Straight answers to the questions people ask before and during their training — from what your first class is like to how knife defence is taught.
These guides are written by the instructors at Krav Maga Auckland, a KMG-affiliated club in Birkenhead on Auckland's North Shore. They cover starting out, safety, training and progress, self-defence skills, fitness and mindset, and how to choose where to train.
A walkthrough of your first session, from arrival and warm-up to partner drills.
Read the guide →Why adults with no martial arts background start here, and what your first weeks of training look like.
Read the guide →How contact is controlled, what happens if you get hurt, and soreness vs injury.
Read the guide →What the physical demand is really like, and how intensity is scaled to you.
Read the guide →Striking, defences, weapons awareness and decision-making, in the order they're taught.
Read the guide →A realistic timeline, from settling in to broader capability under pressure.
Read the guide →How often to train, what happens if you miss a class, and coming back after a break.
Read the guide →How pressure is added gradually so skills hold up when things aren't calm.
Read the guide →Controlled beginner drills, progressive scenarios, and what realistic knife defence means.
Read the guide →Using bags, jackets and chairs to create distance and get to safety.
Read the guide →Why this basic strike works in real self-defence, and how it's taught.
Read the guide →De-escalation first, then separation and physical options for people who work with the public.
Read the guide →Book a trial class at 47 Birkenhead Avenue, Birkenhead — no experience needed.
Book a Trial Class Class times and details: self-defence classes on the North Shore