Empowering ordinary people with realistic self-defense
Voted top 5 places to learn real martial arts in Singapore
Yahoo! Sports, Feb 2014
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Getting Started
When can I start training?
The Kapap Executives/ Ladies/ Youth Personal Protection Programme is designed to allow new students to join at any point in time. How this is possible is because each lesson (2 hours per lesson) is modular with different topics. For example, one lesson could be on knife defense, while another could be on how to defend yourself on the ground. These topics are independent of each other and you do not need to progress through the programme in any fixed sequence. There are in total 10 lessons with their own individual topic. It will take roughly about 10 weeks or 2.5 months to complete the 10 sessions. This is just the first level. When you are done with the first level of Kapap Executives/ Ladies/ Youth Personal Programme, you can consider the next level of programme. In total there are 6 levels. Most students found that by completing Level 1 and 2 (40 hours of training in total), they are good enough to defend themselves in a wide range of situations - from ground defense, to stand up fighting, knife defense to use of improvised weapons.
It is the same modular, individual topic, and rotational scheduling for our other programmes like Gracie Combatives, Bas Rutten MMA, Catch Wrestling and Kapap Combatives. This approach allows new students the flexibility to join in at any point in time. Think of it as dining at a 'conveyor belt style sushi bar' - if you miss the dish you want, just wait for the conveyor belt to bring back the dish again! This is also referred to as 'round robin' or rotational scheduling. You can find out the topic of each programme in a given week by checking the training schedule on our website at: http://kapapsingapore.com/#!calendar-/c1zlg
How long are the training sessions each time?
Most of our training sessions are 2 hours per session for adult classes and 1 hour per session for children classes (12 years and below). Students can train as many times or sessions as they pleased in a given week. However, company sponsored sessions tend to range from 1 hour to 2 hours as such training sessions are often conducted during lunch time or the end of the work day at their premises.
How big is each class session?
Our classes are usually less than 15 to 20 students per session. If a class exceeds this guideline, we would usually deploy an assistant instructor to assist the primary instructor. For Personal Protection talks cum demonstrations, there is no limit on the number of participants.
Scheduling Issues
What lessons are currently being taught in the Kapap Executive/ Ladies/ Youth Personal Protection Programme?
Please refer to the class schedule at http://kapapsingapore.com/#!calendar-/c1zlg for the lesson or topic that is being taught. Alternatively, you can refer to your programme workbook as we will follow the topics in that order.
What if I can't make it for a lesson?
We abide by a 'fair pricing policy' where you do not pay for lessons that you missed. In the event that you missed a particular topic in a given week, you can either join an alternative class which is covering the topic or lesson you missed, or wait for the topic to be repeated as the topics or lessons are covered in a 'round robin' manner (see above 'Getting Started, question 1').
Can I choose my instructor? ​
You can choose the instructors you wish to learn from by attending the classes that he or she is teaching. You can find out his/ her training schedule by either asking the instructor in person at class or by emailing us at contact@kapapasia.com. However, the school reserves the right to switch up the instructor's schedule when needed.
Are there private lessons?​
Yes we do conduct private classes on a case by case basis. Our rates are not expensive by industry standards (which ranges from $120 to $160 per hour per person) as they are between $120 to $150 depending on the experience of the instructors. Please contact us by email at contact@kapapasia.com for more information.
Payment Issues
How do I make payment?
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You can make payment on the day you turn up for your first lesson. Payment can be either in cash or cheque, bank transfer or credit card.
Do I enjoy the discounted price if I pay per session instead of blocks of 10 sessions?
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Our current rates are $27.50 per hour/ per person inclusive of GST for adults and $22.50 per hour/ per person inclusive of GST for students and full time NSF men. However, we offer a discounted price if you purchase a block of 10 session package. As of 1 Sept 2022 onwards, the fees for full time students would be 350 dollars (inclusive of GST) for 10 sessions of 2 hours each. And for adults it would be 450 dollars (inclusive of GST) for 10 sessions of 2 hours each.
