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Defending Against A Knife Attack! 

Knives are one of the most common types of weapons around, and also the most deadly. Knife attacks are often quick, close, and unpredictable, making them very dangerous. Learning how to defend yourself against a knife attack is a crucial part of learning Self Defense and an important skill for anyone to have. To survive a knife fight, you need to know what one looks like, and how to shut one down. 

What Do You Need to Know About Knife Attacks

You do not need a license to carry a knife, making it far more likely that you might encounter one than a gun or another weapon. Knives are tricky to defend because they are easily concealed. Usually, an attacker will wait until the very last minute to reveal their weapon, often starting the fight with their empty hand to take their victim unawares.  In fact, most survivors of Knife Attacks say that they only realized their assailant had a blade after they had already been stabbed or slashed. That is why knowing how to shut down any kind of attack, armed or otherwise, is vital.

            Forged Krav Maga focuses on practical ways to survive a knife attack, because fancy techniques are very unlikely to work. Unless you’re Jason Bourne, a knife altercation will probably look a lot more like an ambush than a back-and-forth sparring match. The important thing to know isn’t how to dodge and counter a person wielding a knife, but rather how to get in close and shut down their weapon. And that’s only if running away isn’t an option. Running away should always be your first line of defense. But if you can’t run away! Then you need to learn how to shut down the knife attack!

Realistic Knife Training

             In Krav Maga classes, students learn how to react quickly to attacks from different angles, use an attacker’s energy to control their weapon, and remove themselves from the situation. There are many directions a knife could come from: above, below, straight on, diagonal, etc. Knife attacks are broken up into ‘angles’ that each have their own set of defenses. After blocking the attack and shutting it down, students must then learn to take control of the weapon to make sure the attacker can’t simply wind up and try again. It may sound counterintuitive, but removing the space between the attacker and the defender is the key to shutting down an attack. In Krav Maga classes at Forged Self Defense, much emphasis is put on the ways that you can control someone from close range, also known as ‘clinch-fighting.’

            These skills are put into practice through stress drills, where students work the techniques in non-conventional formats designed to help them build up their reaction times and work under pressure. Eyes-closed drills, fighting in the clinch to control a knife with a partner, and group pad drills with spontaneous knife defenses thrown in are just some of the ways that the stress of an attack can be mimicked in the safe class environment. Working with friends and peers makes these types of drills more fun than scary, while still helping students visualize real-world situations that they can apply their training to.

We offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ),  Krav Maga/Self-Defense and Children’s Programs.

Visit Our Website! www.forgedsalem.com

Don’t Wait!  Call TODAY to sign up for your FREE Intro LESSON 978-745-8511

Forged Self Defense, Salem MA, provides the most realistic and practical self-defense programs for Massachusetts and North Shore Area including: Peabody MASalem MA, Beverly MALynn MAMarblehead MADanvers MA

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The Journey Of The Black Belt

                       If you’ve ever trained Martial Arts, you’ve probably received the infamous question: ‘Are you a black belt?’ No matter what discipline you train, it’s the first thing on everyone’s mind. The quality of ‘being a black belt’ seems on par with being a superhero, or having your hands registered as deadly weapons. Black belts certainly deserve praise for the countless hours of training they put in, hundreds of techniques they learned, and unflinching dedication that it took for them to get there. However, should earning a black belt be ultimate goal for a martial artist? It’s what we’re all striving for, isn’t it? Well, ask any coach or talented martial artist and they’ll tell you that their journey didn’t end at the black belt. 

A White Belt Who Never Quits 

            The classic martial arts idiom goes, “A Black Belt is a white belt who never quit.” In martial arts, determination, effort, and willingness to learn are much more important than any belt rank. In some ways, the white belt is the hardest rank to earn, because it requires taking a risk. What if you fail? What if you’re not cut out to be a black belt someday? Sometimes, the most difficult part of a journey is just beginning it. But in the encouraging words of Woody Allen, “90% of life is just showing up.” For those who have the courage to start something new, the rewards will be great. That is why we never forget where we came from, and welcome each new white belt brave enough to start their journey. 

As martial artists learn and grow, their belt colors are designed to represent the sweat and grit that have gone into their training. Persevering through difficulty, frustration, dips, plateaus, and roadblocks along the way can be challenging, but above all, martial arts rewards consistency and sticktoitveness. Every Black Belt who ever lived was once a white belt who barely knew how to throw a punch. For that reason, martial artists stress the difference between getting a black belt, and earning one. Anyone can go online and buy a piece of fabric, but it takes dedication and hard work to truly earn the rank. Mostly, it takes a willingness to be a white belt first. 

