The word is spreading that WTC’s Krav Maga training can help you achieve your strength, health, and fitness goals by using basic Krav movements alongside other aerobic and resistance exercises.
Recently the pride of Saldanha, Saldanha XV, won the ‘west coast trophy’ after defeating their bitter rivals, Vredenburg. (see article covering this). This has served as an inspiration for young aspirant players, but also for the broader community.
Fighting Fit
To maintain conditioning during the holiday period, the Saldanha team showed commitment by not letting themselves go during the “off season”, opting instead for Krav-based fitness training. The team were exposed to a range of exercises from high intensity aerobics to strength and resistance training using primarily their body weight.
The benefits of WTC Krav Maga for Sportsmen
For Krav Maga self-defense training, one is taught to use all the body’s natural weapons, namely the fists, elbows, legs, feet and head (if absolutely necessary)— with devastating effect.
In the game of rugby, players are taught to use their body to protect or attack the try line. Similarly, in Krav Maga, the focus is on protecting your body, as you would the try line, whilst being aware of dangers with the necessary skill to execute solutions to any dangers which may arise. Just as a rugby player on the attack with the ball darting for the try line may wish to side step an opponent to avoid being tackled, in Krav one is to be alert and skilled enough to be able to sidestep potential danger. This training could benefit not only the agile winger in the backrow, but members of the forward pack alike as the ever competitive modern game places further demand on all fifteen on the team to possess speed to effectively execute tackles and gain territory to score tries.
The WTC Krav Maga training sessions are designed to provide an all-over body workout, from high-intensity cardiovascular training (to improve stamina to get through games), to strength and conditioning (to improve the defensive side to your game).
WTC Krav Maga training system also helps you from a neuroscience perspective, improving your brain’s neuroplasticity. Stress drills in Krav improves your ability to think under pressure, serving to improve the speed of your natural reactions. These drills improve awareness, promoting self-discipline – with an emphasis on controlled aggression – which is essential on the rugby field.
Krav Maga is not a sport, as is Karate, kickboxing or Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Krav Maga is a way of life. With this in mind, WTC training sessions are purposefully designed to be fun, educational and physically beneficial. Krav Maga was developed for soldiers preparing to go out on the battlefield, what better physical and mental training for warriors preparing to go out on to the rugby field?
The dedicated Saldanha rugby players flanked by instructors Matt Leach (Krav Maga Combat Academy) and Claudio Chiste