Frequently Asked Questions
Krav Maga is a self-defence/ defensive tactics system. Read our article Krav Maga: The Anti-Martial Art for a thorough explanation on why it's not a martial art.
Yes — absolutely! We’re happy to arrange a class visit, but it must be pre-scheduled with our office to ensure safety, space, and instructor availability. Please email office@tipofspear.ca to discuss options and book your visit.
If you would like to try a class, you must complete our waiver in advance. You can fill it out online here: 👉 https://www.tipofspearkravmaga.ca/waiver
You’re welcome to try one class at no charge. After that, you can:
Register for the full program, or
Purchase our 4-Pack Flexipass for additional training flexibility.
Beginner Classes
All of our Beginner classes are open to the public, ages 9 years and up. Kids and Teens should be prepared to work with adults, size is taken into consideration.
We have no age maximum limit for our participants, and often have individuals attend who are in their 60s and 70s. These individuals work at their own pace and speed for what's comfortable for them, working around injuries or limitations with their body. Physical limitations should be a reason why someone should train, rather than why they should not, as assailants often choose individuals who are more vulnerable.
Children who are 8 years old or younger (grade 1-3) should focus on fitness, coordination and fun through other activities.
We welcome those with all fitness capabilities, and encourage all students to work to their own level as opposed to what they think the expectation of the class is.
Generally, if you are able to do the following, you should have no issue with Beginner classes:
2 minute light jog
At least one push-up or modified push-up (on knees, or against a wall)
At least one sit up
At least one squat
If you feel this is beyond your capabilities, we encourage you to take a private lesson with our instructor who can work with you on your specific strengths and limitations to build a program just for you! We believe Krav Maga should be for everyone!
You are enough to start, just as you are! One question we often get is whether or not someone is good enough, fit enough, or has enough experience to start. Our answer is always: wherever you are at is perfect. All students are encouraged to work at their pace, while continually challenging themselves. Students will never be forced to do something they don't feel comfortable doing. We are here to learn, grow and get better, in our fitness, skills, awareness and confidence!
If you are concerned that you may not be able to keep up with regular beginner classes, we encourage you to take a private lesson where our instructor can work with you to explore your abilities and limitations, and build a program specifically for you!
Krav Maga is intended for everyone, especially those with physical limitations. Physical limitations should be a reason why someone should train, rather than why they should not, as assailants often choose individuals who are more vulnerable. Those with physical limitations are often considered "easy target" as they are sitting ducks by those who have ill intentions.
Krav Maga can be modified to account for any physical limitation or injury so you can feel confident knowing you can keep yourself safe regardless. If you're not sure where to start, we encourage you to book a private lesson with our Instructor who can evaluate your strengths and limitations and recommend either group classes or develop a personalized private program just for you!
All training is done in a safe, controlled and highly supervised environment with a certified instructor. Although injury is always possible with any physical activity, we ensure all technique is taught in a safe manner to reduce risk of injury or accidents. We focus on ensuring the student learns the technique properly before adding additional stress and aggression training.
Yes, absolutely. We have students from all different backgrounds and levels of trauma. We are sensitive to this and can ensure the method of delivery of the training is unique for you. We have a highly supportive instructor and students that can help, even if you do get triggered. Students are encouraged to learn and grow at their own pace, have fun and grow their confidence!
This depends on you. We work hard to ensure that students have tools coming out of their very first class that they can use right away. Students who attend two classes per week, give 100% effort in their training, and who are highly coachable usually progress quite quickly through the system. The more you train (physically or mentally reviewing technique in your mind at home), the quicker the muscle memory builds and the more proficient you become. We have many stories of students who successfully used what was taught in class to help them in real life!
For beginners, we want to see brand new students give Krav Maga a solid try before deciding whether they want to continue. We believe students won't know if it's a good fit, develop a solid foundation or have a good sense as to what training will be like until they've taken the Beginner Session and studied with us for 3 months. If a student is still not sure if they want to commit to a 3 month Beginner session, they are welcome to register for a Flexi-Pass, register for a 3-hour Personal Protection seminar, or register for a Private Lesson.
