Q: What makes Kids Krav Maga different from other martial arts? A: Krav Maga is a reality-based system. There are no katas, fancy kicks, choreographed movement, or techniques that aren’t practical for real life situations. We teach defenses against common attacks such as chokes, hair pulls, bear hugs, and headlocks. Krav Maga is used by over 400 different Law Enforcement Agencies and Military Units worldwide. In addition, due to the physical nature of the system, the kids tend to get a better workout than with traditional martial arts. Q: What will my kid get out of Kids Krav Maga training? A: In addition to the short-term benefits of Kids Krav Maga, the broader goal of our program is to supplement and support what our students are learning at home and at school. Our training program strives to instill values that will make them successful teenagers, young adults, and adults. We cover values such as: • the importance of being physically fit • how to make healthy nutritional choices • motivational strategies • successful goal setting • seeking and using mentors • doing well in school • social skills • how to achieve and then project confidence and self-esteem • how to be respectful and responsible • sticking up for their values • mastering peer pressure • being aware and using common sense • how to physically defend themselves in a time of needQ: How will Kids Krav Maga increase my child’s confidence? A: We don’t just tell students the importance of being confident we make sure they practice being confident in every class. Some ways we work to build our students’ confidence are by: • role playing and working through situations where kids feel insecure • providing consistent positive reinforcement and active encouragement by our instructors • creating a non-intimidating, safe and fun training atmosphere • providing physical and verbal challenges that students can successfully achieve • being surrounded by other confident and supportive classmate Q: Are you teaching children real Krav Maga? A: Yes, your child will be learning real Krav Maga. We teach Krav Maga techniques and principles in kid appropriate contexts such as bullying, peer pressure, and abduction prevention. Just like in Krav Maga, the emphasis in Kids Krav Maga is always on confrontation avoidance first and foremost. We teach children how to verbalize, set boundaries, and how to “use common sense before self-defense.” Q: Will my child start fighting now? Will he/she become more violent? A: Krav Maga Kids is a self-defense system not a fighting system. We consistently stress the differences between being offensive and being defensive. Our students understand that (a) fighting is not allowed under any circumstances and students who fight in school or otherwise will not be permitted to participate in our program, (b) the techniques we teach have the potential to hurt other kids their age and size and that (c) confrontation avoidance is always the desirable outcome. Fighting often stems from insecurities and a desire to “prove” their toughness, as well as being an outlet for aggression. With the confidence we instill in our students, the physical challenges we provide, and a controlled and healthy means of stress reduction our students do not feel the need to engage in physical confrontations. In fact, parents tell us that students who have had problems with fighting in the past, within a short time of joining Kids Krav Maga, no longer participate in confrontations. Q: How often do they need to come a week? My child has many other extracurricular activities, in addition to homework, that would leave very little time to come to classes. A: There is no specific program requirement for how many classes your child must attend a week. We are sensitive to the fact that kids have busy schedules and that homework is a priority. We suggest that your child come to at least 1 class per week to get the most out of the Kids Krav Maga program. Q: How do the levels work? How is the curriculum broken down? A: Depending upon the number of classes your child attends and per the permission of the instructor(s): Level 1-White Belt (3 months), Level 2-Yellow Belt (6 months), Level 3-Orange Belt (6 months) and Green Belt (6 months), Level 4-Blue Belt (6 months) and Brown Belt (6 months). Q: How often do they test? How does that process work? A: Belt Testing will generally be offered outside of regular class time every 3 months. In order for students to be eligible to participate in a belt test they must have attended enough classes to see the full level’s material. White Belt students must have attended at least 24 classes in order to test for their next belt. Kids Krav Maga students who hold a Yellow Belt and higher must attend 48 classes in order to belt test. Students who attend 2 classes per week on a regular basis will be on track to test every 3 months for Kids Krav Maga and Kids Krav Maga White Belts, and every 6 months for Kids Krav Maga Yellow Belts and higher. Kids Krav Maga students who hold a Yellow Belt and higher will also be eligible for Progress Checks. Once these students have attended 24 classes, half of their required classes, they will be invited to participate in our next belt test, however they will NOT be eligible for promotion to the next belt level. The purpose of these Progress Tests is for students to receive feedback and an evaluation from their instructors. This will allow students in higher levels to remain focused on the areas that need work, while rewarding them for their accomplishments, as they continue on their path towards the next belt.. |