Pacific Northwest Krav Maga & StrikeFit Kickboxing

Pacific Northwest Krav Maga teaches the Israeli self-defense system in levels, and its week reads like a curriculum. All-levels classes sit alongside Level 1, Level 1/2+ and Level 2+ sessions, plus focused classes in aggression, intro to sparring and ground work. Students move up through level tests held every three months for anyone who has taken at least 50 classes at their level, and the school recommends 65 or more before testing. The school is an affiliate of Krav Maga Alliance.

Training covers stand-up fights, ground defense and defenses against guns, knives and other weapons, and the school describes the system as easy to learn and practical for any age and body type. Krav Maga classes meet at 7 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and in the evenings from Monday to Friday. Aggression is on Monday evenings, Intro to Sparring on Tuesday evenings and Krav Maga Ground on Thursday evenings. StrikeFit, the school's one-hour heavy-bag fitness class, takes the strikes, blocks and movements of Krav Maga and adds weights, partner work and bodyweight training. An endurance conditioning class is open to all memberships.

First-timers book an appointment, and the school discourages walk-ins. The visit starts with a meeting with the staff, a tour and a talk about your self-defense, health and fitness goals, and the first class follows straight after; newcomers arrive 30 minutes before that class. The paid seven-day trial covers as many classes as you like within the week, in Krav Maga, StrikeFit and jiu jitsu, and comes with a free set of hand wraps. Gym clothes, cross-training shoes and a bottle of water are all a first class takes. The jiu jitsu class days are easiest to confirm at that first appointment.

The school gives both 12 and 13 as the youngest age for its teen and adult classes, so a short email to the school settles which applies. Kids have their own program. Groups can book tailored seminars and team-building sessions of up to two hours at the Kirkland space, and one-on-one lessons are considered case by case.