Building Krav Maga Instructors - Krav Maga Blog

A day on one of Europes toughest Instructor training courses

Day 5. 'Pass the sick bucket'

The BKMA Instructor candidates hurt. Every muscle aches. Bruises merge, sprains pulls and bumps merge into one another. I imagine one of these quick 3 or 5 day day 'Instructor' courses seems attractive now. :-) After all, you'd be home and dry already and would have had 2 days rest.

Forget the dodgy claims and cammo kit. It's the quick fix, only 3 days - a long weekend, a bit of back slapping, then off you trot: an 'accredited'  special forces commando kapap ninja' or whatever the claims are currently.

We have had unsuccessful candidates, people do fail. We screen very carefully to try and prevent this but we are noot foolproof. One such unsuccessfull candidate went on pass Moni Aiziks course. I dont know how to be honest. We could not train him to basic instructor standard in 18 days. Aizik claims he did in 3 days ? Makes me wonder about quality control.

By tommorow the BKMA Instructor candidates will have done the equilivent to 2 of these courses back to back. By the end of the phase they will have done the equilivent to 3 of these short courses back to back. And then they will be just half way through basic training.

But,  these Instructor candidates aspire to a different standard alltogether.  They crave challenge, authenticity, self development.  And now is the time to pay for it. The candidates want the real thing and they are here to earn it. Ironically some are actually are of a 'special forces'  background - to be honest you'd never know - they are suffering just as much as everyone else. Krav Maga - the great leveller.

Today a change will take place. Today, they will hit rock bottom and over come it. They will realise that what they think they are capable of and what they are capable of is different. Today the will do pre exhaustive training - after an initial 4 hours hard training. Then the candidates go straight to fighting one another, after that its straight onto multiple attackers drills - typically 4 onto 1. A tough day,  it wont be pretty. No text book moves or cool stuff. Just slogging, stumbling, brawling - gross motor skills - but what works. And when there is nothing left in the tank and they still fight. This is the secret ingredient - this is what makes BKMA Krav Maga  different. Its the sheer unrelenting will to survive - to carry on - not to STOP when they feel they cant continue.  Its survival at all costs - no matter the odds. This is the lesson we learn from Krav Maga.

Why is today so significant ? Instructor candidates always focus on the last day. As the saying goes - its not the final destination but the journey that counts.  Today is a really  important stage in this journey. Tommorow they will ache more but feel better. Some may not cope today - they may quit. Its unsuual after phase 1 but some still drop out - simply cant cope anymore.

But those that remain will be more positive and more confident. It will be day 6, nearly there. They will think 'Just today and two more til completion.  The last day wont be a full day will it maybe they let us go home early ?' .    I know this I have been there. I added it up I have 45 days basic training with various organisations. That excluddes more advanced or specialist training. So I know the process I understand it.