For intermediate and advanced students, there is no commitment for the monthly pass, and no penalty for cancelling at any time. As long as we have room in the class and they are at least a P1 level, the passes are available for purchase and the individual is welcome to attend.
If you are only able to attend once per week or have an inconsistent evening schedule due to work or school, we recommend registering for the Flexi-Pass. With this pass, you can take up to 4 beginner classes and choose to attend the classes that best fit your schedule Monday to Thursday. Simply book the class you want to attend on our app prior to the class and show up! This is a 1 time purchase of classes that will expire after 3 months.
For those who register for a Regular 3 Month Beginner session and miss a class, we always post what we cover in class in our Beginner class group chat on our app, so you know what you missed. We also go over technique multiple times over the three months so you'll have an opportunity to practice it another class. And of course, we always encourage our students to practice at home!
Read our article Required Gear for all info on what you need to train safely.
For Beginners, there is no mandatory uniform. When you register, you’ll receive one Tip of Spear Krav Maga T-shirt to wear during training. If you’d like an extra shirt, you are welcome to purchase additional Tip of Spear Krav Maga T-shirts at any time.
If you plan to complete your Level 1 (Beginner) test at the end of the session, you will need to wear:
A Tip of Spear Krav Maga T-shirt, and
Black pants or black shorts
This combination is the standard IKMF-required uniform for testing.
Our Beginner program can be paid in two ways:
One-time tuition: $349.00 + GST
Monthly payments: $139.00 + GST per month (no service fees)
Paying monthly ends up costing more simply because the monthly total adds up to more than the one-time tuition. Some students prefer this option for budgeting flexibility, and we offer it to make the program more accessible.
There are no additional service or administration fees—just the difference between the one-time tuition and the total of the monthly payments.
If registration has been closed for the Regular Beginner session, you are welcome to contact our office to see if there is space to start mid session, purchase a Flexi-Pass or wait until the next Regular Beginner session. Make sure you sign up for our emails to be notified!
Once you've registered and purchased your session or pass, read Attending Your First Class for information on coming to your first class including what gear to bring. Then, let's have some fun in class!
We offer the option to test at the end of each training session. Testing is never mandatory—if a student doesn’t feel ready, they are welcome to continue training and test at the next available date with no penalty.
Beginner Level (P1) Testing
When: During the final regularly scheduled class of the session
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Requirements:
Students are tested on the full P1 curriculum
A small fitness component is included
Students must wear a Tip of Spear IKMF shirt and black pants or shorts
Passing Grade: 85% or higher is required to pass
Cost: $100 + GST
What do students receive when they pass P1?
Successful students are awarded:
Their IKMF certificate
Their IKMF passport (records testing history and allows training at any IKMF school worldwide)
Their IKMF patch
Their P1 patch (to be worn on training pants or shorts going forward)
After passing P1, students are invited to join the Intermediate class to begin working toward the P2 level.
Intermediate & Advanced Testing (P2 and above)
Testing for levels P2 and up is offered once or twice per year
Students may choose to test only when they feel confident in their knowledge
Each test is cumulative - students are evaluated on the current level plus all previous levels
Cost: $50 + GST per higher-level test
Testing continues to be optional, but highly encouraged to help students challenge themselves, track their progress, and advance into more complex techniques and scenarios.
For our Intermediate and Advanced classes, we don't have sessions where the class all goes at the same pace together. As long as we have room, students are welcome to start at any time and will train at their own pace. If you would like to register for Intermediate or Advanced classes, please contact us.
Monthly passes are the best option for students who want to train consistently, advance through IKMF levels, and attend evening classes regularly. They offer flexibility and support long-term progress.
Here’s why we recommend them:
No requirement to attend every class — although we encourage it to support your growth and confidence.
As a member, you can attend all classes within your IKMF rank, plus any Beginner classes to continue strengthening your foundational skills.
Your membership helps support the club by contributing to equipment upgrades, and training resources for our student community.
Monthly passes also reduce administrative time, allowing our team to focus on teaching, not on processing payments for individual classes.
Your monthly pass is not just a payment — it’s an investment in your training, your progression, and the community you train with.
Please see our Policy page for all of our policies, including our refund policy.