// WHAT TO EXPECT

The Krav Junior Program is composed of the physical and mental aspects of self-defense and life skills training. The program typically covers:

1. Understanding dangers and safety issues that kids and teens face (both from adult attackers and bullies of similar age), and learning proper decision-making.
2. Learning and drilling all the strikes, as well as learning proper targeting.
3. Learning and practicing self-defense techniques in the Krav Junior curriculum (including dealing with punches, kicks, bearhugs, grabs, controls, falls etc.)
4. Pre-emptive action and avoidance, including situational awareness, violence prevention, stranger danger, etc.
5. Simulation training, determination and stress drilling, training reactions and the ability to function under stress.
6. Developing physical abilities such as coordination, functional strength, and mobility, which are important foundations for becoming healthy adults.
7. Developing key life skills, like confidence, self-esteem, discipline, respect, teamwork, and leadership.

Krav Junior Divisions

Krav Junior is categorized by appropriate age groups. Below are the recommended age groups for Krav Junior classes. We recommend that all new students book a trial class before joining a full training season, so that the instructors will have the opportunity to meet your child, you, as a parent, can get more acquainted with our training.

// KIDS DIVISION Recommended Age 5 to 8

The focus for this age group is to develop motor skills, understand options for conflict resolution, build of good habits, learn to help others, and develop attention and listening skills.

// YOUTH DIVISION Recommended Age 8 to 11

In the Youth group, students will continue to work on Krav Maga and motor skills (balance, coordination, static and dynamic strength, etc.), develop their awareness and attention skills, learn about values such as discipline, respect, helping/protecting others, and persistence.

// JUNIOR DIVISION Recommended Age 11 to 13

Just as in the Kids and Youth Divisions, the Juniors will learn and develop their Krav Maga skills, motor skills, and attention and awareness skills. Through the use of case studies and scenarios, we begin to help our students learn how to make sound decisions regarding their personal safety.

// TEENS DIVISION Recommended Age 13 to 15

The Teen Division focuses on sharpening their Krav Maga skills, motor skills, attention and awareness, and decision-making and reactions. Techniques and tactics here bear more similarities to the adult curriculum, and more scenarios are used to help students better understand dangers in the world and how to make the right decisions in the face of these threats to their safety.

Note: Age groupings may vary slightly among different schools.

Each division has a defined level that is comprised of technical proficiency, motor skills, attention skills, theoretical knowledge, and educational values. With time and regular training, the Krav Junior system allows for kids and teens of all ages to progress steadily and gain the full benefits of well-rounded Krav Maga education.

If you’d like to be notified when a new course will launch, email us at info@kmgchina.cn and request for Krav Junior course notifications.

FAQs

1. How is Krav Maga different from other martial arts?

Unlike karate, taekwondo, muay thai, boxing, or other martial arts and combat sports, Krav Maga is not a sport, nor is it for competition or performance. Krav Maga is first and foremost a system of self-defense, designed to prevent, avoid, or escape conflict situations. All our techniques and tactics are practical, straightforward, and designed to be as easy to start learning and apply for the average person. This is the same for our kids and teens curriculum.

2. How safe is Krav Maga? Does my child risk getting hurt?

Krav Maga is as safe as any other martial arts form. We teach your child to follow the instructor’s directions and mind the safety rules, so the chances of being injured during a class are as remote and even less than for any other sport.

3. I see quite violent videos of adults practicing Krav Maga. Will my child become violent or hurt other children?

We completely understand this concern. It’s important first to understand that Krav Maga has different specialties, including self-defense for adults, VIP protection, and military and law enforcement applications. What you are seeing in online videos are specific to these subject matters, where force is necessary to save a life or complete a mission.

Kids and teens Krav Maga is completely different. We will never teach your child to become violent or hurt others. In fact, it is the opposite: we train your child to be disciplined, have self-control, and known when it is appropriate to use what they learned in class. In our kids and teens classes, a lot of focus is on personal values and decision-making, and how it relates to self-defense and all kinds of conflicts they will encounter in life.

4. What will my child learn?

Krav Maga for kids is quite different from Krav Maga for adults. For kids and teens, techniques have been developed to accommodate their size, strength, and real abilities, while at the same time, the training is modified to address real danger and conflict situations that children and teens are more likely to face. In terms of self-defense, our program for kids and teens covers anti-bullying, stranger danger, awareness and avoidance, conflict resolution skills, and many other skills. However, we additionally focus on improving life skills such as building confidence, listening skills, decision-making skills, cooperative skills, self-discipline, respect, and overall fitness and coordination. These are invaluable skills that will benefit children for the rest of their lives.

5. What are the classes like? How are they structured?

All our Krav Junior classes will include warm-up, learning games, and structured striking or defensive technique training. With younger age groups, we focus on using learning games as the key training tool, to help them absorb techniques better in a fun way. Older kids and teens will have a more structured curriculum, designed specifically for their age group.

6. Do you have levels and testing for children like in your adult classes? What is the benefit of grading or ranking up in Krav Junior?

Yes, we have levels specific to each age division: Kids 1 to 5, Youth 1 to 5, Junior 1 to 5, and Teens 1 to 5. (Kinder Divisions aged 3 to 5 do not have grading exams.) To qualify for each grading level, students must attend a minimum number of training hours (this varies based on local school schedule), and be able to perform the techniques proficiently. Krav Junior instructors will be able to assess if a child is ready to take an exam.

We highly encourage kids and teens to go for the exams. Goal-setting is very important at a young age, and each rank achieved builds confidence and self-esteem in children. We at KMG understand that working towards a goal and having a real sense of accomplishment is also very important for character building and personal development that will carry on to later in life.

7. How long will it take for my child to be able to use what he or she learns in Krav Maga class?

Krav Maga is designed to be easy to pick up and immediately apply, especially for children. The teaching is quite direct, and techniques and theory are all given in context. In addition, children tend to pick up new knowledge and skills faster than adults, and they tend to retain it longer if they practice regularly at a young age.