Gym Rules

For a good atmosphere and smooth training sessions, it’s important that all participants follow the gym rules. And because it’s unpleasant to be told you’ve “broken the unwritten rules,” we decided to make a list of the most important ones:

Gear

The complete gear consists of pants (shorts or long) and a t-shirt, with KMTM or IKMF branding, along with your level patch. If you don’t have the official gear, plain black clothing is accepted (no colors, no prints/messages). Take off your watch, jewellery, bracelets — anything that can break/get lost or scratch.

Change of footwear

You need clean sport shoes for training — don’t use the ones you walked in with (even if you live 2 minutes away), so you won’t bring dust and germs from the street onto the gym floor.

Personal hygiene

Take care of your personal hygiene before coming to training so you don’t bother those around you; nails trimmed short; band-aids/bandages on scratches or wounds. When using extra gear (gloves, shin guards, etc.) make sure you air them out well after every training session and disinfect them regularly.

Friendship and respect

If you enjoy what we do, you’ll probably spend a lot of time at the gym. Try to get to know everyone: the team of instructors, your training partners. We’re all here to learn and feel good, to be part of a united group. Respect those with more experience and listen to their advice when offered. If you already know everything, chances are you’re at the wrong class. Equally, if you’re the more experienced one, help beginners feel welcome. Remember how it was when you first started!

Respect the schedule

You’re paying for training sessions, so you should make the most of every minute. If the schedule regularly prevents you from arriving on time, let us know. When you’re late, hurry once you arrive at the gym and try not to distract your colleagues who have already started. Wait for the instructor’s confirmation before joining in, and follow their instructions (for example, doing a short warm-up on your own). If you need to leave early, inform the instructor at the beginning of the class.

Take care of yourself

If you have injuries, or just a rough day, it’s your responsibility to take it easy. Report injuries to instructors and training partners. If you have a problematic knee or elbow, wear a knee brace / elbow pad / wrap — it’s the universal way to signal an injury. If you get injured, objectively assess how serious it is. “Faking” has no place in the gym, but equally we don’t want to worsen real problems! When you need a break or some fresh air, ask for it. If you feel sick, speak up; don’t leave the gym alone, take someone with you!

Protect your training partner

The rule is simple — if your partner gets injured because of you, you don’t get another one! Be aware of your technical level as well as your physical capacity relative to your partner in each exercise. The goal of training is for everyone to learn and leave better than they came, not with an injury. That said, don’t coddle your partners to such an extent that there’s no learning or progress; a good defense can only develop when the attack is correct and committed!

Training safety

When everyone is paying attention, injuries are much rarer! Watch out for mirrors, chairs, walls — any obstacle you could bump into. Don’t leave sticks / knives / pads on the training surface — anything you could step on and fall. Make sure you know how to hold the shield and pads, and that your partner does too, before you strike them. Use force and speed progressively, don’t go full power right away. “Tap” when appropriate — if we’re working chokes or joint locks; when your partner “taps,” stop the technique immediately! If you didn’t understand the previous sentence, please ask for an explanation at the gym!

Be attentive and put in effort

Listen when the instructor explains and practice when it’s time. Don’t distract your colleagues — they’d like to make the most of their time in the gym, but they’re probably too polite to tell you you’re bothering them. If you’re not sweating during training, it’s most likely your fault — push yourself a bit harder. Every training session has room for questions, but it’s important not to turn it into a seminar; sometimes the instructor won’t answer you on the spot — either it goes off-topic or there isn’t enough time; don’t take it personally, and if by the end your question hasn’t been addressed, bring it up again after the salute.

The salute

At the beginning and end of every training session, participants line up shoulder to shoulder, facing the instructor. First are those with complete gear in order of rank, then those with gear but no rank, then those with partial gear and the rest. With identical gear/rank, the order is by height. The instructor, with hands slightly bent and fists closed, bows slightly forward and says “Kida.” Participants salute back in unison, the same way.

Grades

Even though IKMF Krav Maga doesn’t use belts, there is a system of ranks / hierarchical levels. 5 “Practitioner” levels, from P1 to P5; 5 “Graduate” levels, from G1 to G5; 5 “Expert” levels, from E1 to E5. Advancement is based on an exam. Your rank patch is proof of your work — wear it with pride!

If you’re unsure about anything, or simply curious to learn more, just ask! We’re here to help!