So last night, we all got together for the grading taken by Tamir Gilad a global KM Instructor, it was a great evening, everyone was pretty relaxed. For me though, the grading was over a bit too soon as I was just starting to get into it when the P1 (basic level) guys had to stop because we had covered everything we needed to. Which was cool… because then we got to see some P3 guys grade!!! It looked pretty damn tough.
For the P1 grading, we covered:
Shadow boxing various techniques including kicks and elbows.
Pad work various techniques on the bags (punches and kicks).
Pad work free fighting on the bag (five techs) demonstrating an understanding of range.
Defence against straight and haymaker punches.
360 degree defence with counter attack against an unarmed attacker (punches only).
360 degree defence with counter attack against an armed attacker (knife).
Release from chokes (front, side, behind).
Release from side choke on the ground.
Release from a headlock
Defence against two attacks then scan and pick up a random object to use as a weapon against our attacker.
What I thought was great about the whole grading was the fact that Tamir asked everyone some pretty good questions varying from why you stand in this stance and not that, why hit there and not there? Who was the founder of Krav? Why use this technique instead of this technique? etc. etc. It was more like a proper exam than any other martial arts grading I’ve done, where you just do your forms or katas and techniques then spar then get your certificate and belt. For one thing theres the very real chance that you could fail. Something that in my whole five plus years at my old kung fu school I never saw happen and I know that there were definitely people at some of those gradings that should never have passed.
Anyway I digress… I passed wooot! and my instructor was really pleased with how everyone did.
I’ll post a photo update in a few days… Meanwhile, heres a lovely pic of my new gear 
Filed under: P1 grading, krav maga | Tagged: grading, krav maga, P1
looking for some info on P1 grading. and came across this – congrats on passing! Been doing krav for nearly 4 months and loving it! Got my P1 UK grading in mid july. Any advice or tips would be most welcome
.
well done again.
steve
Hey Steve, sorry for the late reply and thanks! Im stoked that I passed.
If your grading is in mid July you’ll be more than ready for it. Ive only being doing Krav for three months myself so you are ahead of me on that one.
I guess that all I would say is work on your basics, keep it simple and remember to escape and scan when you finish your techniques where applicable. Oh and make sure you understand why you are doing what you are doing because you will be asked! You may also get asked about Imi Lichtenfield, so read up on the history and you should be fine.
Good Luck with your grading, let me know how you get on.
Also you can download information on the P1-5 syllabus here: http://sdfkm.moonfruit.com/#/thegradingsystem/4521287753
Hope that helps, all the best,
Alex.
Just thought I’d let you know how the grading went on saturday – I passed! Although I didn’t think at first I did as all the names were read out and mine (along with most of the other P1’s) wasn’t there. At this point I have to say I felt a bit robbed and peeved as I really tried and thought that I made the grade. I approached my instructor after to try and get some feed back and he went and got me my certificate. It appears to have fallen down the back of the printer so it was never read out!…phew.
Grading itself was relentless. A lot more exhuasting than I’d imagined. I thought the seminar would be really difficult but the grading was so tiring. It’s now two days on and my body has never been in so much agony!
UK Krav Director Nick Maison ran it and did a two hour seminar before hand (which was fantastic, the man is just so quick!). I was surprised how many people who went for the P1 didnt get it – I reckon about 25-30% pass rate. For a first level grade I thought the pass rate would be higher. I did karate for just over a year many moons ago and at every grading no one ever failed – I suppose this just goes to show what a high level they expect.
Cheers
Steve