Krav Maga Institute NYC

Great instructors. Great flexibility. Very certified. Each class is part workout, part training.

However, be careful of their billing and cancellation policies. You have to cancel five business days in advance of your last pre-paid month and even if you are off by one day like I was, they will be unforgiving and still charge you an entire additional month, even if you plead with them or missed the five day mark by a day. So if you've been training with them for a while you might forget that the last month is pre-paid and this little stumbling block they've built into the system will make you screw yourself. I found this and their unwillingness to compromise very off putting and is the reason I can't give them a perfect rating like everyone else.

That said, I still recommend them for the training. Just be very careful with the billing/cancellation.

Joining KMI is one of the best decisions I've ever made. All of the instructors are extremely knowledgable and welcoming, which in turn creates a really supportive and fun no-egos environment. Everyone is welcome regardless of skill level and the instructors do an amazing job of making sure that everyone is able to learn and progress at their own pace. After training with KMI for a year now, I feel much more fit, much more aware and much more confident in my ability to handle a variety of situations that might spring up in the street.

If you're looking to get fit, learn how to better defend yourself, add to your martial arts knowledge or start feeling like Batman, join KMI.

I have been with Krav Maga Institute for two years. It is a great way to get exercise and de-stress at the end of the day. KMI has been great for my physical and mental health.
The school offers very practical lessons on being safe in an urban setting. There are fitness based classes and technique classes in different levels (beginners, all-levels, and advanced) so you will not wind up with someone that is out of your level. They also offer special seminars for various things like women's self defense, edge weapons, bar fighting, etc.
There are classes located throughout Manhattan, so you can be closer to your neighborhood or you can check out other locations as well. It does not get mundane with the various classes, instructors, and locations.
The instructors are friendly and are offer very useful, practical, and realistic tips on how to be safe. There is none of the "just do whatever I say" mentality, it's based on a "do it like this because of such and such reason." I have learned a lot from all the instructors at KMI.
I would recommend this to anyone looking to learn self defense, looking to get in shape, or to even try something new.

I bought a Groupon for Krav Maga Institute and I have absolutely loved it.

The induction (welcome, basic class that you must take first) was taught by Mike and he was very thorough and made us all feel really comfortable. There was no judgement at all and it was a great class to ease into learning the practice.

Second class was a basic Krav Maga class taught by Kristin and again, it was great. She's a great teacher and very motivating. I'm not such a "group fitness" person and I really have to be into the teaching style and I really was. The class wasn't as challenging as I would have liked but it was a great second class for me and I think for anyone who is starting out.

The third class I went to (trying to mix it up a little) was a SPEC combat cardio class with Nicole. I was warned that it was a really hard class, the teacher is super tough (I believe "sadist" was the word) etc. Yes, Nicole is tough and she yells for the entire class but she is so positive and encouraging that it makes the whole class a tremendous pleasure (in spite of the absolute misery that you're in). She's super motivating and provides an slightly easier alternative to most exercises. I have very little upper body strength and she's helped me improve my planks/push-ups significantly. You will feel it be next day as long as you push yourself and you will feel terrible and better than ever at the same time as soon as class is over. It's wonderful.

Bring water. You'll want it and the water fountain at the combat cardio location on chambers street is pitiful!!

There is zero judgement in any of these classes and they're really motivating. Can't recommend it highly enough!!

Learning Krav Maga has been one of the most self empowering thing I've ever done for myself. In this world full of crazy people, you never know what kind of situation you can get yourself into even when you are very cautious with your actions and surroundings. It's always good to be prepared and Krav has helped me be more confident with myself when it comes to handling myself in real life situation.

So why KMI? I don't believe in settling. I have tried a few other Krav Maga places and KMI is the real deal. Their classes are very organized and all the instructions that I have trained with in class are very good at what they do. They also make sure to give each and every person the attention they need to do the techniques correctly.

I've been training for a few months now and I don't intend to stop. I definitely recommend everyone to join the KMI family. You wouldn't regret it.

A year ago when I first started Krav Maga at KMI, I had intended to take only a few classes and thought that once I had learned the basics of how to defend myself I thought that I would stop. That was not the case at all. I went through my introductory 5 class Group On package in the first month that I started taking these classes.

