The Training

Women’s Combat Sessions:

1:1 dynamic Women’s Combat Self Defence sessions in Hampstead, Hampstead and surrounding London areas teaching female clients fighting skills while improving confidence, technique and stamina.

• Combat

• Krav Maga

• Boxing

• Grappling

• Corporate Self Defence Workshops

Nicholas Polo’s self defence sessions incorporate training methods to build a fighting spirit and to train students how to respond both mentally and physically when under attack eliminating the danger of “freezing” or “shutting down”.

Women’s Krav Maga in Hampstead:

To clarify, the Krav Maga curriculum for men and women is exactly the same. Statistically speaking, it is the nature of the assault that might be different. Certified by the Institute of Krav Maga UK, Nicholas Polo teaches Krav Maga to women and men in Hampstead, Highgate, Golders Green and surrounding London areas.

Women’s Grappling in Hampstead:

In the last five years there has been a big increase in women’s interest in taking on Jiu Jitsu, wrestling and grappling. More women are discovering grappling in particular as a powerful way to build confidence, strength and explosive movement skills while getting a mental boost at the same time. Nicholas Polo coaches women in grappling in Hampstead, Hampstead Heath and surrounding London areas for over 10 years with grappling coaching being one of his clients most desirable trraining.

Corporate Self Defence Workshops:

Nicholas Polo runs Corporate Self Defence Workshops for London based organisations. The workshops cover aspects like awareness, de-escalation, speed of response, techniques and explosiveness. The sessions include light physical activity for participants to get a feel of basic striking.

For Corporate Self Defence Workshops please email Nicholas Polo at train@nicholaspolo.com

• Self Defence

• Krav Maga

• Boxing

• Grappling

• One to One Sessions

• Corporate Workshops

• Group Workshops

Why Combat

Nothing prepares you better for combat than combat itself. The idea of the training is to keep the sessions dynamic and to gradually provide a good physical and mental understanding of what a real threat or attack might feel like.

Krav Maga is a self defence system which is about developing confidence and skills not only to defend but also to counterattack and gain the mindset of a fighter rather than feel like a victim.

Krav Maga is used to train everyday people to become proficient in hand-to-hand combat in a short period. The system comes from a military mindset that is all about survival. It’s not a choreography like other martial arts. It’s about making quick and effective strikes when there is simply no time for fancy movements.

Nicholas Polo’s students are taught techniques on how to defend themselves against common chokes, grabs, bear hugs, hair pulls and other attacks often used by larger, stronger aggressors. Teaching includes dealing with sticks, knives and firearms threats and attacks. Sessions also include boxing, ground fighting drills and grappling to build endurance and technique on the ground.

A very Special Testimonial

Kate Kuliniece bravely sharing her story on The Sun and her socials

My name is Kate Guna Kulniece, a journalist at The Sun and one of Nicholas' former gym friends in Camden.

Back in October this year I bravely waived my anonymity and shared a first-piece piece about how I had been sexually assaulted at the age of 13 and then again, ten years later, at the age of 23 by a man I had gone on a date with.

The story, which was published on our site, gained huge attention and amongst those who'd read the harrowing events was also Nicholas.

The response was something I'll forever be grateful for, with so many of my friends and acquaintances bravely sharing their own horrific and traumatising experiences with sexual assault and rape.

However, Nicholas' response was something that touched my, and my family's, heart. He reached out to me, offering me his self-defence classes, free of charge. He's  been ever so kindly teaching me to defend myself once a week for over a month now and no amount of ''thanks'' will ever be enough to express mine and my parents' gratitude.

Self Defence vs Martial Arts

Self-Defence is not a competitive sport neither a choreography. It’s a group of techniques to use to protect yourself from an imminent danger and escape quickly and as unharmed as possible. And this is why it involves more that what most people think.

1. No Rules: Martial arts and Combat sports have rules. Even MMA does. Boxing, for example, is a sport where you use your arms to hit your opponent. You could be a good boxer but are you technically equipped to avoid a kick or a takedown? In real-life situations, there are no rules when someone physically attacks you with the intent to hit, rape or kill you. Some countries may have laws which prohibit the use of excessive force to defend yourself. My view however is that if someone breaks into my house and my child is in clear danger it all goes and I’ll have to deal with the law afterwards!

2. Multiple Attackers: While most Martial Arts and Combat Sports are based on one-to-one fighting, in a self-defence scenario you may encounter multiple attackers. Trying to BJJ your way out of such a situation would not be practical or feasible. Self-defence systems like Krav Maga teach how to scan your surroundings for multiple attackers, make sure when you are dealing with one attacker, his friends don’t suddenly show up behind you and how to physically put up a fight with more than one person at the same time and still manage to escape.

3. Weapons: When looking at statistics, a good number of attacks these days involve weapons like sticks, knives and firearms. Self-defence teaches you how to deal with weapons in both a threat and an attack situation.

Kids Self Defence

Krav Maga or Security and Close Protection Personnel

Over the years Nicholas Polo has trained people in security, close protection, military and police. Surprisingly not all joining fighting or protection units are taught self defence. Sometimes because there isn’t sufficient time - as one of his former IDF students put it “we join the army they give us a gun, teach two moves and off you go which might be fine in field when you are armed and part of a group but not sufficient for street type assault. Police is another example of almost non existent self defence training.

Claudia’s First Combat Session

Alla Ouvarova

CEO, Two Chicks

Nicholas is an amazing coach, and his combat self defence training is literally the best! This is the only training where both my body and my brain get recharged and are fully engaged in the combat, making me forget everything else.

Nicole Couzens

Lawyer

Nicholas is an amazing women’s self defence combat trainer who is very knowledgeable, always energetic and teaches you something new each time. The sessions are tough but fun, and they really help to develop your strength, stamina, and confidence. Not only do you learn how to defend yourself but also to fight back and get the upper hand if ever needed too. A must for all females!

Mercedes Villagran

Personal Trainer & BOXING COACH

An amazing well detailed session learning the basics of Krav Maga and self defence. My boxing background has helped with the punches but was great to learn the power of my hips and legs.
Definitely feeling more confident and safe from the first session!

Nicholas Polo, MSc

• Instructor Member of The British Combat Association

• Krav Maga trained at the Institute of Krav Maga UK

• Boxing Padwork Certified

• Author of “7 Best Exercises to Lower your Cholesterol”

• Articles at Men’s Health, Women’s Health, MailOnline

• Health and Fitness Product Testing Panelist for Hearst

• Member of One Heart Clinic, Harley Street

• Collaborations with Harley Therapy, Harley Street

• Self Defence Workshops volunteering for EGA girls school