Kelina Cowell is a Krav Maga and Dirty Boxing master from London, United Kingdom. In this interview she talks about her passion for the martial arts, ways you can defend yourself and her martial arts schools.
Martial arts have been your passion for a long time. How did it all start?
My father was a hand-to-hand combat and firearms instructor with the 29 British Army Commandos for 22 years. So I grew up in that environment and was always encouraged by my parents to train and know how to look after myself. As a young kid I was put into Karate classes but all the Kata and stretching was really boring to me. I was always more attracted to the more realistic combative training that I watched my father doing. In my teens I started training in Muay Thai and Filipino Martial Arts. At the time there was no Krav Maga or military combative style classes around. The only training I could get was directly from my father. I had plans at 16 to join the Armed Forces and become a CQC [Close Quater Combat] instructor but a serious knee injury I sustained from Muay Thai stopped that plan dead in it’s tracks.
Why did you decide to specialize in Krav Maga?
After a 8-year stint working as a commercial photographer I wasn’t really happy with the career path I had fallen into; I still wanted to be a combative instructor. I was still training in Filipino Martial Arts at the time but saw a poster for a new club that had opened, teaching Krav Maga in Leicester City Centre. After some research I discovered that Krav Maga was the CQC system used by the Israeli military and it was now available for civilians to learn. I went to my first class the very next day and never looked back. I continued to cross train in other martial arts during this time, mainly Filipino Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I got my black belt in Krav Maga in 2011 and in 2012 I moved to London and launched my own system Apolaki Krav Maga & Dirty Boxing.
Tell us more about your system.
Apolaki Krav Maga & Dirty Boxing is a unique blend of all the martial arts I have been cross training in over the years. I have always been a big fan of cross training, as I believe that no martial art has all the answers and they all have something to offer.
I have developed my own 5-phase grading syllabus. The curriculum has the standard Krav Maga syllabus at its foundation but I have built upon it with Panantukan/Suntukan (Filipino Boxing), Dumog (Filipino Wrestling), Pencak Silat, Western Boxing, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
What programs do you run?
We currently have 3 programs, with more programs still in the development stage.
Our main program is Apolaki Krav Maga & Dirty Boxing; we currently have 3 classes per week in Waterloo and Vauxhall, more will be added over the year. We also teach intensive courses and provide one to one tuition.
We also have our Apolaki Dirty Boxing program, also with its own 5-phase grading syllabus. The Apolaki Dirty Boxing curriculum has Western Boxing, Panantukan/Suntukan and Dumog at its foundation with elements of Pukulan (Empty hand fighting from Pencak Silat) and Muay Thai in there as well. We have a Apolaki Dirty Boxing Crash Course in London on the 9th May, which is open to beginners and experienced martial artists and monthly intensive training programs coming very soon.
Our third program is Apolaki SPD: Self Protection for Dwarfs, which is spearheaded by my student Eugene Grant. This is an adapted version of Krav Maga techniques that Eugene and I have tirelessly worked on and adapted over the past few years to make the self-defense techniques work for those with Dwarfism. This program is mainly delivered as workshops through charity and community events.
2015 is proving to be an exciting year for us with new instructors from across the UK joining us and starting Apolaki clubs in their own towns.
Who is Apolaki Krav Maga & Dirty Boxing for?
It’s for anyone who wishes to learn realistic and practical self-defense! We have everyone from complete beginners to experienced martial artists attending our classes and courses. We offer a unique program so we have something to offer everyone regardless of their background. We cater for disabilities with our aim to make the techniques work for you by adapting them if necessary. This is what makes us so unique – we don’t create clones, we help you develop yourself as an individual.
What are the best three self-defense tips you can give to total beginners?
The number one tip is awareness. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Don’t walk around with your headphones in and day-dreaming. Maintain your personal space if a stranger approaches you. Watch your drink. Simply being aware can greatly reduce the chances of being victimised, as most assailants want to catch you off guard. Being aware also better prepares you if something was to happen.
Second is to minimise being seen as a target. Walk confidently with your head up. Don’t walk around with your purse or wallet in your hand. Take out the money or card you need and hold that instead. If you are using the ATM don’t hang around taking your purse in and out of your bag. Have your card already in your hand when you arrive at the ATM, take the money and the card and put straight into your pocket and leave. Sort it out later when you are somewhere safer. Standing there fumbling with your bag or purse is giving a window of opportunity to a mugger. Same with your keys, have them already in your hand instead of stopping to search for them in your bag.
Third is to cause the maximum damage in the minimum time with the minimum damage to yourself. Real life survival is not like a boxing or UFC fight. Why try and box or wrestle someone and risk getting seriously injured if you can get away quickly by simply striking him in the groin or throat? Attend a Krav Maga class or course in your area.
Compared to other martial arts, how efficient do you think Krav Maga is in a real-life attack?
Our actual techniques may be similar to other martial arts; there are only so many ways to kick, punch and grab someone at the end of the day, but it’s our style of training that sets us apart. We will practise ATM mugging situations, bar fight scenarios, being approached by strangers and so on. We also have pressure drills where we simulate the effects of adrenaline and stress that the victim goes through in real life, and then getting the students to practise the techniques whilst in this state. We make the training as realistic as possible to help the student develop the strong fighting spirit mindset and awareness for self-defense. This style of training I have found to be unique to Krav Maga.
For further information about Kelina Cowell and Apolaki Krav Maga & Dirty Boxing you can visit their excellent website or like their official Facebook Page.