Then I joined the monthly membership and started taking up to 4 classes per week. The main thrill for me is learning the skills and techniques to get myself out of life threatening situations.

Virtually any situation that can put yourself and others at risk, you can defend yourself against and these moves don't necessarily require brute force. This is great for someone like me, a small petite woman. It's empowering to know that I can learn to take down a much larger man with a few simple and effective moves.

The best part is that the instructors are extremely dedicated to helping you learn the moves properly. They won't let you take short cuts but at the same time they will be patient and encouraging if you are struggling with the moves. This has really become my Krav Maga family and is something I would recommend to anyone interested in learning self-defense.

After training in Krav Maga for 5 years in a very reputable school in California, I moved to NYC and was looking to continue my training here. However, I wanted to make sure that I won't get taken for a ride by so many instructors who claim to teach the "real" and "true" and "original" krav maga, whatever that means, whereas all they do is just milk you for $ and teach you some stuff they saw on youtube. Afterall, with your life on the line, you should invest in the best training out there. After observing just one class with the Krav Maga Institute, I knew these guys were the real deal.Here are the reasons why I decided to sign up for classes with the Krav Maga Institute (KMI)

1) Instructors are highly skilled, approachable and extremely dedicated to teaching you the most effective and efficient self-defense skills without any fluff or tough guy attitudes. I mean they will push you and push you hard, but they will will lead and guide you every step of the way. Every instructor on their team is certified and vetted through a very demanding instructor certification course, meaning that they are held to the highest standard of quality. What really struck me is that the KMI instructors are extremely attentive to all the students and will not take any shortcuts because they know that it is our safety that is on the line here. The also make safety during training their priority and will not cut corners in terms of safety requirements. Every student is expected to wear groin protection, a mouth guard and gloves. Higher levels where full contact sparing is involved will require full protective gear. It makes sense, as the only rule of Krav Maga is "Don't get hurt and don't hurt your training partner".

2) Classes are extremely affordable. Monthly membership is just a fraction of the cost of what some other schools in NYC charge. They also keep the class size relatively small and have multiple instructors assisting in the same class, so you get plenty of attention and feed-back.

3) Multiple locations in the city with simultaneous classes on the same day make it easy to fit krav maga training even in the busiest of schedules. They also offer 1-on-1 private classes for people who can't train in group classes because of their travel schedule.

4) The student body is made up from some of the friendliest, cool and supportive people that I have had the pleasure to train with. You will make great friends here! I mean this should not be your primary reason to join, but it is a great benefit not to deal with people with enlarged egos and other attitude issues.

5) If you are unsure if Krav Maga is for you, they also offer a no strings attached induction class that every student has to take before being allowed to take regular classes. I think this is great because they give you the option to test it out before you commit. The membership options include month-to-month plans, no joining fees or paying half-a-year ahead!

In the end, this is a very solid school that offers more bang for the buck, including both the quality of their staff, locations, student body and affordability! You will gain a peace of mind while also getting in the best shape of your life and make awesome friends!

I've been studying with this school for two years now. The instruction is top-notch and the students are great. Not only have I learned self-defense skills, I've gained confidence and made friends that I refer to as my "krav family."

Our testing has been overseen by world-renowned practitioners. The instructors are grounded in not just skills, but the philosophy of Krav Maga's founder. They take their role very seriously.

I would recommend to anyone of any age, fitness level or gender.

Krav Maga is a fantastic way to get (or stay) in shape while also learning a valuable skill, self defense. When you know how to handle a rough situation (and you are in good physical condition) you have higher confidence overall and better enjoyment of life.

I found KMI instructors to be very knowledgeable, very approachable, and thoughtful in the way they teach. Even the fitness aspects of class were applicable toward the self defense portion.

The students were very friendly and inviting - no big ego or intimidation.

If you are sitting on the fence, or always thought of doing some martial arts, stop thinking about it and do it. Check out KMI!

I've been a member of the Institute for over a year now and love it as much as day one. The instructors are great and the classes are both a good workout and practical for everyday self defense. I always leave feeling confident, pumped and prepared for the world. Such a great community!