Krav Maga- The Authentic Israeli History

Krav Maga is based on our most primitive and natural instincts. The Hebrew word “krav” means struggle and was first used in the Old Testament when Isaac wrestled with Gabriel, the angel of death. Although many Krav Maga building block techniques have existed for thousands of years, the self-defense system was developed, modernized, and fine-tuned during World War II and Israel’s War of Independence by Emerich “Imi” Lichtenfeld (Sde-Or).

[USPRwire, Mon Aug 23 2010] The history of Krav Maga is important to many thousands of people who practice this Israeli form of self defense. Of late, a number of accounts on this subject have been publicized to the public. The history of Krav Maga is not only crystal clear but it is well documented. I have traveled to Israel and learned the truth. I am an Israeli Krav Maga Instructor and I wanted to share it with you.

In 1935 Imi visited Palestine with a team of Jewish wrestlers to compete in the Jewish Maccabi sports convention. Unfortunately, Imi fractured a rib during a training accident and could not compete. This accident led to Imi’s fundamental training principle emphasized in his own words: “don’t get hurt.” Imi quickly concluded that only real necessity justifies a “win at all costs” approach. These two tenets eventually fused to create Imi’s Krav Maga training approach.

Imi returned to Czechloslavakia to face increasing anti-Semitic violence. As Nazi hatred infected Slovakia, Jews were increasingly victims of near constant violence. To protect the Jewish community from marauding fascists and anti-Semites, Imi organized a group of young Jews to protect his community. On the streets, Imi quickly learned the vital differences between sport martial arts competition and street fighting. While serving on the front lines to protect his community, Imi began to combine natural movements and reactions with immediate and decisive counterattacks.

These community self-defense activities made Imi a wanted man by the fascist Nazi occupational authorities. Nazi intolerance soon quickly reached a crescendo as the Germans began their systematic extermination of European Jewry. In May 1940, the Beitar Zionist Youth movement invited Imi to join them on the riverboat, Pentcho, bound for Palestine.

Israel’s early leaders recognized Imi’s fighting abilities, innovativeness, and his ability to impart this training to others. Imi began training the Palmach (elite fighting units), the Palyam (marine fighting units), and the Hagana, which would merge into the modern-day Zahal or Israeli Defense Force. This training included fighting fitness, obstacle training, bayonet tactics, sentry removal, knife fighting, stave/stick fighting and any other military-oriented problems that required a creative solution.

In 1948 Imi became the principal authority in close-quarters-combat for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). He was in charge of training a disparate group of soldiers of all shapes, sizes, and abilities, many of whom did not speak the same language. He needed to develop a self-defense system that would work for not only spry eighteen-year-olds and elite fighting troops in prime physical condition, but also for middle-aged and graying reserve soldiers. He needed a system that soldiers could learn quickly, during their 3-week-long basic training. Finally, he needed a system that worked, one that soldiers could apply to any situation at any time intuitively and without hesitation.

Until the advent of Krav Maga, self-defense and close-quarters combat were thought of as two distinct methodologies. Self-defense usually included situations in which a defender was unaware of an impending attack. In close-quarters-combat, two opponents are aware of the other’s respective movements and perceived violent intent.

Krav Maga fuses the two disciplines into one fighting system, giving the trainee the tools needed to defend oneself both when taken by surprise as well as when one is well aware of your opponent. In Krav Maga, you’ll learn to quickly react under any situation. A trainee learns to both neutralize an attacker as well as develop a fight strategy that may include defensive posturing, and movements, coordinated attacks and counter-attacks, and overall tactics.

For the next two decades, Imi served as chief physical fitness and Krav Maga instructor for the Israeli Defense Forces. The vast knowledge acquired through Krav Maga training prompted the military authorities to recognize Krav Maga as a distinct self-defense-close-quarters-combat system. Later, the Israeli Ministry of Education also granted Krav Maga state recognition for training in public schools.

