About Us
The Club

Who are we?

Birmingham Krav Maga is an expanding club operating in the heart of Birmingham, and is one of a small number clubs in the UK supported by the FEKM, which gives us direct access to the key instruction and principles of Krav Maga. In line with the principles of the FEKM, we have founded the British Federation of Krav Maga, to support the club as it grows.

We believe that Krav Maga is probably the most effective method for the rapid development of fast, simple, effective and controlled self defence – the truth of which is supported by the fact that it is the system of choice for army, police and security forces around the world.

Our approach is friendly and we pride ourselves in the thoroughness of our instruction and in our care for our students. Krav Maga was designed by the founder to be accessible and effective for as many people as possible – not only physically and mentally but also financially. As a result we keep the costs down as much as possible, and have as many training sessions in a week as we can to enable everyone to have access to quality teaching.

Our primary focus is on teaching the safe, effective and lawful application of what is, after all, a potentially lethal set of techniques and principles. We positively encourage all students to achieve to the fullest of their ability and strive to enable everyone to push their boundaries and develop their skills. We have found from experience that this helps us all to grow as human beings as well.

What is Krav Maga?

Krav Maga was developed in the 1930s by Imi Lichtenfeld, who in 1948 became Chief Instructor of Physical Fitness and Krav Maga for the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). After he started the IKMA in 1978, the FBI sent 22 people to Israel to attend a Krav Maga Basic Instructor Course, since which time it has expanded all over the world.

What is the FEKM?

The FEKM (European Federation of Krav Maga) was created in 1997 by Richard Douieb, to whom Imi Lichtenfeld gave the responsibility for Krav Maga in Europe, and now includes more than 12000 members across 9 countries. It is the largest and most well respected Krav Maga organisation in Europe.

What does the training involve?

Self defence is the essential framework of Krav Maga and is made up of a variety of techniques and responses to a wide variety of attacks (armed or unarmed) and from various positions (upright, seated, lying down). Krav-Maga is not simply another martial art even though there are similar techniques, however each individual must follow a strict growth pattern by following the syllabus which is set up in 5 standard grades white to black.

Hand to hand combat is the more advanced phase of Krav Maga where one is taught ways in which to neutralize an opponent quickly and effectively using elements which are, strictly speaking, more concerned with actual fighting: tactics, feints, and various attack combinations.

If you want to develop into a Krav Maga instructor, there is a route for you to follow, and part of it involves going to 3 special training sessions with the FEKM in France with Richard Douieb.

FAQs

Do I need to be fit to train?

No! We cater for all abilities, so do not worry if you feel you are unfit. You will naturally get fitter and stronger as you train, but this is in no way a barrier to starting.

Am I too old to start?

We only have a lower age limit in place, there is no upper limit. We believe there is no cut off point for the ability to learn new skills and encourage people regardless of age to come along and try it out. We will find a way to work with any issues you may have.

What do I need to bring?

If you’re coming for a taster session, you will need to bring water, trainers, and comfortable clothes (preferably tracksuit bottoms rather than shorts as we may have some ground excersises). All safety equipment necessary will be provided, however if you want to continue training we recommend purchasing a groin guard that sits underneath your clothes (these offer the most flexibilty and protection, the ones we borrow out sit on top of clothes for hygeine reasons) and a mouth guard.

Is it dangerous?

No more than any other sport or martial art. While the nature and scenarios that we teach and refer to tend to be dangerous, the way in which it is delivered is not. We pride ourselves on teaching you skills for the some of the worst possible scenarios while maintaining a safe, friendly and welcoming environment.

What is the minimum age?

Currently the minimum age to train is 16+. We are looking at putting on kids classes in the future but no timeframe as of yet.


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Learn how to defend yourself in some of the worst possible scenarios, while training in a safe and welcoming environment. All memberships include unlimited access to all of our classes.

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Have any questions?

Email us at [email protected] or call us on 07487 674 732

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