Reddit mentions of Krav Maga Kick Shield

Happy I could help.

As a beginner I'd say my experience with Krav has been pretty good. I'm really enjoying my classes, and I really appreciate the practical aspects of it. I'm also taking TKD, mostly because my girlfriend is a blackbelt, and I'd like to eventually be able to spar with her in that. The reason I mention this, is that, while TKD is ok, I do not enjoy it nearly as much as Krav. Krav is practical, straight away. This works for me. Also, almost nothing translates from one art to the other. That's ok, and I'm sure there are some complementary things, but to me not much of either one directly helps the other, aside from just being able to move and control my body better.

The things that I've struggled with (am struggling with) the most are really just getting the basics down. Making sure my stance is always good, getting proper hip rotation. The videos and book mention these things, but it will take a bit of practice, and possibly someone watching you to see what you're doing to help work those things out. One of the other big things to work on is aggression-krav needs it. If you don't have at least two other people to drill with you can't really do aggression drills.

Aggression drills where I am usually go the following way:
One person starts out doing straight punches or similar on one pad, another individual will hit/push that person with their pad and place it for a specific attack/set of attacks, you'll punch/kick/knee/combination/etc that pad until you get hit again by someone else, you then switch to that target, rinse&repeat. This goes on full speed, full strength for about a minute or two. I know it sounds short, but it's extremely intense, and by the end my attacks are considerably weaker just due to wearing myself out.

Obviously you'd take turns rotating who was doing the attacking.

The other thing you really, really need a partner for is practicing all the choke defenses and blocks.

I think that everyone else has a point when they say you'll probably learn better when you practice with an instructor, but I don't see any reason you can't learn some on your own. Especially if you can do a seminar here or there, and then practice with other people during the rest of the year.

The gear I have (the gloves came with my package at my studio, though I bought an extra pair for my girlfriend), the two pads are just the same as the ones used in the studio, as well as in the book and the videos.

http://www.amazon.com/Krav-Leather-Grappling-Glove-Medium/dp/B005VZ4U14/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_1

http://www.amazon.com/Revgear-41002-Punch-Shield/dp/B005VY2N3C/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1332442792&sr=1-1-fkmr2

http://www.amazon.com/Revgear-KM305-Krav-Maga-Shield/dp/B005VY51ZO/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1332442838&sr=1-2

Again, it doesn't matter if it says revgear or krav maga alliance-it's the same product, different label as far as I can tell. These pads seem to be a lot tougher and better than the century ones I've played with, and much much better than anything everlast or the like. That said, this is just my personal observations of course. There may be places near you that sell a bunch of this gear, if not amazon at least has a good return policy, though there are dozens of sites that sell the same stuff.

Anyways, I've rambled long enough. If you had any questions still though, by all means ask.