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Can you recommend protective gear for Krav maga sparring?

benzenedream — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:09:31 -0800

Can you recommend protective gear for Krav maga sparring? I've done some boxing and am now planning on doing Krav Maga sparring. They offer a package at the gym I go to but I already have some of the things in the package (cup, mouthguard, fight gloves). I need shin guards and protective headgear. Can any fighting Mefites suggest good quality gear? I'm not looking for a specific store rec, but pointers to a specific model. Headgear should include chin padding but not a full face visor.

Fight or flight?

SamuelF — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:36:08 -0800

I've put on 20 pounds since I started my full-time desk job a year ago, and the time has come to get myself back in to shape. Research has brought me two preferable possibilities: a few days a week, either start taking Krav Maga classes (during my lunch break), or start commuting to work by bike instead of driving (15 miles each way). I have no experience with either, live in Boston, work north of Boston. Help me pick the right path. Basic stats: 23 year old male, 5'6" 170lbs, up from my normal weight of 150lbs. No physical ailments or disabilities. The way I see it, both options have their pros and cons:

Krav Maga
Pros: Indoor / no weather concerns, learn to kick ass.
Cons: Hard to find a good trainer nearby (I work in Burlington, MA), more expensive than biking in the long run.

Biking
Pros: Save money on gas, less pollution, will be able to use more often than fighting skills.
Cons: 15 miles is a long way to bike, weather could lead to a long rainy ride home, will take longer to get up to speed (no pun intended), bike shorts are awkward.

I'm leaning towards biking, but I'd have to get myself in to shape before I could even consider doing 30 miles of biking a day. If you're a biker / Krav Maga'er, I'd like to hear about your experiences. I'll answer any questions that could help figure out an ideal activity. Basically, I need a good physical activity with an emphasis on cardio that I can work in to my existing schedule without taking too much of my free time. Building muscle is not something I'm interested in, I just want to lost fat and get my heart and my body in good enough shape to survive until scientists can grow new body parts for me from my stem cells so I can live forever. Mmm, test tube spleen...

Bonus option: I even considered Wii Fit, but I probably wouldn't find the time or the will to pull myself away from Rock Band. Open to consideration, though.

I ain't puttin no wax on and I sure as hell ain't takin' no wax off.

longbaugh — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:49:44 -0800

Experienced in Martial Arts? I am looking to begin training Krav Maga/KAPAP (with some BJJ thrown in) and some Kali/Escrima (with some JKD thrown in) in the very near future and was wondering if our resident Mefite Artists had any positive/negative experiences with any of them. I've done some looking into the instructors themselves and checked the paper trails to ensure it's no mcdojo and in turn I have checked their teacher's credentials. The JKD/Kali/Escrima/FMA goes via Inosanto so no problems there - the KAPAP is via Major (Res) Avi Nardia and David Arama. The BJJ is via Royce Gracie and there is also some generic Muay Thai & boxing et al in the mix.

I've trained some in the past but not such a diverse bunch of styles. This is primarily for fitness and not for self-defence (I try not to hang out in places where I'd need to use skills such as these). I am not interested in competition fighting either. I am looking for effectiveness however. Even if I've no intention of using anything I think it's important that if you're going to train you do it right, otherwise I'd just do some Tae Bo...

If you've any experience with any of the above in any circumstance then please throw in your tuppence (that's 2c to you colonials) and let me know.

TIA