When I first started to train in martial arts, I was lost. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. When I look back, I know I made the right decision. Sticking with training was challenging yet rewarding. Consequently, I was able to progress faster than the average individual.
To assist you in training, I’ll include a list of tips I wish I knew when I began. That way, you’ll be able to have a realistic view of the journey ahead of you. The point of this article is to grant you perspective and give you a boost of motivation to start training.
- Don’t hesitate to begin training
- Don’t be scared to work hard
- Be open-minded
- Krav Maga increases confidence
- It’s a dynamic martial art
- Krav Maga is a fantastic exercise
- Krav Maga is a great way to socialize
- Be aggressive
- Eat healthily
- Stay consistent
- Don’t expect results at the beginning
Furthermore, knowing what benefits and positive results to expect from your training is crucial. Because of that, I wrote an article on that. Follow the link to read the ten valuable benefits of Krav Maga. (Backed by research)
1. Don’t hesitate to begin training
If you’re reading this and you haven’t started to train yet, what’re you waiting for exactly? There isn’t a single part of my body that’ll tell you otherwise.
Krav Maga requires you to stay consistent and work hard throughout your journey. If you do, I assure you you’ll notice results post the first session, such as better physical condition. However, you won’t gain anything if you don’t begin.
From personal experience, the beginning is the most demanding part. You’re in that ghost town phase. Thus you’ll work hard but notice no results. As a result, staying consistent is challenging but required.
I hadn’t noticed my confidence had risen until the end of my training, which is incredible. I worked out for 14 months, but I never took a step back to breathe.
When I first began my training, I didn’t have high-quality gear. Now, while that doesn’t affect the benefits you’ll gain from training, it makes a difference. Because of that, I highly encourage you to buy a punching bag for your home to ensure you’re progressing even while you’re at home. I recommend you buy this one by Everlast. (Amazon)
If there’s a single lesson I want you to take from this section is; you need to appreciate yourself and continue to work hard. As a result, you’ll notice the most benefits and your development throughout time. Because of that, I highly encourage you to begin training if you haven’t.
For the last time, if you’re reading this and haven’t started your martial arts journey yet, you don’t know what’s ahead of you. I’ve been through it, and I loved every single punch I sent. Because of that, you should be full of joy no matter your circumstances.
2. Don’t be scared to work hard
Working hard and seeing results go hand-in-hand. Because of that, many people feel hesitant or scared to begin their journey. They’re currently not in the mood.
Although Krav Maga’s training is challenging and intense, you shouldn’t be scared to work hard. You’ll notice the most results when investing your efforts in the workout. By doing that, you’ll fulfill yourself, which is the most crucial aspect of your journey.
I learned this the hard way. Working hard and investing effort into the things you love is fun. Thus putting your time and sweat into the Krav Maga training is wise. You’ll notice benefits naturally flowing your way if you follow this rule.
I’ll expand on that in one of the following sections, but Krav Maga is an intense workout. According to a study, you burn 616 calories per hour while doing it. If you’re familiar with the numbers, that’s up there. In comparison, you burn around 600 calories in an hour of running.
Hence we interpret that we’ll sweat in training. Now, should we be sorrowful for that? No. The opposite is true. We can be joyful that we’ll develop ourselves with the training. If you invest that effort, you’ll notice that you begin having desirable traits, such as confidence.
3. Be open-minded
If you ever attended a martial art class of any kind, you’ll know what I mean when I say you must be open-minded. Working out is fantastic. Going for a run is superb. Yet, Krav Maga’s training is different.
You’ll have an instructor that tells you what you need to do. He knows what he’s doing, and you don’t. Hence to expand your knowledge and train properly, listening to the instructor’s comments is wise.
Krav Maga training is different from the typical workouts we’re used to doing. As a result, you can’t expect it to be as uninteresting as lifting weights. Instead, it’ll be an intense workout that’ll better your physical condition; and build you like a more powerful character.
When entering your first session, listen to the instructor. Hopefully, he knows what he’s doing. That way, you can concentrate on working hard instead of meaningless other things.
When watching a YouTube video on a Krav Maga session, you may understand what I mean. Until you do hands-and-feet actions, you won’t comprehend the challenge; and the variety Krav Maga training offers the trainee.
4. Krav Maga increases confidence
Training in martial arts has altered experiences of control and vulnerability, self-esteem, self-concept, fitness, confidence, and relaxation. As a result, some researchers characterize martial arts practice as a form of self-help.
(Columbus & Rice, 1998).
Krav Maga training increases self-confidence and self-trust. You’ll learn you’re capable of overcoming various obstacles. Thus your confidence will gradually improve. As a result, one can expect to become independent and capable of countering dangerous situations by himself.
Additionally, self-confidence is a challenging trait to improve. Consequently, expecting it to increase after the first session is unrealistic. Again, from personal experience, I’ve noticed it after 14 months of training once a week.
