Krav Maga and other martial arts
lilawolf
Posts: 1,690 Member
I'm looking for friends who do Krav Maga like I do. I am also looking for before and afters from those who use extreme martial arts (XMA, MMA, Muay Thai etc) as a major (or only) part of their workout routine. Do you also lift weights or do other exercises? How do you balance them? My instructor said that combatives can be the fastest way to 6 pack abs. I'm curious what the results would really be with just MA at a non professional level.
I do Krav Maga and Stronglifts5x5 (though I'm on a break right now from this) and sometimes run. My routine is definitely easier to manage when I'm bulking. It can be extremely difficult when I'm cutting.
I do Krav Maga and Stronglifts5x5 (though I'm on a break right now from this) and sometimes run. My routine is definitely easier to manage when I'm bulking. It can be extremely difficult when I'm cutting.
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In case anyone is curious about what Krav is:
Krav Maga is a self-defense system developed by the Israeli army. In Hebrew, the Krav Maga literally means "contact combat." Developed by Hungarian boxer and wrestler Imrich Lichtenfeld in the 1930s, the technique was first used by Israeli underground paramilitary organizations such as Haganah. When Israel became an official country in 1948, Lichtenfeld was appointed Chief Instructor and Combat Trainer for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Since then, Krav Maga has spread, and it's now practiced in over 30 countries around the world. At first view, Krav Maga may look like a martial art, but it's actually a form of combat with no rules and no limitations. Martial arts such as Judo, Karate, and even wrestling are considered sports; Krav Maga, on the other hand, is a regulated form of combat. In fact, the point of Krav Maga is to take the enemy down as quickly as possible. Some teachers of Krav Maga explain it as "the art of going home alive," which means that groin strikes, choking, and headbutts are considered acceptable moves.
In addition to using their bodies to fight, practitioners of Krav Maga are taught to use the environment as a weapon. This means learning to use any object nearby, from bottles to baseball bats, as a gun-substitute. The objective of Krav Maga is to avoid injury in real-life scenarios, such as fights, street attacks, and violent encounters. Advanced students of Krav Maga learn to defend themselves from gun and knife attacks, multiple attacker scenarios, headlocks, and ground fighting. Most self-defense classes today teach some variation of Krav Maga. Military training in Krav Maga is more extreme, including manual killing techniques, defense against grenades, and disarmament of the enemy. All military and police offices in Israel are trained in Krav Maga, and so are many Special Forces Units around the world. In the US, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Marine Corps, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) Anti-terrorism Specialty Team all learn Krav Maga as part of their physical training.0 -
Maybe martial artists usually don't need to count calories? :-p0
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I'm going to try one more time...0
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I train in muay thai and bjj. In the past I did Shotokan Karate and Judo. I haven't taken Krav Maga though.0
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have been interested but so far haven't taken the plunge0
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I like the idea of hurting people efficiently.
I also have plans to increase international travel. I should get my butt into some KM.0 -
I just started mma with an emphasis on bjj and kempo striking.0
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Again, is martial arts a portion or all of your exercise routine? What else do you do? What changes have you seen in your body?0
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I like the idea of hurting people efficiently.
I also have plans to increase international travel. I should get my butt into some KM.
It is rather.... satisfying
I'm going to Bali for a week by myself followed by two weeks in China with coworkers. Last summer I spent 2 months in Thailand by myself. It is one of my biggest motivators.
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I'm a karate practitioner, i study Shorei Ryu and Ryukyu Kempo, with emphasis on nerv manipulation.0
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AgentOrangeJuice wrote: »I'm a karate practitioner, i study Shorei Ryu and Ryukyu Kempo, with emphasis on nerv manipulation.
Again, is martial arts a portion or all of your exercise routine? What else do you do? What changes have you seen in your body?0 -
AgentOrangeJuice wrote: »I'm a karate practitioner, i study Shorei Ryu and Ryukyu Kempo, with emphasis on nerv manipulation.
Again, is martial arts a portion or all of your exercise routine? What else do you do? What changes have you seen in your body?
martial arts is only a portion, the changes I've seen are increased flexibility, stamina, drive.
I run, I do body weight exercises, I plank, ddp yoga.0 -
I like the idea of hurting people efficiently.
I also have plans to increase international travel. I should get my butt into some KM.
It is rather.... satisfying I'm going to Bali for a week by myself followed by two weeks in China with coworkers. Last summer I spent 2 months in Thailand by myself. It is one of my biggest motivators.
I wandered through a favela just for the fun of it when I was in Rio last Feb. Was an interesting experience.
