A Krav Maga Christmas Fable

Hi Everyone,

I really hope that you are looking forward to spending some time with your families over the Christmas period and taking some time off from both work and training…

…But not too much time!

Be honest, you read the start of this blog and thought ‘Awww, what a nice message from Jon… but hang on – Jon isn’t nice, something strange is going on!?’

And you’d be right…☺

I am all for Christmas cheer, but I want to be straight with you about something – it is totally and utterly heartbreaking for a Krav Maga Instructor to see one of his or her trainees make huge progress in 11 months of the year, by hitting their training goals, being consistent by investing time in training…only to then be caught by the Christmas Monster and take so many steps backwards they nearly fall over.

So what is the Christmas Monster? The Christmas Monster takes hold of people and allows them to make excuses for not continuing their training up until the training break.

And that’s exactly WHY we arrange a training break – because we understand that the break is needed for both you, and the Instructors ‘to re-charge batteries’. To enjoy a break from your normal routine and to re-gain your focus ready for 2013.

However the training break is 2 weeks for a reason, as we believe this is the justified amount of time that you could take off from training without suffering too much from skill fade. Of course, not doing something for 2 weeks that you normally do regularly will make you a little ‘rusty’ and of course it also depends how much you ‘indulge’ over the festive period, or whether you continue and do some light exercise from time to time…

So when talking to some of you in the club (some who I have seen progress extremely well), here are some of the excuses the Christmas Monster ‘makes you say’. My question is, are you guilty of any of the following? Be honest with yourself – it’s abit of fun, but at the same time worth taking note of what you say, as it generally dictates how you think…

Top 5…

1. “Well, Christmas is coming up so I’ll probably start back after the New Year
2. “Well it’s December isn’t it…it’s starting to get cold”
3. “I will ‘get back into it’ in the New Year”
4. “Just so much going on with Christmas and all that.”
And my personal favorite as it offers no attempt at lame justification…
5. Well, it’s Christmas isn’t it?!

None of these are reasons– they are excuses! Look, I am not having a go, I am doing what I am supposed to do. I am attempting to keep your focus, to help you achieve your training goals through constant and never ending improvement. That doesn’t mean you don’t slow down, it doesn’t mean you don’t take a break – it just means that you don’t allow the Christmas Monster to set in, to make the training break go from 2 weeks, to 4 weeks, to 6 weeks and then you start to worry about whether you will have stepped back so much that everyone else will be ahead of you, and then you give up – and let’s be honest, giving up is easy! Pushing through, focusing, continuing to hit goals and to achieve is hard. So most people give up – they take the easy route and use one of the 5 excuses above as to why they stopped training and never went back.

I don’t say this to just all of you in Krav Maga, I have many friends who have various physical goals, and I would give all of them the same advice

A) Take a break, but restrict that break to that which is forced upon you – that being the two-week period where you physically cannot train because classes are not operating.
B) Do some light activity during the break, nothing to strenuous, do some mobility work and increase the heart rate a little.
C) Realise you don’t need to eat ALL of the cake/cheese/chocolate and that enjoying in moderation is easily done when you are focused on what you want to be and do.

I KNOW I sound like a spoilsport! Believe me – I am not trying to be – but I know that heartbreaking feeling when the people you saw progressing so well before Christmas slump off, get bitten by the Christmas Monster and then struggle to find the mental strength to overcome it, return and keep pushing towards their goals.

Please remember what I said in my blog ‘Road to the RKC… You will never be remembered for what you didn’t do, or what you gave up on.’ We live on average for about 4000 weeks (doesn’t sound long does it?). Let’s use those weeks to be as good as we can be.

So now – this is genuine! –I do sincerely wish you and your family a fantastic Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. The Institute Instructor Team and myself look forward to seeing you back healthy and ready to re-gain the focus.

If you would like any advice for activity to keep ‘ticking over’ during the break, please email me jon@institute-kravmaga.co.uk and I am only happy to help.

Stay Safe

Jon Bullock

P.S
Our last classes before the break are on Friday 21 December 2012.
Our first classes back after the break are on Monday 7th January 2013.
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Krav Maga Training Advice

Institute of Krav Maga UK

5.0

Based on 26 reviews

Julian Moosuddee

2023-03-12T15:05:16+0000

I started training with the institute In November with private training sessions with Joe, then moved on to regular... club training sessions. Amazing experience, immediately practical and a real game changer for confidence and practical remedies to everyday situations. I cannot recommend joining this club or training with Joe more highly. Incredibleread more

Mat Ina

2022-01-08T19:12:18+0000

i enjoy more and more this school. There is respect among students. Instructors have very good knowledge and break down... the techniques very well till you understand the motion and the meaning of each technique. I cannot wait for the next class.read more

Lindy Lee

2021-07-07T21:07:08+0000

Excellent instructors, friendly and knowledgeable. Krav Maga has made me more confident on the streets. My highlight -... as someone who isn't physically strong at all, Krav Maga has taught me how to generate more power than I could ever imagine.read more

