Train Safely with Krav Maga Global
Why Krav Maga training is much safer than Martial Arts or Combat Sports
Introduction
Krav Maga is designed for people of all backgrounds to stay safe in street situations, and we want to stay safe in training also.
We have a wide-range of people in our classes, and enjoying classes without not getting hurt or injured is an important part of why people join and stay with us. I don't want to go home injured and I'm sure you don't either so our training at Krav Maga Global is structured to minimise the risk of injury.
In this article I'll explain how we minimise the risk of injury in Krav Maga and why training is much safer than Combat Sports and competitive Martial Arts. But just to be clear, just because Krav Maga is not competitive doesn't mean it is less effective. To the contrary Krav Maga is a very powerful system and more comprehensive and effective for real world self defence.
Find out more here: Why Krav Maga is the best self defence system
Aaron
Instructor
Krav Maga Global - Auckland
Risk of Injury from Combat Sports & Competitive Martial Arts
Competition Raises the Risk of Injury
If you are considering competitive martial arts and combats sports, you need to be aware that there is a high chance of getting injured. This is due to the impacts on the body of strikes, twists or falls, especially if sparing or competition is involved. You are especially at risk if you are a smaller person, older or have previous injuries (not too dissimilar to playing contact sports). This is a key reason why combat sports have weight divisions and rankings because size, strength and experience make a big difference to competitiveness. When the aim is to "beat" the opponent then if you are at a disadvantage and risk getting hurt or injured, even when doing "light" sparing in class.
I've experienced this first-hand having spent many years learning Karate and Brazilian Ju Jitsu (BJJ). While I enjoyed this training I sustained injuries to shoulder, neck, knee and ribs (all of which are common). This was a real bummer having to sit out for months on end to recover and some injuries never properly go away.
Krav Maga is not competitive so this avoid many of the risks of injury making it a much better choice for most people. If you are young, robust and want competition, then you may be okay with the risks from competition. But if you are not okay with this, and especially if you are wanting practical self defence skills, then Krav Maga is the better option if you join a reputable club.
How We Train Safely at KMG Auckland
Smart Training Practices Minimise Risk of Injury
Krav Maga is not competitive and we do not have high impact sparing or grappling so that automatically reduces a lot of risk. However, you can't learn Krav Maga without any contact or physical exertion so we apply the following measures to manage risk:
Facilities
Our academy is the only dedicated Krav Maga gym in New Zealand. It has been specifically fitted out to give you the best and safest training experience.
- The floors are lined wth 40mm Jigsaw mats
- The training area is hazard free
- The gym is stocked with quality training equipment, appropriate to the training and ready for use
- First aid kit is present and instructors are first-aid qualified
Certified and Experienced Instructors
All Krav Maga Global Instructors have been through extensive initial and ongoing training to be quality coaches, as well as technically excellent in the techniques and tactics.
This is quite unique to KMG and ensure you benefit from the best and safest training methods.
Warm-up
Each class starts with a thorough warm-up to prepare your body for the class, and life in general.
This consists of
- Cardio-vascular exercises,
- Mobility & stretching exercises
- Strength exercises.
Striking
Contact is minimised through the use of training equipment such as:
- Thai Pads,
- Kick Shield,
- Focus Mitts.
You will also learn defences agains weapon threats and attacks. We have rubber or plastics weapons for this training
This equipment allows up to develop strong and powerful counter-strikes without injuring ourselves or our partners.
Safety Policies & Code of Conduct
Krav Maga is dynamic and our training drills are often quite playful so it's not big on discipline like traditional martial arts. However, we expect certain standards of behaviour to ensure safety and enjoyment of everyone:
- Arrive on time and bring required training gear
- Be respectful to others
- Compliance with safety instructions
- Control when simulating counter attacks
Style
Why Injuries Occur
Common Injuries
Mixed Martial Arts
MMA combines striking, grappling, and ground fighting, leading to a high risk of injuries like concussions, fractures, and joint damage.
Head trauma, broken bones, dislocations, and ligament tears.
Brazilian Ju Jitsu
While BJJ is less focused on striking, the intense grappling and submission techniques can strain muscles or cause joint damage.
Sprains, dislocations, torn ligaments, and neck injuries.
Boxing
Repetitive punches to the head and body, combined with sparring and competition, increase the risk of injuries.
Concussions, facial cuts, hand/wrist fractures, and chronic brain injuries (e.g., CTE)
Muay Thai
Known as the "art of eight limbs," Muay Thai involves strikes with fists, elbows, knees, and shins, leading to a high risk of impact injuries.
Bruises, fractures, shin splints, and joint injuries.
Karate
Full-contact sparring and high-impact strikes can result in injuries, especially in competitive settings.
Bruises, fractures, and joint injuries.