The Journey Never Ends 

Why do martial artists always refer to training as a ‘journey’? Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Krav Maga are skills that can always be improved, and never be mastered. As the belt rank goes up, the scope of knowledge left to acquire doesn’t narrow – it grows wider. In fact, when an experienced martial artist earns their black belt, often they find that their journey has only just begun. For this reason, few people quit once they’ve hit this milestone. At that point in their journey, they’ve likely realized that having a black belt doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from any more training. There will always be more to learn, and if a martial artist is truly committed to improving, they’ll be able to learn from any situation. Cross-training between disciplines, helping other students, and teaching are all ways that black belts seek new opportunities to learn. Most importantly, they form a community of people who never quit, and encourage each other and students of all belt ranks to appreciate the journey over a final destination.

We offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ),  Krav Maga/Self-Defense and Children’s Programs.

Visit Our Website! www.forgedsalem.com

Don’t Wait!  Call TODAY to sign up for your FREE Intro LESSON 978-745-8511

Forged Self Defense, Salem MA, provides the most realistic and practical self-defense programs for Massachusetts and North Shore Area including: Peabody MASalem MA, Beverly MALynn MAMarblehead MADanvers MA

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Training Martial Arts Through the Holiday Season 

The holiday season is a time for celebration and joy, but for many, it can also represent stress. The tasks of dealing with family in town, buying gifts, and adjusting to the coldest and darkest time of the year make it easy to feel overwhelmed in December and lose momentum in Martial Arts Training. The key to balancing festivities with mental and physical health is to stay consistent with the activities that keep you active and working towards a goal. 

Same Year, New You

Everyone knows about the famous statistic: only 8% of people accomplish their New Year’s resolutions, but why is that? People accomplish great things all the time, so how is it possible that so few can keep a New Year’s resolution? The problem is that as appealing as the idea of a ‘fresh start’ might be, it’s not the best way to pursue a goal you’re truly committed to. If you truly want to change your life in some way, why wait for a certain date to begin? 

When we try to start a goal anew, even if we’ve already tried and ended up in the 92% the previous year, we choose to forget the mistakes that we made in the past rather than learning from them. Instead of waiting for the New Year to begin a resolution – whether it be getting into shape, attending more martial arts classes, gaining confidence, or anything at all – make a plan the moment you identify the goal and go from there. Slipping up or straying from your trajectory is normal. What matters is that you get right back on track instead of waiting for the next year to roll around to start again. 

Consistency 

Training Martial Arts is a journey that requires patience, determination, and above all, consistency. In Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/BJJ, belts and stripes aren’t just handed out. They’re earned through hard work, pushing through apathy and exhaustion, and showing up day after day. While it may be tempting around the holiday season to let training go and promise to work extra hard in the New Year, this mindset may ultimately lead to more stress down the line. No one likes playing catch-up, and staying consistent with training can maintain steady progress and prevent unnecessary burnout. After all, there’s no way to hack martial arts training. Like almost any skill in life, it takes practice and a willingness never to give up. 

Family 

            The holidays are a time for spending with family and friends and showing them how much we appreciate each other. Communities come in many shapes and forms, and many are proud to call their coaches and teammates at Forged Self Defense their martial arts family. We come to Forged to train as well as spend time with our friends and help each other grow and learn. Martial Arts is a skill that is impossible to learn without forming connections, whether it be a personal relationship between a student and a coach, the mutual bond between training partners, or the sense of community in a class of martial artists sweating and having fun. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s worth letting your martial arts family know how much you value them.

We offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ),  Krav Maga/Self-Defense and Children’s Programs.

Visit Our Website! www.forgedsalem.com

Don’t Wait!  Call TODAY to sign up for your FREE Intro LESSON 978-745-8511 

Forged Self Defense, Salem MA, provides the most realistic and practical self-defense programs for Massachusetts and North Shore Area including: Peabody MASalem MA, Beverly MALynn MAMarblehead MADanvers MA

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Benefits of Martial Arts Training for Women

            There are many different reasons why women choose to practice Krav Maga or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Martial arts is a journey and a life style that can benefit anyone regardless of gender, but many women are drawn to it for their own personal reasons. Krav Maga and BJJ don’t require genders to be separated for training purposes since they are not traditional team sports, so the community is very integrated and inclusive. The Self Defense aspect appeals to many women hoping to feel more secure and empowered by developing their own abilities, or to improve self-esteem and confidence.

