Next month, Krav Maga Beijing is once again hosting a four-part self-defense workshop specially designed for women and teenage girls (ages 15 and up). Book by March 22 and get an early bird discount.
Every Sunday in April, participants will learn techniques and strategies specifically geared towards dealing with bigger and stronger attackers. Topics include striking and turning on aggression, fostering awareness and avoiding dangerous situations, navigating low-light situations, dealing with grabs, pulls, and chokes, and more. Male Krav Maga Beijing students will be on hand to help and stand in as attackers.
Krav Maga is a self-defense system originally developed for the Israeli military. It focuses on real-life situations and emphasizes situational awareness, preemptive attacks or aggressive counter-attacks, and targeting the opponent’s weak points (e.g. groin, eyes, throat, and knees).
Full disclosure: I’m hopelessly biased. Since writing about the self-defense workshop last year, my friend and I have become regular attendees, even partnering together for the the P1 proficiency exam in January.
Along the way, we’ve had the opportunity to meet some amazing people (male and female) and learn self-defense in a fun, supportive environment.
Here’s what some of my fellow female students had to say about Krav Maga and Krav Maga Beijing classes:
"[Krav Maga] gives me the confidence and ability to defend myself, especially when I travel alone in new places and foreign countries. Also, my physical strength and lifestyle have also changed in a positive way."
– Carmen (China)
"[Krav Maga] has given me more confidence knowing how to behave in some difficult situations. It’s good to know that even if you are a woman who maybe doesn’t have as much strength as a guy, there are some very effective techniques with which you can defuse a dangerous situation and get out of it. Last but not least, I got a lot of fun out of it!"
– Nathalie (Switzerland)
"I’ve gotten to understand my body better. I am more confident that now, after less than a year in training, I have enough capability to protect myself in case of an attack, a robbery, or if someone decides to casually grope me on a subway – that has happened before. Even going back to my hometown of Moscow – not the safest city in the world – this year was a very different experience from before. I was more aware of my surroundings and was confident enough to walk down a dark alley by myself. Last but not least, it’s empowering, physically and mentally."
– Anna (Russia)
"’What should I do if I encounter bad people?’ That’s the question that led me to Krav Maga. I’ve encountered dangerous people in the past and came out unharmed, but the disparity in height and strength [between men and women], combined with the lack the courage and skill to fight back in dangerous situations, means that women are often the victims. I have to fight back and rely on myself to escape from danger and avoid becoming a statistic.
Krav Maga classes simulate various attacks and counter-attacks with people of different sizes and strength. Female participants can directly experience how to deal with various crisis situations to protect themselves and their family.
Thanks to Krav Maga, I’ve gained confidence in both my everyday life and at work. It has become a personal interest; through the weekly classes, I have developed a much clearer sense of my physical abilities and fitness goals. Krav Maga is also a great source of stress relief and exercises the mind. Many of my classmates have become good friends. I’m grateful to instructors [Von Ng, Yonina Chan, and Richard Collett] for making the classes so interesting!"
– Qiong (China)
Until March 22, there is an early bird price of RMB 1,150 per person or RMB 2,100 per pair (regular price: RMB 1,400 per person or RMB 2,400 per pair).
The women’s self-defense classes will take place on April 3, April 10, April 17, and April 24 from 1-2.30pm. All self-defense packages also include 10 hours’ worth of regular Krav Maga classes (valid until April 30).
To register, call or SMS 150 1024 6131 or email info@kravmagabeijing.com.
Sijia Chen is a contributing editor at beijingkids and a freelance writer who has covered travel, tech, culture, parenting, and the environment. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, The Independent, the Beijinger, Midnight Poutine, and more. Follow her on Twitter at @sijiawrites or email her at sijiachen@beijing-kids.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Krav Maga Beijing
