I joined AR Krav Maga in June 2017 and I’m chuckling to myself as I picture my friends and family rolling their eyes saying “Good grief.... she’s going on about Krav Maga again!” It’s just that learning Krav Maga is having such a positive effect on my life that I want everyone to benefit.
But first, what would make an overweight, unfit and middle aged woman want to learn self defense. Well, unfortunately, I was caught up in the London Bridge terror attack in June. I’m very thankful that I didn’t see anyone stabbed or injured but I was minutes away from Borough Market and was caught up in the hysteria of everyone running away.
I always thought I was fairly strong and capable but it’s so much different in real life and I just froze. I remember thinking to myself, as strangers were screaming “they’re being stabbed…run, run!!”, as people were scrambling over each other to escape and hearing what I think now was gun fire, I don’t believe this is happening. Luckily for me my friend ran & I followed. Afterwards, I found I regretted that I wasn’t prepared. Had I been in the thick of it, I wouldn’t have been able to protect myself.
I suppose mentioning my reason for joining, is to emphasize the importance of not waiting until something happens before you find out how to protect yourself. So striking while the iron was hot, I signed up for the AR Krav Maga trial lessons!!
I can’t lie, my first weeks of joining the club scared the life out of me. It was honestly the most frightening, thrilling, challenging, rewarding and exciting thing I had ever done.
I was so far outside my comfort zone. It’s so embarrassing to be grappling with people you hardly know but you get used to it and realistically, how else are you going to learn what to do if someone grabs you??
For weeks my confidence would get the better of me. I would say to myself “what the heck am I doing, I’m too old and unfit to be doing this!” There were two things in particular I remember Tony, our instructor, saying during a class that changed my outlook, that and the fact that the club members are absolutely brilliant. The first was something along the lines of “I want to teach everyone to defend themselves” and the second, “all you have to do is to turn up each week and work hard”. Well I can do that!
That’s when I realized that it’s okay, it is for everyone and it’s about me learning to defend myself. My feelings when I think about Krav Maga actually remind me a little of how the Strictly contestants say they feel when they start learning to dance. I guess there are a few similarities, you work in close proximity with your partner/or partners, you’re learning new techniques that are challenging, you challenge yourself both physically and mentally, there’s an element of performance and I do feel, at the end of each class, that we’ve made it through together!!!
Seven months on, I’m a little fitter and a little lighter but it’s my self esteem and confidence that’s soared the most.
So much so, that I took part in the club’s P1 grading. I was so proud of myself and even as I type I have the urge to shout “wahoo!!” and jump around the room in celebration. It’s having such a positive effect on my everyday life too, I would never have considered writing a blog seven months ago.
Everyone would benefit from learning Krav Maga and whilst I can tell my friends and family humour me while I enthusiastically demonstrate what I’ve learnt each week in class. I bet if you asked them, they would know how to do an educational block, wouldn’t be afraid to shout BACK OFF and could definitely give you an example of a short, middle or long defense technique.
My krav journey continues. My next challenge is a couple of weeks away where I’m heading to the main training centre for an Introduction to Violence with Sgt Rory Miller. I’m also planning to take part in many workshops and events throughout the year.
It’s going to be a brilliant year – you should come and join us!!
By Melanie Summers
