Krav Maga SG - Affiliated vs non-affiliated schools
There are a few Krav Maga schools in Singapore, and when you do a Google on this topic, you will see a few schools pop up consistently. So, what is the difference between the schools and which one would suit your training needs?
Affiliated vs non-affiliated schools
Broadly speaking, there are only 2 types of schools. The ones with an affiliation back to the roots of the martial arts in Israel , and independent schools. So, what is the difference?
Similar to other martial arts, having an affiliation also comes with a syllabus, structured learning methods and grading exercises to help you to track your progress. For most of us. affiliated schools bring that kind of structure that is necessary to understand the level at which you are functioning. There is also a clear sense of achievement as the grading criteria establishes a clear way of knowing where you stand in your martial arts journey. Affiliated schools also tend to be a bit more sticky about who gets to teach under their banner, so the barrier to entry for starting an affiliated program is higher.
Non-affiliated schools are instructor-dependent when it comes to the teaching style and syllabus. These schools are more freestyle since they do not have an affiliation to provide governance. Typically, such schools also do not have any grading requirements.
International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF)
Here in Trifecta, we have chosen to affiliate ourselves with IKMF as this is the international arm of Krav Maga that was set up specifically to spread Krav Maga internationally. As the federation has a local representative and all the benefits of a strong affiliate, this was a clear choice for us. IKMF was endorsed by the founder of Krav Maga (Imi Sde-Or) as the international arm of Krav Maga and was founded in 1995 by several highly ranked and respected Krav Maga specialists.
Which school should I choose?
If you like a structured program with internationally qualified instructors, affiliated schools like IKMF or KMG are definitely the way to go. Of course, there is also the issue of location and convenience, so that is an important secondary factor. Trifecta Martial Arts offers the added benefit of having the whole family train in the same school, so that allows for some economies of scale in terms of pricing options and also number of trips taken to travel as a family.
Whichever you choose, don’t hesitate! Start your martial arts journey and reap the benefits of committing to learning an invaluable life skill.
Trifecta Martial Arts is a family-oriented martial arts school offering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo and Krav Maga. Our focus on quality instruction and good student-teacher ratios make Trifecta unique in providing a safe learning environment for kids and adults alike in pursuing a path in martial arts that is enriching and fulfilling.