Elle Jackson Aegis Krav Maga

 

A couple months ago I started researching female led martial arts for the Northwest Arkansas area.  I have heard so many times from women that they would feel more comfortable with a female instructor.  There are not a lot and usually the picture that unfairly comes to mind of the female leading that class is one of the intimidating looks of Miss. Trunchbull. I know this is rarely the case, but that is where my brain strangely goes.

 

I had the pleasure a couple months ago to attend Elle Jackson’s women’s jiu jitsu as well as her coed Krav Maga class. I then meet her for coffee a month later to pick her brain and get to know her. I also attended again with my teen daughter a couple weeks ago and again was impressed.

 

Elle has noticed several of the issues with women’s self defense and knows how to say, “well this isn’t working, so lets try a different way.” She doesn’t follow blindly and wants to constantly meet women where they are at. During her women’s jiu jitsu class she locks the door and no men are allowed in. The Krav Maga class follows and it is an even mix of the sexes as well as young and old. She believes in pressure testing knowing there is no point in doing these moves once or twice and then not repeating them when your heart rate isn’t elevated. She wants you to know you can do it when the action is actually called for. 

 

In class Elle does not come across as rough, if anything the opposite. She looks very unassuming and you would never know that she holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and over 17 years experience in hand to hand combat. She is a certified as an instructor in both Krav Maga and Active Killer Defense program developed by Fit to Fight. With a ready and kind smile, you can tell right off that she has a passion and quick mind for self defense. She is a very clear teacher and makes sure she makes time with each student. She wants to help people and considers it a privilege that she has a job that allows her to do so. We were able to talk for hours about the many holes in women’s self defense over coffee and it left me feeling very hopeful and refreshed that there are women like her out there. She comes with solutions, she has studied countless books, many we had both read, and many she recommended. She continually seeks out training and wants to hone her skills constantly to be the best leader she can. 

 

Intimidation factor for women looking for marital arts instruction. None. You walk in directly to the mats, there is a children’s class right before the jiu jitsu one. Elles classes are located in TOSS Academy, 1400 SW Susana STE 14 Bentonville, AR. It’s a clean facility with changing rooms located at the back of the well lit room and everyone there is welcoming and ready to learn. 

 

Aegis Krav Maga is a solid place. Elle provides great tools for your self defense arsenal and even If you are a woman who’s personality is a bit more on the unsure side; maybe the idea of martial arts is super daunting, this is probably the least intimidating gym I have ever walked into. If you are wanting to break out of your shell and are looking for solid instruction with incredibly applicable life saving curriculum go see Elle.

 

Krav Maga and women’s only Jiu Jitsu classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30. Contact number is 479-259-2330.