In 1970, he began teaching a state recognized Krav Maga instructor’s course. He encouraged the instructors to join military, security, and police units or to establish themselves as professional instructors within the civilian community. Imi focused both on teaching professionals and adapting his system to provide ordinary civilians - men, women, and children - with solutions to avoid and/or end a violent encounter. In 1978, Imi, along with his senior students including his successor, current Grandmaster Haim Gidon, established the Ha Agudah L’Krav Maga Yisraeli or the Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA) http://kravmagaisraeli1.ybay.co.il/ in his hometown, Netanya, to promote Krav Maga throughout the world for both civilians and the professional security community.

Grandmaster Haim Gidon (10th dan and IKMA President) was born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1944 and moved to Israel in 1961. Haim fought in the Six Day War, War of Attrition, and Yom Kippur War. Prior to the 1967 War, Haim resumed his competitive boxing and decided to learn more about the Krav Maga principals he had learned in the military. In 1978, Haim helped Imi co-found the IKMA.

In 1994, Haim was elected as IKMA president and opened his current gym and the main training center for the IKMA located on Ben Zion Street, Netanya, Israel. In 1995, Imi entrusted Haim to grant 1st dan Krav Maga black belt and senior blackbelt levels. In an IKMA public ceremony, Imi awarded Haim Gidon 8th dan, an honor that promised that 9th and 10th dans “were to come” and designating him as Imi’s successor.

Imi approved of Haim’s additions and modifications to the Krav Maga system, especially the development of retzev, the extensive groundwork and weapons defense modifications.

Haim is a member of the Wingate Professional Committee (Israel’s national sports institute). Haim has taught Krav Maga tactics for the last thirty years to Israel’s law enforcement, security and military personnel. He has received special commendation from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies worldwide for his specific Krav Maga law professional training curriculum and his teaching expertise is requested worldwide.

A generous American philanthropist and supporter, Daniel Abraham, trained with Haim Gidon’s partner and suggested that KRAV MAGA be developed in the United States. Imi traveled to the United States with several English speaking senior instructors to promote the KRAV MAGA system. The first international KRAV MAGA assistant instructor’s course was held in 1981 in Netanya, Israel.

The Israeli government recognizes the non-profit IKMA as the governing body for KRAV MAGA. KRAV MAGA founder Imi Lichtenfeld remained with his original KRAV MAGA organization, the IKMA, until his final days. Haim was duly elected President of the IKMA in 1994. After Imi awarded Grandmaster Gidon his 8th dan in 1996 announcing publicly that 9th and 10th dans were to come and, several members left the IKMA to form their own competing KRAV MAGA organizations. These organizations instruct KRAV MAGA according to their own interpretations and imitations.

Imi formally approved of Haim’s modifications and additions to the KRAV MAGA curriculum which were not made available to these new competing KRAV MAGA organizations. Imi’s designation of Haim Gidon as his successor indicates Imi’s faith in his original organization while Imi and Haim’s hometown, Netanya, Israel serves as the hub of KRAV MAGA learning and development. Many non-affiliated organizations use and have registered the IKMA’s distinct kuf-mem logo without the IKMA’s permission. The IKMA strongly opposes this and is challenging this misappropriation of its logo and goodwill.

David Kahn http://www.israelikrav.com/ is the Chief United States Instructor for the IKMA and has two clubs in New Jersey. He trains the US Military, Federal and local police agencies in addition to serving his community's self defense needs. His company is the sole source provider for the New Jersey State Police. David has authored two books with another soon to be released.

Robb Hamic http://www.robbhamic.com is an Israeli Krav Maga Instructor based in Austin Texas. He is a professional self defense trainer and specializes in Israeli Krav Maga, gun deployment, concealed handgun licensing for 39 US States and use of force . He trains military, law enforcement, women and men locally, natinally and internationally by seminar and private lesson.

Contact:
Robb Hamic
The Israeli Krav Maga Association
2900 N. Quinlan Park Rd
Suite 131- B-240
Austin, TX 78732
512-284-0087
robb@summitselfdefense.com
http://www.israelikravmaga.us