It's always good to know you can handle things at need. lol.0 -
I am a Kravist south of Atlanta. While I distance run and weight lift, Krav Maga is my primary work out. I'm certified level2 practicer and level 1 instructor. Now knowing this, Krav Maga will help you get in. Shape and be able to defend yourself. If you are looking at getting thinner, and cut, then you have to check you diet with your exercise. Food fuels your body and putting the wrong fuel in will delay your results.0
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I practice aikido and just took my shodan last weekend after 6 years of consistent training. However I don't consider my art an extreme martial art, because it isn't. Nor is it a combat art. Fighting skills are not my reason for practicing a martial art. However I do find that it is fine exercise as well as being very helpful in many aspects of day to day life. I train 3 nights a week for 2 hours each with additional training when it is available. It is not my sole source of exercise.0
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I don't do KM, nowhere near me for it, although it looks intriguing! I'm currently training with the goal of black belt in Shotokan Karate, and am looking at adding BJJ in the fall. I train 2-3 times a week in the dojo, and make sure I am doing all I can on the off days, both weight training and cardio work - I live out in the boondocks, so things like running the country roads when the snow isn't knee deep
I am sure I am totally lightweight compared to heavy weights and KM, but MA makes my blood roar like nothing else can. 0 -
I'm very interested in the replies as I've been wanting to start to train KM and to become a weapon! Currently on a 5-7 day of lifting and 4-5 days of cardio per week. When I get to my goal...within 10 lbs I'm gonna get serious about it! Would love to see what others do...Thanks for starting this thread!0
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Before MMA and CICO
After MMA
This was from over a year and half of doing 5-6 days a week of KB/Boxing conditioning classes along with more technique focused BJJ and KB classes 2-3 times a week.0 -
Before MMA and CICO
After MMA
This was from over a year and half of doing 5-6 days a week of KB/Boxing conditioning classes along with more technique focused BJJ and KB classes 2-3 times a week.
Hot damn (and I mean that respectfully). Great work/progress! Did you go to a dojo? or a gym with KB "style" classes? or a video? Any other workouts? Nice work
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I started Krav maybe two months ago. Since I bike to work and lift 3x per week, I am only taking Krav once a week and Escrima once a week. At this time I am in a deficit, so my lifting program isn't strength.0
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I was doing krav Mega for few months, need to get back into it.0
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I do Krav 3-4 times a week, training for a half marathon so I run 3x a week, weight train, cycle, crossfit couple times a week all to build endurance for Krav. I am working on my level 2.0
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I've been doing Kickboxing (mix of Muay Thai, Olympic Boxing and a bit of Jeet Kun Do) for 4 years now. I was going through different fitness classes at University trying to find something that kept me motivated. That did the trick! I stuck to only kickboxing and badminton for 3 years. I got fitter, but didn't lose weight (wasn't checking nutrition). Finally I sort of plateaued with my kickboxing. Didn't feel like I was making progress at all. Figured losing weight would help with conditioning.
Got an online coach, and did 4 months of BW training, and now I'm on my 3rd month of lifting weights. I kept up with kickboxing classes 2 days a week (3 hours), and trained 3-4 days a week on non class days, and still went to badminton more often than not.
The improvement in my kickboxing skills is unreal. Better conditioning, better technique, stronger hits, so much quicker on my feet! Sparring is a lot more fun now!
This fall I'll be out of country, so I'll focus on lifting with a smattering of cardio. Back to kickboxing next January!0 -
I've been doing goju ryu karate for about 6 years (honestly, I've lost count) and lifting actively for around 2 years. I used to just do karate as my physical activity, but after adding in lifting and running I find my endurance and speed in the ring is much better - not to mention losing weight quicker (and the positive benefits of that in the ring).
As a small female, I really love what lifting's done for my martial arts. I'm stronger physically, so I can hit harder and I can take harder hits without worrying about pain; I'm faster on my feet with more power to make quick moves and get inside defense more effectively; increased endurance means I can fight longer and harder.
I remember taking a few weeks off karate just due to conflicting timelines with work, but continuing my lifting during that time, and when I returned to the dojo it felt like my punches were blazingly faster than before. It was magical, ha ha!0 -
I started Krav maybe two months ago. Since I bike to work and lift 3x per week, I am only taking Krav once a week and Escrima once a week. At this time I am in a deficit, so my lifting program isn't strength.
Did you notice a difference adding in Krav? Sounds like you were already very active.
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I've been doing Kickboxing (mix of Muay Thai, Olympic Boxing and a bit of Jeet Kun Do) for 4 years now. I was going through different fitness classes at University trying to find something that kept me motivated. That did the trick! I stuck to only kickboxing and badminton for 3 years. I got fitter, but didn't lose weight (wasn't checking nutrition). Finally I sort of plateaued with my kickboxing. Didn't feel like I was making progress at all. Figured losing weight would help with conditioning.