Confidence and Community  

            Women face many challenges to their sense of safety and confidence in everyday life, whether they be physical threats, sexist remarks, or emotional drainage. Learning to be an upstander and losing the fear of taking up space is a crucial part of many women’s Martial Arts journeys. This is taught through developing skills that grant students a sense of accomplishment and belief in their own potential. The kind of people that form this community are extremely supportive of one another, welcoming to newcomers, and always pushing each other to succeed. Women especially lift each other up and strive to help each other realize their own potential.        

Self Defense 

Krav Maga training emphasizes strength and capability over aggression and dominance, and focuses on ways to avoid conflicts just as much as ways to face them. On top of physical techniques, Forged Self Defense teaches students how to avoid becoming a victim by displaying Confidence and capability in their everyday life. For example, someone who walks tall, looks people in the eye, and asserts what they need is not an easy mark for an aggressor. Women, who are often pressured to accept negative behavior, can apply these tenets to feel more self-assured and comfortable in both tricky situations as well as day to day life. 

While body language can go a long way, many women hope to gain from martial arts a better understanding of what to do should a situation escalate and they need to defend themselves against a man. The Krav Maga curriculum at Forged Self Defense includes many techniques that are effective no matter the size or shape of the two opponents, and often provides many variations for different scenarios. Defenses for attacks like a rear bear hug or a choke from behind directly address some of the concerns that students may have, but questions about specific situations are strongly encouraged. 

Furthermore, proficiency in Self Defense concepts taught on the curriculum can enable students to come up with their own solutions to problems, and in-class drills help to develop other necessary skills such as quick reactions, improvisation, and dealing with stressful encounters. These benefits and the cooperative community built around them are part of the reason why so many women as well as men choose to train Krav Maga and BJJ.

We offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ),  Krav Maga/Self-Defense and Children’s Programs.

Visit Our Website! www.forgedsalem.com

Don’t Wait!  Call TODAY to sign up for your FREE Intro LESSON 978-745-8511 

Forged Self Defense, Salem MA, provides the most realistic and practical self-defense programs for Massachusetts and North Shore Area including: Peabody MASalem MA, Beverly MALynn MAMarblehead MADanvers MA

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Practicing Gratitude In Martial Arts 

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, now is a great time to start thinking about how you can practice gratitude within your daily life and martial arts training like Krav Maga or Bjj-Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Studies have proven time and again that counting your blessings regularly can improve emotional stability, increase happiness, and lead to a growth-mindset. Focusing on what you have instead of what you lack can lead to greater satisfaction in life and clearer goals. The same is true about practicing gratitude in martial arts. Learning to enjoy the process instead of only caring about the next milestone is the key to becoming a great martial artist. 

Gratitude On The Mats 

            When we step onto the mats, we always bow to show our appreciation to the school and the space we use. When we pay our respects to our partners, we are thanking them for helping us train and grow. When we clap for our teammates as they earn a new belt, we are showing our pride, not our envy. All of these traditions are little ways that we practice gratitude here at Forged Self Defense, and that help to remind us that training is a privilege and not a chore. 

It’s only human to feel disappointed with where we are in our journeys sometimes, but reframing our thoughts through a lens of gratitude can help get us back on track. For example, instead of thinking that we “have” to go to class, we can celebrate that we “get” to go to class. Oftentimes little shifts in our thought processes are all it takes to regain motivation and get out of a slump. 

Loving The Journey 

            Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” This is especially true in a martial arts school, where newer students often find themselves surrounded by those more skilled or experienced than them. However, martial arts is not a skill that can ever be completely mastered, and no matter where you are in the journey, there is always more to learn. Regardless of what belt you wear, you will always find teachers in those with higher and lower belts than yours. Earning a belt is a great achievement, but it should never be the main motivator for studying martial arts. Any black belt in Krav Maga or Bjj-Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can testify that falling in love with the learning process, being humbled, and forgetting their ego is what got them to where they are. 

            If you think back to why you decided to join a martial arts school, it probably wasn’t to earn belts. Remembering what you have gained from training – confidence, skills, fitness, a community – is a great way to motivate yourself through gratitude rather than comparison. Setting goals is important, but only on the foundation of thankfulness for where you are and all the hard work you’ve put into getting there. 

Forged Self Defense offers the most  functional and realistic self-defense and fitness programs in the North Shore Salem MA Area.

We offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ),  Krav Maga/Self-Defense and Children’s Programs.

Visit Our Website! www.forgedsalem.com

Don’t Wait!  Call TODAY to sign up for your FREE PRIVATE LESSON 978-745-8511 

Forged Self Defense, Salem MA, provides the most realistic and practical self-defense programs for Massachusetts and North Shore Area including: Peabody MASalem MA, Beverly MALynn MAMarblehead MADanvers MA

Fill In The Form For More Info!

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