Now, I’m not saying it’ll be the same for everyone. But, referring to my timeline to know what to expect is crucial for being consistent. If you work appropriately, you’ll notice results after a week. Heck, you may increase your self-confidence and self-trust after a few sessions.
5. It’s a dynamic martial art
Many martial arts are simple. For example, boxing is all about a few movements. Therefore, the trainee can learn the basics of it quickly. Yet, various fighting styles are unexpected and don’t hold similar rules and principles.
Krav Maga is dynamic. Because there isn’t a few movements it’s based on- it gets rather complicated. As a result, one who learns Krav Maga will know to adapt to various dangerous situations. For instance, when facing a knife attack, one will react differently than in a street fight.
Because of that, it’s highly effective for self-defense. In fact, it’s the best martial art for that purpose. Additionally, it’s fantastic for countering street fights and unexpected scenarios.
Furthermore, you’ll practice distinct risky situations in training. Therefore, your mind and muscles will be connected. As a result, you’ll react without thinking or hesitating when you face a self-defense situation, such as a sudden knife attack. Because of that, KM is a highly effective self-defense system.
6. Krav Maga is a fantastic exercise
According to a study conducted in April 2019, Krav Maga meets the ACSM guidelines for an exercise that can manage body weight. From that, we interpret that it’s a fantastic workout that may assist in losing body fat and gain muscle. (ACE)
I wrote two articles covering this topic. First, is Krav Maga a suitable way to get in shape? Secondly, does it build muscle? I highly encourage you to read them if you’re interested in this topic.
“. . . exercisers can expect a moderateto-vigorous intensity workout that teaches self-defense techniques while simultaneously providing a full-body workout.”
Dr.Parcari
On average, one will burn 616 calories in a Krav Maga session. If you train once a week, which is sufficient, it’ll assist you in reaching your fitness goal. Consequently, if you want to lose body fat, gain muscle, or get in shape, doing Krav Maga is a suitable way to reach these goals.
From personal experience, Krav Maga training has helped me tremendously improve my physical shape in no time. I was able to better my condition after the first lesson was over. I realized that when I woke up sore.
From the graph, we interpret that the intensity the trainees reached in training; is elevated. As a result, they were able to burn many calories. Next, they bettered their physical condition. That graph is another proof KM is a demanding workout.
7. Krav Maga is a great way to socialize
Today, many people have a challenging time finding ways to socialize. There are many reasons for that. One of the best ways to find others who share similar values to you is by training in martial arts.
Attending Krav Maga classes is a suitable way to socialize because you’ll get to know people who share similar values to you. As a result, you’ll have an easier time talking to them and training with them. Hence attending lessons, and not learning at home, which you can do, is better for social life.
People don’t usually attend these classes to socialize with others. Instead, they rather focus on investing effort in working on themselves. However, if you manage to share similar goals with others, you’ll have an easier time staying consistent.
Thus you’ll learn self-defense to a better degree, you’ll enjoy your time, and you’ll better your physical condition with ease. Consequently, there’s no going wrong with adding the social aspect to your Krav Maga
8. Be aggressive
At first, you’ll be in a bit of a shock because you’re not used to inflicting large amounts of physical force in your day. However, you’ll get used to it rather quickly.
Don’t worry about letting your aggressive side out. That way, you’ll be able to have more physical force to inflict on your opponent. Not only is it adequate for self-defense situations, but it’ll also develop a different side in your personality. Having the aggressiveness ready to unleash is a desirable trait in today’s world.
From personal experience, I’ve had a rough time inflicting large amounts of physical force. I was worried I was going to hurt someone in the process of it. What I didn’t know was it was an excuse. How could I unleash that side in me? Otherwise, people will judge me, and I’ll feel bad.
Yet, I wasn’t aware of my potential. Today, I know what I’m capable of doing. As a result, I’m not hesitant to unleash the aggressive side Krav Maga training built in me. If I want, I can disable anyone quickly. Thus the exercise assembled me as a more powerful character and allowed me to think more of myself.
I’m not suggesting you’ll be less calm. Not at all. I’m saying is whenever you need to inflict large amounts of force, don’t be scared or hesitant. That way, you’ll be able to self-develop yourself as a decisive, assertive person.
9. Eat healthy foods
I can’t stress how crucial it is to consume the right foods while training in martial arts. To build yourself and get into shape, you must ensure you eat properly. If you don’t, your body won’t recover appropriately, thus resulting in no improvement in physical condition.
Proper nutrition goes hand-in-hand with Krav Maga training. Because it’ll cause hypertrophy, ensuring you consume the appropriate foods for your fitness goal will provide progress. For instance, if one trains and doesn’t eat properly, he won’t notice any improvement in physical shape.
Because Krav Maga is an intense workout, you burn plenty of calories. Now, they’re the fuel of the body. Thus if you lose them and do not return a similar count, you won’t see any physical progress.
I’m no dietician. Because of that, I don’t want to spend further time on this topic. Next, I recommend you to check this article by Healthline on nutrition and its correlation to managing body weight.
