About Nigel McEathron Founder Bio
Nigel began adapting his martial arts skills to the study of Krav Maga. Nigel studied under Krav Maga expert, Christian Barrier. A former French paratrooper and professional bodyguard.
About
Nigel McEathron grew up during a time when violence was more prevalent than in today’s world. Often high school disagreements were settled in the schoolyard, one-on-one. Because of this, at age 14 Nigel took up Judo. This made him a force to be dealt with to the local bully.
Nigel worked as a full-time musician early in his career performing and living “on the road” across Canada. This made it impossible to continue Judo. Nigel began practicing yoga to maintain his fitness, health, and flexibility. Judo still came in handy during some tense moments at some of the bars.
In the 80’s Nigel took an interest in a Japanese martial art called Shorinji Kempo. This became a passion leading to earning a black belt. Over the next few years, Nigel practiced Judo again and practiced other martial arts including Kung Fu, Karate, and Jiu Jitsu to better understand true self-defence. After these studies and experimentation, Nigel never felt confident that these martial arts though great exercise and training they weren’t effective against a skilled street fighter or against weapons attacks. In 2017 Nigel discovered Krav Maga.
After 6 months of training, Nigel felt more skilled in self-defence than with all of his previous martial arts training. Nigel continued to practice Krav Maga religiously even during COVID. When he couldn’t train with others he would practice online with fellow practitioners and with “BOBs” and bags. After COVID Nigel continued training with other practitioners and began a personal coaching and weight training program with award-winning coach Roman Thauern.
We invited Nigel into our FMA class to showcase Krav Maga concepts. Our students appreciate cross-training and the benefits of the application of differing methodologies. It was insightful, applicable, confidence-boosting and our students enjoyed it greatly.
Krav Maga is a great concept as it not only trains in practical techniques but those techniques are similar to ones already within other systems or they fit seamlessly within those systems.
Nigel creates an energetic experience that is also very practical within a street context. He is very passionate and knowledgable and I recommend both Krav Maga as a solid foundation and Nigel as an excellent instructor.
Nigel is a great instructor for self defense classes, very reliable and professional.
Learning Krav Maga with Instructor Nigel has been a transformative experience over the last year for me.
Not only do I feel like I’d be 100% more capable of handling myself in a worst-case self defense situation now, but it has also been a great excuse to keep active and boost my self confidence overall as a person.
Instructor Nigel rigorously stress tests every concept and move incorporated into his curriculum to ensure that nothing we are taught is fruitless, and that his students are well versed in the basics before moving on to more advanced concepts.
Beyond learning the actual defenses and attacks we are also instructed in the theory of Krav Maga, and specifically how it may apply to real life, and a real worst-case scenario.
For anyone in the Calgary area looking for a serious self defense course that doesn’t cut corners, and focusses on practical, effective techniques informed by Krav Maga I would highly recommend Nigel’s Krav course.