Ruslan Seriy

2019-05-26T16:47:47+0000

Institute Krav Maga UK is an amazing club with greatly experienced and friendly instructor team. Newcomers as well as... students with prior combat sports experience can expect to benefit from learning a good mix of practical and real life self-defence techniques , sparring skills and improved fitness. Institute often organises overseas events , where additional skills can be learned. Would highly recommend IKMU to everyone who is looking to train Krav Maga !read more

Grace McQuillan

2017-06-24T17:31:37+0000

When I moved to London I started to look for a club where I could continue learning Krav Maga. I tried out many clubs... and didn't find one I liked until I came across the institute back in August 2015. I've been training with them ever since, it's amazing how much I have learnt in two years. All the instructors are knowledgable about Krav Maga and clearly passionate about it. Other more senior students are also always keen to help you learn and develop. Overall a great club with top notch people!read more

Edina Szaszko

2017-06-24T08:04:28+0000

Laurynas Pauša

2017-06-07T05:32:39+0000

Institute of Krav Maga is a great place to learn fighting, self-defense, improve your fitness and a perfect way to keep... yourself active in general. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the classes since joining since the instructors are friendly and very knowledgeable. Only good things to say about this club!read more

David Boyd Booker

2017-06-06T01:38:30+0000

A great place to train with knowledgable instructors

Oguzhan Sak

2017-05-11T07:12:39+0000

Yasmin Jess

2017-05-01T14:47:45+0000

I trained with the Institute for a couple of years, while living in London. I have learnt so much, thanks to expert... instructors and great training environments. They offer a variety of challenging and awesome seminars and training camps and I always love to come back for a visit given the chance ;) This club is fantastic! See you soon, guysread more

Filipa Monteiro

2017-04-30T19:58:21+0000

Started training with IKMUK and Combat KM less than a year ago. These guys came to prove once more that investing in... oneself has no age and definitely no gender, it’s simply the reflection of a mind-set to be safe, fit and strong. Several workshops, an Extreme Weekend and a Warrior Summer Camp later I couldn’t have hoped to have found such friendly and knowledgeable professionals. Looking forward to the future challenges that are bound to come :)read more

Anthony Clapton

2017-04-21T21:04:25+0000

Patrick Brom

2017-04-14T14:25:11+0000

AJ Si Vis Pacem

2017-04-01T13:37:27+0000

Stasys Rozenbergas

2017-03-29T20:05:15+0000

Andres Villamarin

2016-11-07T15:21:03+0000

Lukas Siugzdinis

2016-10-31T12:22:47+0000

I had an opportunity to participate in event organised by Krav Maga Institute UK in Czech Republic thanks to... instructors Joe Ambrosino and Heat Leavitt this event was best experience in my life so far ! Organised from A to B,had chance to gain knowledge from experts,to hear they experience and be surrounded by amazing people ! Thank you again ! Can't wait for next year ! :) P.s best place to train Krav Maga in London !read more