10. Stay consistent
One of the most crucial aspects of seeing progress is staying consistent. When I talked about the ghost town phase earlier, it’s still relevant to this point.
You’ll invest that time, effort, and sweat into your training. The reasonable approach is to expect results. Now, while that may be true, you can’t be sure of that. Let me explain.
Krav Maga training requires plenty of effort, time, and potentially money. Because of that, expecting results to flow our way; is a reasonable request. At times, it may not be the case. Staying consistent and continuously working hard will guarantee you notice progress after some time.
I don’t have the magic number for you. I can’t predict how long it takes until you notice your body has changed. What I can say is with time, you’ll witness you’re changing.
From your physical attributes to your mental health, you’ll change. As a result, stay consistent. Keep your head up and enjoy the process. Self-development is challenging in the beginning. Once you harvest the fruits from the seeds you planted, you’re not going to look back.
11. Don’t expect results at the beginning
This point closely correlates with staying consistent. If you remain dedicated and continue to invest time and effort, you’ll see the results eventually. However, you can’t expect in the beginning to harvest the fruits from seeds that haven’t grown yet.
While training in Krav Maga is full of benefits, you can’t expect results when you begin. If you do, you’ll be disappointed if you don’t see them. As a result, you’ll end up losing motivation rather quickly. For instance, if I expect to be confident after a single session, I won’t stay consistent.
The fact is, you won’t go through significant changes in the first few weeks. As a result, if you lose motivation, you must stay consistent. Otherwise, you’ll lose all the potential benefits you get from martial arts training.
A study showed that martial arts impacted young males regarding their mental health. (I highly encourage you to follow the link to the research.) Now, if they were to quit, they wouldn’t have been able to change their life.
I’m sure they didn’t expect their lives to change after a few sessions. As a result, they were able to improve their lives gradually; by constantly showing up. Eventually, these young males improved their mental health by staying consistent. They did that by not expecting results immediately.
Is Krav Maga suitable for beginners?
Most martial arts are challenging to become decent at them. For instance, mastering Karate is one of the more demanding goals. Yet, when talking about distinct fighting styles, some are simple. Boxing, for example, is a simple one that becoming sound at isn’t as demanding as others.
Krav Maga is suitable for beginners because it’s a simple yet dynamic martial art. As a result, one can become decent at quickly than the average martial art. According to a study, trainees mastered a technique in a single lesson, thus implementing that Krav Maga is suitable for beginners.
Additionally, because of its dynamic nature, one can adapt to the techniques he wants to improve. Consequently, you’ll notice that you become sound at the ones you constantly practice.
Everyone can have a taste of whichever part they want to master. For instance, if I want to punch more powerfully, I’ll practice sending out punches. That way, I’ll improve quickly. That’s another reason why it’s suitable for beginners.
Do you have to be in shape for Krav Maga?
Exercising improves physical condition. Whether you prefer running, lifting weights, or street workouts, you’ll improve by doing one of them. When it comes to martial arts, training in them will highly benefit one’s shape. So, it’s odd to think that you need to have the effect of the workout itself.
Training in Krav Maga, and martial arts, doesn’t require you to be in shape. Because the effects of the activity itself are a better physical condition, you don’t need to possess it beforehand. Instead, one of the benefits the training has is getting in shape. Thus doing it will grant you that effect.
I wrote an article on whether martial arts is a suitable way to get in shape. If you’re unsure of the consequences of the training and are hesitant to begin working out, this article is for you.
Martial arts are insanely intense. I guarantee that post your first workout- you’ll be sore. That’s a sign that you worked hard. With proper nutrition, you’ll be able to better your physical condition appropriately.
Is learning Krav Maga hard?
If you have never been in a Krav Maga class, you may not understand how challenging a session is. If you did, you know the answer to that question. Overall, martial arts are intense. They work many muscle groups, thus burning more calories than the average activity.
Learning Krav Maga is challenging because the training is intense and demanding. As a result, being consistent with it takes dedication and willpower. Furthermore, the workout itself will continuously push your physical boundaries. Hence you’ll better your physical condition constantly.
When you begin noticing results, staying dedicated to the process is more comfortable. You’ll have a return for your hard work. However, when you first start, ensure you expect nothing. That way, you won’t be disappointed in your progress.
Conclusion
If you’re a Krav Maga trainee beginner, you’re in for a treat. You’re about to enter a realm of fulfillment and joyfulness.
While I’m not joking, there is another side to it. You’ll sweat, work hard, and want to quit. By following the different tips I listed in this post, you won’t lose motivation. Consequently, you’ll reach the point of results much more quickly than the average individual.
From personal experience, taking a step back once in a while is wise. That way, you’ll be able to notice the progress you make. No matter the benefits, you’ll appreciate the seeds you’re planting. Eventually, it’ll force you to stay dedicated and consistent.
I encourage you to read a correlated post on how Krav Maga performs compared to various martial arts. That way, it may change your mindset and perspective on this issue.