On the average, a block of 10 sessions will take about 2 and half months to use up assuming that you train once a week. There is no expiry date to the package as well
If I am unable to use up my block of 10 sessions, will I be able to get a refund?
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We do not offer cash refunds if you are not able to complete your block of 10 sessions but you can either go for makeup classes on a different time and place or transfer the training sessions to a friend or relative of your choice. Please email your request to contact@kapapasia.com and we will revert back to you on this issue.
Why do your training rates cost more than my neighbourhood community centre martial arts classes?
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Our training rates are actually considered in-expensive and median in range. Whilst we cannot comment on how others priced their training sessions, we have sought to make our training affordable for the general public. However, it needs to be noted that whilst most martial arts training takes years to complete, our self defence classes can be learned in just 10 training sessions (2 hours per session) or about 20 hours. To master it, our students often either repeat the same training package or progress to level 2 for the Kapap Executives / Ladies / Youth Personal Protection Programme. In just 40 hours or so, one can achieve a reasonable degree of self defence skills than compared to most traditional martial arts - which will often take years to master. In terms of investment of time, effort and money, this represents a huge savings in reality. Most of all, you will be learning realistic self defence skills that are used by elite police and military units, or security personnel to help keep yourself safe. Referred to as Modern Street Combatives, they are skill sets that are not designed for sporting contexts but for street defence.
Attire
What is the recommended attire for training?
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We recommend that you wear attire that are comfortable and allows you ease in movement. Sporting wear such as track pants, tee-shirt, shorts, etc are all fine. For ladies, it may be more practical to wear tee-shirts or shorts that do not expose your modesty. There is no need to wear protective gear like groin protector, mouth guard, elbow/ knee guards, headgear etc. Whilst we train as realistically as possible, safety is strictly adhered to and instructors stay alert to keep participants safe. Some of our students even wear business attire to classes and we have no object to that as long are they have no problem if their attire gets torn due in part to the more delicate material used in business attire.
Venue Issues
Do you have shower facilities?
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All our training centres are basic but functional. Our focus is on the training and we do not run gyms that are meant for yuppies to chill out. We do not have locker rooms with showers as we try to keep costs down so that you can enjoy affordable training fees rather than pay more for such frills.
How do I get there?​
Within Singapore, we currently run public classes at two premises in addition to training we conduct at our clients' premises. Only public classes are open to members of the public and are conveniently located near MRT stations. One premise is at 144 Robinson Road, #05-01, about 5 minutes walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT. Another premise is at 82 Lorong 23, Atrix, #02-02, and is less than 4 minutes walk from Aljunied MRT (opposite the Caltex petrol kiosk).
Where can I park my car?
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At our Robinson Square premise, there are public car parks around the area. Some of the cheaper ones include GB building and the Clift. If you are choosing to come on a weekday night or weekends, Capital Tower, OUE downtown and SBF centre are all viable options as they charge a a per entry rate which is cheaper than usual. At our other premise, Atrix near Aljunied MRT, you can park within the building itself. There are also HDB carparks nearby as well.
Technical Issues
I'm not fit and have no martial arts background. Is Kapap suitable for me?​
The techniques taught in Kapap are specially chosen to utilise biomechanics and leverage rather than strength and agility. The techiniques are also kept simple so as to ensure that normal everyday people can perform them without much effort or extensive periods of training. People of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to join our classes. Our student base ranges from 5 years of age (e.g. KapapKids, GracieKids) to youth (e.g. Kapap Executives/ Ladies and Youth, Kapap Combatives, Gracie Combatives, Bas Rutten MMA) to elderly in the 60s (Kapap Executives/ Ladies and Youth). However, if you have any pre-existing serious injuries or physical/ health problems, please consult a medical practitioner prior to joining our training. Please contact us if you would like a trial lesson.
What is the difference between Kapap Executives/Ladies and Youth Personal Protection and Kapap Combatives?
