LAST NIGHTS SESSION

We started off looking at some common defences against straight and circular attacks. We looked at pre-emptive strikes and vulnerable points around the body.  We paid particular attention to the throat and the pros and cons and striking tools and outcomes.  I will try and do a video on this subject at some point in the future.  From there we looked at solidifying our 360 defence against empty hand and edged weapon finishing off with a pressure drill where we used repetition to help aid muscle memory.  

Marcus

HANDS HIGH

During training its very often tempting to drop your hands after you have finished a combative set.  In Krav Maga it's essential to keep your hands protecting the jaw line as you have to factor in multiple opponents and being hit from the side by one of them. Even when you are clearly dealing with one attacker only in the class imagine there are more enemies and keep the hands up and scan the area for exits, more bad guys and anything you could fall over.

Even during sparring sessions when you tie your opponent up in the clinch position for example as you reign down with knee strikes perhaps you should already be looking for an exit or planning your next manoeuvre.

Sometimes as a coach its helpful to walk the room with a padded stick and simply hit anyone who isn't looking or who is dropping their hands.  This will encourage good tactics and also add a small element of stress which is essential in some areas of Krav Maga training.

Marcus

TRAINING IS UNCOMFORTABLE

For the majority of us our training is not our job or what defines us in life.  It’s meant to be enjoyable, social and in some cases a way for us to release the pressures of daily life , job, kids, money, family, friends etc.

Whatever you are training for be it CrossFit, Martial Arts, football, rugby or running there is one thing that should feature in your training, and that is pressure in the training environment.  A small bit of pressure does wonders for your confidence so that you can deal with real life events.  You will only grow as a person from your training if you operate at some point dealing with the feeling of being uncomfortable. You’ll recognize this feeling as you might want to stop the workout, give up training or you'll be making all the excuses of the day.  Training doesn’t have to be hell on earth all the time but you should feel the need to have push and fight through some sessions.  When it becomes easy and you don’t feel wary about going to train you want get the best results you are capable of.

Getting through a tough uncomfortable session that you can talk about at a later date with teammates is a great feeling.  If training is occasionally punishing then you can draw on this experience from the training environment when you encounter something stressful in life.

Marcus

I CAN'T MAKE CLASS HELP ME!

If you want to get good at something how do you do that? Does David Beckham have better attributes than other footballers or was Mike Tyson just gifted. I think it all comes down to hard work, practice, commitment and sacrifice.

You have come down to train and learn. You made a commitment to yourself and a financial one. No doubt you told other people you were training. It's easier to find an excuse not to train than it is to train sometimes. I know that everyone leads busy lives and we all have so much on the go. However, to make one training session a week is really an easy thing to do for anyone if they want to. There are multiple classes running every evening so you don't have an excuse to come down to one. If you normally train in NSI or KM and can't make that slot then jump into the TE or kickboxing class. Hitting is hitting after all and everything is transferable. If you have stuff to do that evening then get up earlier and do it. I'm going back a few years here but when my son was born my I had little time to train in the gym so what did I do. I got up and trained at 5am then back for him getting up and getting stuff ready for the day and going off to work. Nowadays I could think of nothing worse than getting up to train at that time but needs must and you do what is right for you at the time. Now I am teaching full time and sometimes you have to think about planning classes, where you want the business to go, accounts, cleaning the gym, admin, and personal training during the day. Plus, I have to train myself and eat and rest. It's hard work but you always manage to do it. I know it's my job so I have to but you want to be good at this or you wouldn't have joined. I never wanted to be mediocre at anything Ive done so I always throw myself into things.

So we have explained that you can attend an alternate class to keep up with your training. You could also organise a private or semi private training session if you think you are falling behind. You can also train at home. You just need to think about the material we cover in class and go over it mentally. Visualise yourself training it and then do the physical movements. This sort of training is what seperates the people who will excel and those who will only just get it at best. I always use the analogy of learning to drive. People who got two lessons a week dn had their parents take them out always seemed more confident and better than those getting one lesson a week. So train more at the gym, train more at home and see yourself getting better and gain a deeper understanding of the material. I want everyone who comes and trains at the gym to be great. To see them learn new skills and gain confidence in every area of their lives. The only thing stopping this progress is you. Don't procrastinate any longer just get along to training and have fun. If you have any questions then let me know.

Marcus

KICKBOXING EDINBURGH

Last night we opened the class with a circuit. From there we progressed through various striking drills looking at defending with the legs. Excellent effort from everyone there!

Marcus