Students work out at their own pace. However, the classes gradually move at a faster rate as the course progresses; everyone will be challenged and quite tired after an hour! Students arrive early to class, wrapped up, and must print their name on the Sign-in List under the column for their level class(es), at the entrance to whichever room/area we are using that day. There will always be a short warmup, which is designed to prevent injury, increase flexibility, and build endurance and strength. The Level 1 Class at 6pm on Wednesday should be (about) the same as the Level 1 class that follows it at 7pm. This class has been added to alleviate the some of the crowd in the aerbics room. Level 1 Students are invited to stay for the warmup in the Level 2 class (rank of Practitioner 1 and above). More experienced students commonly join the lower level classes to review and help the newer students. After attending 2 or 3 sessions in Level 1, most students are invited to test for Practitioner 1; after passing this test they can attend Level 2 classes. Students attaining the rank of Practitioner 4 and above are invited to attend Level 3 classes. The theme in our training is "help each other out". You'll learn defenses against some of the most common attacks today, and important fighting skills necessary to defend yourself if involved in a physical conflict. Level 2 classes: on Thursdays we focus more on the "technical" aspects of the system, allowing students to learn new material for advancement in rank without as much full contact or hard-core conditioning. Wednesday night's Level 2 class will work within the same level of techniques, but will allow students to experience "contact training" for a higher level of physical and mental conditioning and fitness. Please be aware this is NOT your typical strip mall, college rec course, or health club program! KMSD takes pride in providing realistic training to give our students genuine life-saving skills. We strongly believe that if an someone is selling a "soft" version of krav maga, students risk developing a false sense of security, wasting their time, and putting their own life and those of their loved ones at risk. We will give every student their full money's worth so they know they can defend themselves in the street.

Absolutely. Just email us with at least several days advance notice to let us know what day you'd like to come visit: Info@KravMagaSD.com. Students are encouraged to visit a Level 1 class, but may stay for Level 2 classes (and usually also Level 3 classes). We must have your first and last name, and a valid email address. You'll receive further instructions via email after we receive your request. Visitors will be required to show identification and sign in before passing through security.
NOTE: the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center is a secure facility.

Don't worry about it! Krav Maga is designed to teach everybody how to defend themselves. Students work at their own pace, although we encourage a strong workout, and everybody is challenged physically. Nobody should avoid learning how to defend themselves because they're not an athlete. All students will get in better shape during the course; you will increase your flexibility, endurance, speed, strength, environmental awareness, and self-confidence. Many students lose a lot of weight! You must ask your doctor if it's OK to participate in this type of training if you have any physical limitation/injury.

There are no karate-type uniforms in Krav Maga. Students wear any athletic shoes that won't leave marks on a wooden floor, long black pants (i.e. sweats, karate pants, etc.), and a short sleeved t-shirt. After the first week, students will be issued their white KMSD t shirt. Extra Krav Maga t-shirts are available from the Instructors after the course begins (including colored ones which can be worn outside of class). Level 2 students may wear any colored KMSD t shirt. Boxing handwraps are also issued to new students after the first week and should be worn to all classes unless otherwise indicated; extra sets are available in class ($10; or extra long versions for $12). Extra T-shirts are $15 (special Women's t-shirts available for $20; prices for all merchandise are listed the Order Forms in class). When making a purchase, please fill out an Order Form completely, filling out the shaded areas, and place in the manila envelope near the front of class or hand to the designated Instructor with payment; either cash, or checks made out to:
"Krav Maga San Diego, Inc.".
Also, leave all jewelry, watches, etc. at home, or in a gym bag at the side of the room. KMSD/LFJCC not responsible for lost property.
KMSD students may take advantage of the LFJCC member security parking, showers, and locker room facilities for no extra charge at one of the highest quality JCC's worldwide.

Krav Maga San Diego typically attracts a wide variety of men/women/girls/boys who share some things in common: the desire to increase their self-confidence and ability to realistically defend themselves and their loved ones; and an interest in maintaining physical fitness in a non-threatening environment while having fun! Participants typically include Military and Law Enforcement personnel (who make up a large % of Krav Maga San Diego members), homemakers, entertainment figures, high school/college students, athletes, artists, professionals, etc. It's typically a very positive social setting in a friendly atmosphere, and "helping each other out" is mandatory. The age range for our regular class is teens through seniors; please don't hesitate to contact us if you have related questions. We will have students with no related experience at all, as well as accomplished martial artists from other systems, and Military/Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics Instructors. Also, please see "Discounts", under "How much is the course?"