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The Kapap Executives/ Ladies and Youth Programme is an easy and less demanding introduction to the world of personal protection using realistic hand to hand combat skills. This is our best selling series, and is popular with individuals who want to get up to speed in self defense skills in a relatively short period of time (about 20 to 40 hours of training). Executives and ladies from a wide range of occupations from multinationals, government bodies and private sector organisations have gone through this programme series. Kapap Combatives however is a more 'hard core' style of training that are training individuals who are interested to have combative skills like a modern day warrior. You will learn to fight stand up, grapple, engage in knife and machete fight, and use both handgun and assault weapons like a 'pro'. Kapap Combatives skills will train you to be like the next 'Jason Bourne with kick ass skills'!
What is the difference between the Gracie Bully Proof and KapapKids programme?
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The Gracie Bully proof is a highly acclaimed programme for kids that was developed by the world renowned Gracie Academy (US) - the people that started the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)/ Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) global phenomenon. Gracie Bullyproof is a programme to help kids fight bullies in a relatively non-violent approach, using the gentle ground defense of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. It has been featured in CNN, CNBC, Yahoo! Sports, and Oprah.com.
KapapKids however goes beyond addressing bullies but the dangers of kidnapping of children. In some Asian communities, this is a very real danger that parents need to stay prepared against. Both programmes are designed to build character in your children through the practice of self defense - values such as respect for others, humility, discipline, etc. As a matter of fact, the KapapKids programme was developed by Kapap Academy Singapore's in-house psychologists/ consultants who have over a decade in years of experience in building resilience amongst the young. Feel free to bring your child for a free trial class or just to watch a class in progress.
What is the difference between Gracie Combatives and Catch Wrestling?
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Gracie Combatives is a ground grappling system that was developed by the world renowned Gracie Academy (US) - direct lineage from the founder and the late GrandMaster, Helio Gracie. It is an effective self defense system that is designed to help a smaller, weaker and less athletic person defend himself against a bigger and stronger attacker. Testifying to the effectiveness of the system, it has been adopted in part or full as a system by elite US police and military units like the FBI, CIA, Delta Force, SEALS, US Army etc. Gracie Combatives is designed to help the individual defend himself or herself when the fight goes to the ground, either by choice or otherwise.
Catch Wrestling is a very brutal style of ground fighting that is feared for its speed and relentless onslaught of submissions. The catch wrestler is a predator on the ground and he or she will resort to excruciating painful techniques known as 'ripping' designed to cause the opponent to make mistakes. Such techniques include cross-face, elbow against ribs, sternum, small joint manipulations etc. Submissions or 'hooks' are brutal and potentially life threatening - such as neck cranks and spinal twists. Well known catch wrestlers that have fared well in professional MMA fights include Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Sakuraba etc. It is a style of ground engagement that is characterised by being top down (as compared to bottom up fighting from your back) where the fighter stays on top of his opponent to dominate and control the fight. Unlike Gracie Combatives/ Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) that holds the maxim 'position before submission', catch wrestlers prefer the strategy of 'control before submssion'. In catch wrestling, fighters keep their hips down when in side control to control its opponent, whilst BJJ practitioners stay on their knees to allow them greater speed in transitioning. Catch wrestlers will also attempt to submit his/ her opponent from any position that he or she is able to pin and control his opponent from. Finally, another significant difference between BJJ and Catch is that in catch wrestling, the rule is 'any body part of an opponent is a target, and any body part of theirs is a weapon'. This maxim contributes to the speed and relentless attacks that characterise catch wrestling.
Are there really differences between Street Fights and Combative Sports?
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Definitely! While Combative Sports like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Karate etc used to have its roots as lethal self defense systems, the reality is that in today's terms, most of these systems are now sports based in an effort to popularise their practice. Street fights differ from combative sports in several important ways: there is no referee to stop a fight from getting too brutal; no tap out when the pain gets too unbearable; no limitation on the use of edged weapons or handguns; no time limit on how long a fight should go on; no rule that says it has to be a one-on-one fight and not many against one; and so on. Street fights can be extremely brutal and people do die from them. Even tough combative sports like MMA are safe by comparison as organisers of such fights go through great pains to ensure that their fighters' lives are not endangered beyond a point.