Sophie's determination to train despite her disability

Instinctive Krav Maga on wheelchair

Sophie during the class

Here is Sophie's story from Instinctive Krav Maga La Ferte Bernard:

"My experience in Krav Maga:

Even though I was 40 years old, closer to 45 even 🤣, I decided to take the plunge after a little scare in my street (a completely drunk man, sitting in front of my door and who was not determined to move, while at 2 a.m., I just wanted to go home and go to bed...). Off to the dojo for an initiation to Krav Maga. That was 3 years ago now, despite the fact that I had never done any sport before, let alone combat sports. I wanted and needed to feel confident in my private life. Living alone in a neighborhood that wasn't always great, I felt the need to learn some techniques to defend myself if necessary. In the end, I got a taste for it and found my bearings. Despite my lack of experience and physical condition, as well as my few extra pounds, I ended up acquiring solid foundations that now give me the desire to become an instructor in a few years. However, my journey was somewhat marred, because during a session in February, I injured my knee. Having been off work for two months now, I resumed training a few weeks ago, but in a wheelchair version, because standing and working standing up is impossible for me today. It's a special experience but very enriching on a human level. I'm learning other techniques, I see things from a different perspective, and that doesn't stop me from continuing to work and progress. While enjoying the lessons of my instructors and the kindness of my partners. You have to know how to listen to yourself, but sometimes you also have to not listen to yourself and try to push your limits. You always gain from learning, and even more so in difficult times. With instructors trained in adaptive Krav Maga, I am heading towards the grading with joy and good humor."

What can we learn from this testimony?

Accessibility

Our self-defense method, Instinctive Krav Maga, is based on simple principles:

• Harnessing our instinctive survival reactions

• Improving our instinctive survival reactions

• Adapt to the context

• Adapting to our own potential

• Act physically if we cannot flee/avoid the fight

Boundaries :

Obviously, reality will inevitably impose limits on us, including:

• Refusing to train by adapting to the constraints of injuries

• Refusing to progress with personal constraints

• Convincing yourself that there will never be a solution (because "I am a woman", "I am small", "I am this or that", etc.)

• The instructor teaches "closed" techniques. For him , "there is only this technique for this problem." That is to say, technical performance is THE main (or exclusive) condition for successfully getting out of this aggression.

• The instructor does not know how to adapt to the personal constraints of his students

• The instructor refuses to adapt to the personal constraints of his students, it is up to them to adapt... This type of profile is unfortunately common.

Conclusion :

The instructor and student form a duo in the dynamic of progression. The instructor's challenge is to be able to adapt to each student. This requires mobilizing a wide range of social, human, pedagogical, and technical skills. The student's challenge is to overcome doubts and, above all, to communicate with their instructor in order to clarify their own goals, their own limitations, and any potential difficulties.