tactics, self defense concepts that are used in knife attacks, kidnappings, and other egregious attacks.
The Ugliest Secret In Martial Arts
In America today we see many belt systems in Krav Maga, some that have adopted a rainbow of belts, like those we see in Tae Kwon Do schools, some further putting an even more commercialized spin on the ranks with camo or Pinktober belts. Students are usually charged an additional belt fee for every advanced and instructors are encouraged to ensure the students pass regardless of competency in order to keep students in the program. This concept of measured advancement with belt colors is a financially lucrative token economy for martial arts school owners and serves positive peer pressure, but does nothing to ensure students have a true competency in identifying, defending from, or successfully navigating the aftermath of violence.
I love martial arts. I am a lifetime practitioner with a 3rd dan blackbelt among other high level belts. But, martial arts is not the same as threat management and does not address the timeline of violence. If it were the rates of violence would decrease as the number of martial arts schools continues to rise. And we would not have created a Trauma Informed Self Defense™ program for survivors of violent crime and domestic violence; many of whom have practiced martial arts since childhood.
The reality is that a stranger who engages you in conflict will not know or care what color of belt you wear. And belt colors, even a black belt, for children will not stand a chance against an adult who is larger, stronger, a skilled manipulator, or armed with a weapon.
A BLACK BELT IS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT ONE WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES WHEN THE SITUATION CALLS FOR IT.
One of the most worrisome things that we see as professional protectors and victims advocates is high belt ranking practitioners like Taylor "The Terror" Guerra, may her memory forever be a blessing), who was killed in a domestic violence incident. Sport training and recreational martial arts teaches to a specific system, does not educate thoroughly or adequately teach counter measures with weapon retention / defense such as knife attacks or gun threats.
3. IS THERE GATEKEEPING OF INFORMATION BASED ON THE COST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP?
Self defense classes and educators truly invested in the well being of their students and ability to learn a skill set should not gate keep information or divide classes into basic, intermediate, advance, black belt training/club, elite club/training, premier club/training, or anything else. If a self defense school is teaching very sophisticated techniques, moves, principles then psychologically speaking, we have to ask, how effective could they be when one actually needs to defend themselves?
Let's unpack that statement.
During conflict gross motor skills dramatically diminish, the body is flooded with a cascade of neurotransmitters and hormones; all those fancy techniques will take a back seat to the human autonomic stress response.
Self defense should not be complicated or require someone to have a basic class before an advanced class. Keep in mind personal safety and personal protection is not a sport and should be something that everyone is capable of learning. If it is too difficult to learn, requires several years before one can be proficient, then it is not self defense, it is a sport or combat fitness; with a commercial agenda.
And it serves to gate keep self defense.
I don't need to tell you that there is a lot of shiny object syndrome going on these martial arts schools selling commercial Krav Maga training. But Krav Maga has become incredibly popular in the US, especially as we see an increase in bullying, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Panicked individuals are frequently roped into contracts that last years and do little to teach one to actually avoid physical confrontation, let alone identify, or self advocate post incident.
4. DOES THE VIBE OF THE TRIBE FIT YOU?
FINDING YOUR HOME WITH SHAAN SAAR KRAV MAGA ORLANDO
FINDING THE RIGHT GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS TO SUPPORT YOUR LEARNING CAN BE DIFFICULT.
The instructor is the leader of tribe and will set the tone. Whether it is to intimidate new members or newcomers or be warm and welcoming, leadership is crucial. If the feelings you get after meeting the instructor or director feels at all off, then you owe it to yourself to continue exploring. It's the first thing any threat management professional or protector will tell you. Rest assured, that if you are uncomfortable in your first Krav Maga course, chances are it will continue to improve.
Self defense classes Orlando should be led in a realistic manner but have a positive tone. Being motivated to learn based on fear will only reinforce or create hyper-vigilance. Rather, self defense class should feel as though they are an insurance policy, that IF something were to happen, you would be prepared; never from the perspective of WHEN something horrific happens.
Sadly, this is all too frequently the way women's self defense and self defense for teens is sol
If it does not feel like a community where everyone would rather see you succeed than get injured, then you owe it to yourself to find another that one does. Our Evidence Based Self Defense Krav Maga Orlando tribe is known for a community, family oriented dynamic with welcoming members, supportive of each other’s learning.
Shaan Saar Krav Maga encourages students to build mental fortitude and despite the aggressive and brutal nature our discipline is known for fostering community through meet ups, 24/7 peer support with access to our private online server, and building lasting connections.
5. ARE NEW PEOPLE IN YOUR SELF DEFENSE CLASSES VIEWED AS PUNCHING BAGS OR MADE TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO BE INITIATED?
I have a personal pet peeve regarding a common practice in Krav Maga classes, martial art classes, and the combat sport world. This practice detracts from the purpose of these classes, which is to teach people personal threat management and boost their confidence. It gives the discipline a negative reputation that is not deserved.
What's the pet peeve?
It is not acceptable for new students to a self defense class to be treated as punching bags, undervalued, or easily replaceable. I've heard stories of senior students injuring newcomers during their first class, subjecting them to initiation, or making them feel like they're going through a hazing ritual. Such incidents should never happen in a facility that prioritizes personal safety. Teaching self defense skills is a responsibility and preventing injury anywhere is the objective! While it's common to feel intimidated before stepping into a full contact activity, mistreatment should never be tolerated and no one should feel like someone has it out for them.
The instructor should create a welcoming and supportive environment in class for you to feel confident and safe. Making jokes about targeting new students is unprofessional, especially for those who are new to self defense. It's always advisable to call ahead and ask about the program's policies and procedures before attending a class or committing to training.