No, one will be provided for you. Students will get to know each other in the class and are asked to please talk to each other while waiting for class to start. Couples, parents/teenagers, siblings, and friends often join together to train with each other. But at different times during the class students will change partners. Our Message Board is open to Krav Maga San Diego students of all levels. Email us to request a username and password: Info@KravMagaSD.com

Krav Maga San Diego uses the International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF) system of ranking signified by a patch on the pants; it is recognized internationally: Practitioner 1 - 5, Graduate 1 - 5, and Expert levels. New students start out in the Level 1 Class without any rank, and usually there is a Practitioner 1 Exam offered after a student completes two (2) eight-week sessions of Level 1 classes. Following this, most students are invited to attend the Level 2 classes, although many choose to continuing their training in Level 1, even for several sessions, to reinforce the basic, important Krav Maga principles and techniques. The levels (Practitioner/Graduate/Expert) are somewhat aligned with traditional martial arts belt progression, but the rank system generally allows for students to learn higher level techniques sooner, and test more often, if they choose to do so. There are separate fees for workshops and testing. In Krav Maga, teaching and "doing" are distinct, so high ranking students may not have the tools to teach Krav Maga, while lower ranking students may possess the talent to be recommended to Instructor Training.
Krav Maga San Diego is the sole international testing location in California that is recognized worldwide.

We sometimes allow experienced Krav Maga students to join an ongoing session, pending Instructor approval. Send us an email through this website if interested.
Note: there is a $25 late fee if you pay after the first class (New Students generally will not be admitted to the session late, but will be placed on the waiting list for the next session; experienced Krav Maga students may pay the late fee and join after the first week of the session). You must have completed your Registration process before beginning your workout when you do start your training. Some students only attend once a week throughout the eight-week course, although we recommend new students maximize training by attending two of the four weekly Level 1 classes. Special permission can be granted for new students to attend three classes per week (Military, Law Enforcement, Firefighter, Level 2 and Level 3 students are permitted to do so automatically).

$250 per eight (8) week session for New Level 1 Students (first session only - includes KMSD t shirt, a pair of handwraps/guide).
$150 for Continuing Students (any level). New students may attend any two (2) of the four (4) classes offered in their level per week, no need to notify us each week as to which days you are coming.
For Continuing Students, there is a $25 late fee if you pay after the first class (Continuing Students only; new students generally will not be admitted this late, but will be placed on the waiting list for the next session).
Please note that all fees are non-refundable. If your check is returned by the bank, there is a $25 fee imposed by the JCC, in addition to a $25 KMSD fee for "returned checks".
Students of other self-defense/martial arts may contact us for information on attending as a guest and we will arrange with security for your visit. We frequently host Instructors and students from other Krav Maga programs from around the world who come to train with us.

DISCOUNTS for regular course sessions

$50 off (for students in the following groups):

  Active Duty Military personnel
  Full-time Law Enforcement Officers
  Full-time Firefighters

$25 off for:

  JCC members
  Continuing students who refer a  NEW Level 1 student
  Under 18 year-olds
  2008 Women's Seminar participants (New Students only)

One discount per person, per session, please; take the best one you qualify for.

If you are unsure if you want to commit to the course, register (with payment), participate in the class, and then email us after the first class to ask us to "unregister" you. We'll reply with a confirmation and then destroy your check and registration form. But most students who come to try it out end up staying! If you are thinking about joining another school, please see them first to judge for yourself.
To join one of the regular 8-week sessions, mail in a Registration Form (available at the JCC, or downloadable here on our site) to the Krav Maga San Diego, Inc. office address (NOT the JCC), with a check made out to: Lawrence Family JCC (please make sure your check has your personal name listed on it, and IS NOT made out to
"Krav Maga").
The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center should not be asked to accept anything at all for Krav Maga San Diego. Students who attempt to register by bringing registration forms/payment directly to the JCC, or mailing them to the JCC instead of mailing them to Krav Maga San Diego, will not be registered for the training and their place will be given to a waiting student.
Checks for Seminars are typically made out to "Krav Maga San Diego, Inc.", but verify this before mailing in your fees. Classes will likely fill up in advance and priority is given to students who are referred from current students, who have pre-register by contacting us through this site, and, who have mailed in their registration forms and checks to:
Krav Maga San Diego, Inc.
P.O. Box 13453
La Jolla, CA 92039-3453.
Come dressed to train the first day of training; you must have filled out and turned in a Registration Form before beginning the class!

Yes. Please contact Dana Ben Kaplan, Lead Instructor, with details of what you are interested in proposing for trade. His direct email is "Dana@KravMagaSD.com".

Krav Maga San Diego Inc. reserves final decision of any trade agreements for the course. If in doubt, just let us know what you do, and we may contact you.
Typical trade arrangements are made for sports medicine, massage therapy, and chiropractic services.

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