Got an online coach, and did 4 months of BW training, and now I'm on my 3rd month of lifting weights. I kept up with kickboxing classes 2 days a week (3 hours), and trained 3-4 days a week on non class days, and still went to badminton more often than not.
The improvement in my kickboxing skills is unreal. Better conditioning, better technique, stronger hits, so much quicker on my feet! Sparring is a lot more fun now!
This fall I'll be out of country, so I'll focus on lifting with a smattering of cardio. Back to kickboxing next January!
In your kickboxing class, do/did they do a warmup with a bunch of BW stuff already? Or did they go right into class? There are a few things that I wonder if I should augment more like the stretching that we do in class.
You definitely can't out exercise a bad diet, so I can definitely see how you could maintain or gain even when working hard.
Lifting, and being generally strong has definitely helped my hits I almost always train with the guys so that I don't have to pull my punches and kicks so much.
Where are you going out of the country? I travel to Asia often and it KILLS my routine. 70 hour work weeks mean I don't work out hardly at all, plus the pollution (especially in China), plus jet lag, plus questionable nutrition...eek!
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I've been doing Kickboxing (mix of Muay Thai, Olympic Boxing and a bit of Jeet Kun Do) for 4 years now. I was going through different fitness classes at University trying to find something that kept me motivated. That did the trick! I stuck to only kickboxing and badminton for 3 years. I got fitter, but didn't lose weight (wasn't checking nutrition). Finally I sort of plateaued with my kickboxing. Didn't feel like I was making progress at all. Figured losing weight would help with conditioning.
Got an online coach, and did 4 months of BW training, and now I'm on my 3rd month of lifting weights. I kept up with kickboxing classes 2 days a week (3 hours), and trained 3-4 days a week on non class days, and still went to badminton more often than not.
The improvement in my kickboxing skills is unreal. Better conditioning, better technique, stronger hits, so much quicker on my feet! Sparring is a lot more fun now!
This fall I'll be out of country, so I'll focus on lifting with a smattering of cardio. Back to kickboxing next January!
In your kickboxing class, do/did they do a warmup with a bunch of BW stuff already? Or did they go right into class? There are a few things that I wonder if I should augment more like the stretching that we do in class.
You definitely can't out exercise a bad diet, so I can definitely see how you could maintain or gain even when working hard.
Lifting, and being generally strong has definitely helped my hits I almost always train with the guys so that I don't have to pull my punches and kicks so much.
Where are you going out of the country? I travel to Asia often and it KILLS my routine. 70 hour work weeks mean I don't work out hardly at all, plus the pollution (especially in China), plus jet lag, plus questionable nutrition...eek!
No BW, the warmup was skip rope/ shadowboxing, then stretches. We occasionnaly had push ups to do but mostly focused on technique.
Yup, learned the hard way! Now my nutrition is tracked and under control
I train with a very mixed bag, so I have to adapt with sparring. It's a University class so not everyone has the same goals. We keep sparring to an intense pillow fight, so worse we ever had was a nosebleed But working with the pads, I always try to pair up with a guy. Right now I'm the only girl in the group that can consistently absorb hard hits (though one has potential once she gets the hang of it!) so when I end up with a girl I have to pull my hits 
Heading out for an internship so I'll have my apartment, and already found a powerlifting group. So this time won't be bad for training. Conferences though, are terrible. Last one I focused on eating a nutritious breakfast, and keeping portions small in restaurants. Picked one evening to splurge and kept everything in check for the rest of the week. Ended up not losing nor gaining anything that week, which, considering the no training at all, is a win!
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I just signed up for Krav. Have never done a martial art before. Prior to this only CQC training in the Army and that was so long ago I don't even remember any of it. My first Krav lesson is next Thursday. Kinda nervous but it's a private lesson to start so that should make it easier. I plan on using Krav as my primary cardio going forward and doing weight and resistance training the other days.0
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I started Krav maybe two months ago. Since I bike to work and lift 3x per week, I am only taking Krav once a week and Escrima once a week. At this time I am in a deficit, so my lifting program isn't strength.
Did you notice a difference adding in Krav? Sounds like you were already very active.
Sorry, I didn't see this before. I had noticed that Krav really kicks my butt. Especially since I am careful when lifting to stay in neutral positions.
Then about a month ago I took a fall while riding, so I haven't been to Krav since. Though I have been going to Escrima since it is much less physical. Hopefully, I will start back at Krav next week.0 -
Again, is martial arts a portion or all of your exercise routine? What else do you do? What changes have you seen in your body?
I train a variety of the Arts. GJJ, muay thai, boxing and judo. I include a periodized weight training routine based on the intensity of my Arts training. In the "off season" my movements are mostly exercises that work multiple body parts0
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