Suman Manoharan

2016-10-02T07:59:03+0000

Simon Barton

2016-08-19T01:03:15+0000

This is the spot for reviews of the Institute of Krav Maga. I’ve trained with the Institute now for nearly five years... now so perhaps I should add a review. I had read about Krav Maga but it took me a while to “get over myself” and sign up for an induction session because, if I’m honest, I was a bit concerned that it would be full of psychos. The reality was, I was pleased to discover, very different. Krav Maga is not about fighting; it’s about defending yourself. It’s not a sport so people are not there to compete with, score points over or hurt their opponents. They are there to train with like-minded people and learn practical ways to defend themselves in real-life situations. And they are taught by the best. And real life is the key. Forget what you see in the movies or indeed in any sporting martial art. This is about what would you do if…? How do you deal with two attackers, or three? Should you, could you just run away? What if you need to defend someone else? Could you avoid the situation completely? How does an 8 stone girl deal with an attack from a 15 stone man?.. because you can be sure it won’t be by trading punches or wrestling him to the ground! It’s brutal and it’s not pretty but it’s the most effective self-defence system out there. There are no rules… except stay alive and get away. The instructors are quite simply excellent led by the incomparable Joe Ambrosino (a man to whom I quite literally owe my life but that is another story for another day). They really know their stuff and train together as a group regularly to fine-tune both the techniques themselves and how to put them across to students. Sessions are structured but varied, focussing on different techniques and situations from week to week. But it’s not just about teaching technique; it’s about attitude of mind, awareness and an understanding of why we’re doing what we’re doing so that when the unexpected happens, when it all gets a bit messy and your technique goes to pot, you still make good decisions quickly, do the right things and have a chance of staying in one piece. There is a system of progression. The less experienced members are taught the basics and, most importantly, the more likely scenarios. Playing with gun disarms might look cool but realistically it’s much more likely that someone is going to try to grab you or slap you or punch you or perhaps stab you than pull a gun on you in this country so that is what you learn first (with a few more advanced techniques thrown in from time to time for fun). You also need to learn how to end a fight, which might be running away or it might be causing your attacker so much pain that he forgets about attacking you; either is good. That is where Krav Maga is at its best. There are no weight categories. Girls need to learn to defend themselves not just against other girls but against guys who are bigger, heavier and stronger. They would never get a chance do this in a competitive martial art and they would not have much chance of winning either without fighting dirty and breaking all the rules that those sports impose. As you progress it becomes endlessly fascinating as you learn more, adapt things for more complex or difficult situations and get better at the stuff you already know. You learn how to fall, how to roll, defences against baseball bats, kicks, chokes, headlocks and bear hugs, threats vs attacks, what to do if on the ground or in a chair or up against a wall, loads more and yes, eventually, guns. I can honestly say it’s never boring even when revising simple knife or punch defences I learned years ago because each time I do it I get better at it and I get it wrong less often. I have to say that one of the most enjoyable aspects of Krav Maga with the Institute, apart from the quality of the instruction I’m getting each week, is the people. The sessions are fun and friendly, but we work hard. Most importantly I work with people I trust, which is really important when I’m asking people to attack me in a way that is as close to realistic as possible while also being safe. Classes are mixed up so girls train with men and less experienced people learn from people who’ve been doing it for years. There are no egos and everyone is there to help everyone else. Yes, it helps to be fit but the classes cater for all level of fitness. Not feeling fit enough should not put anyone off Krav Maga but one thing is for sure, if you’re looking to get or keep fit at the same time, it will make you fitter. I quite simply cannot recommend the Institute of Krav Maga highly enough. If you want to learn practical skills for real-life situations that, if you’re just unlucky enough, you might one day find yourself in, then training with the Institute is both the best way to learn and a lot of fun.read more

Sam Skipper

2016-07-22T14:38:41+0000

These guys are top class Instructors with expert knowledge, they deliver training in a way that benefits all skill and... fitness levels and that anyone with a 'willing to learn' attitude will enjoy. By training in real life scenarios for real life situations you will gain practical skills to both defend yourself and to generally be more aware of your surroundings. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who has an interest in martial arts or fitness.read more

Dino Nunes

2016-07-22T10:06:20+0000

If you are looking to learn self-defense with the best team of instructors and organization the "Institute Krav Maga... UK" is the best from the beginner to advanced .read more

Jon Douglass

2016-07-15T19:42:29+0000

Excellent place to train in Krav Maga with very knowledgeable instructors.

Paul Landreth-Smith

2016-06-23T13:05:29+0000

The IKMUK is a superb club. It covers many different geographical locations with a team of instructors. Everyone there... is friendly, serious about training and your time spent in class is well structured. I have trained with many different instructors worldwide and Joe Ambrosino, who is the lead instructor, has to be one of the best. He is a little Tasmanian Devil of energy, speaks really fast but he has so much information and experience in his head you just try to soak it all in! He is kind and gentle but crazy tough too. He is supported by a great team including his wife Marissa who tirelessly works behind the scenes to keep everything running. Check this club out, regardless if you are a complete beginner, been training in Krav Maga a while, been training in another martial art or you think you are a Super Professor Grand Master 11th Dan... I guarantee you will learn something. Especially this goes out to any Police, Ambulance or Fire Brigade. You owe it to yourselves to train here.read more

Tom Morgan

2016-06-08T18:32:56+0000

I've been a student with the Institute for over 10years and recently achieved my Black Belt. Simply the best club in... London for Krav Maga. Fantastic teaching staff with decades of knowledge between them, including an Expert level 3 instructor (who are few and far between!). All levels are made to feel very welcome and the attitude to self defence is first rate. If you want to start a martial art - Krav Maga is the one!read more

Glenn Mortelmans

2016-06-08T14:45:44+0000

I first started Krav Maga in 2004 in London. First class I trained with Joe Ambrosino then IKMF. It started off with... one class a week then two then up to 4 times a week. True Kravvers knows the addiction. Then 9 years later after a lot of camps and training and experience i went back in home in South Africa and i started a small school and always kept to the high standards and core of Krav Maga that was taught by IKM UK. Joe was always there for support and when he came to visit us he once again proofed to me that to be the best Krav Maga instructor you need to stay humble and Krav Maga focused like he is. Today we are proudly Institute Krav Maga South Africa and we are growing with the best in the world. Well done and its a life changing experience to work with you guys and looking forward to an awesome relationship.read more

Antony George Wells

2016-06-08T08:29:09+0000

I joined the institute after going to watch a class in Hertfordshire and instantly got the bug and wanted to learn... more. The out going and friendly instructor (Joe) took time and effort in breaking down all aspects of the fighting style and made it fun at the same time. I would highly recommend and I will be returning soon. Go down to meet the team and get involved.read more

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