STORY OF KRAV MAGA

Imi was born in Budapest in 1910. He grew up in the city of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, where he exercised various physical activities, mainly gymnastics and self-defense, taught by his father Samuel (instructor of the local police, famous for the many arrests he had made). Excellent swimmer, gymnast, and wrestler, he won the Slovakian youth wrestling championship in 1928. In 1929 he became national champion of wrestling and boxing, in the Seniores category, as well as international gymnastics champion and until 1939 he devoted himself mainly to wrestling, winning dozens of medals, thus being considered one of the strongest fighters in Europe. Meanwhile, Nazi anti-Semitism increases like wildfire, and Imi organizes a group of young athletes (mostly boxers, wrestlers or bodybuilders) whose job it was to protect the local Jewish community by fighting Nazi troops. He participates in numerous clashes that temper him in spirit and make him realize the difference between sports and street combat. Here the first foundations of Krav Maga are born. In 1940 Imi becomes a problem for the local authorities and decides to escape from Bratislava seeking refuge towards the land of Israel (then called Palestine) .He manages to embark on the last ship the Pentcho, which was used to transport the last refugees from Europe central to Palestine, but their odyssey will last 2 years. (the whole story of the Pentcho is perfectly described in John Birman's book "Odyssey"). Even on the long journey, Imi repeatedly demonstrates her courage, diving into the sea to save those who fell from the ship, or to recover food, endangering her own life. To save a child who fell overboard, he gets a big ear infection, but he doesn't pay much attention to it. Meanwhile, the ship's boiler bursts and goes to the bottom near the Greek island of Kamilanisi. Imi decides to reach Crete with a small boat and 4 friends, but they will never get there. After 5 days at sea, they are recovered by an English warship, and taken to Egypt. Imi's condition is very serious due to ear infection, he is hospitalized, but the doctors give him up for dead. Also in this case Imi manages to react and after a short time he recovers. He joins the Czech legion led by the British army and after 1 year and a half enters Palestine, introducing himself with his 4 companions to General Yitzhak Sadeh, who led the Hagana (Jewish paramilitary organization), showing his particular skills in body combat In 1944 he became the trainer of the Hagana, teaching; physical education, swimming, the use of the knife, techniques with bayonet, stick, elimination of sentries and hand-to-hand combat. He teaches other elite units such as Palmach and Palyam. In 1949 the state of Israel and the I.D.F (Israel Defense Force) was born, which Imi will serve for 20 years, refining Krav Maga. After retiring from the army, Imi adapts Krav Maga to civilian needs (men, women and children) and opens 2 Krav Maga centers, one in Tel Aviv and one in Netanya.In 1972 Krav Maga is recognized by the Wingate Institute of Sport and Physical Education, and is integrated in schools, private institutes and in Kibbutz and Moshavim.. In 1978 the Israeli Krav Maga (Israeli Krav Maga Association) was born to make Krav Maga known even outside Israel, in which Imi holds the position of President. In 1987 Richard Douieb was directly delegated by Imi to represent him throughout Europe. In the same year, Krav Maga is known in the USA thanks to Darren Levine. In 1996 Eyal Yalinov formed the I.K.M.F (International Krav Maga Federation) to help raise awareness of Krav Maga in the world. Until the last days of his life Imi continued to develop the techniques and concepts of Krav Maga, controlling the progress of all the Instructors, perfecting them one by one. Imrich (Sde Or) Lichtenfeld died on January 9, 1998 at the age of 87 and Krav Maga is continuing to spread all over the world regardless of race, sex and social class.

WHAT IS THE KRAV MAGA?

Krav Maga is a simple and practical "fighting technique" and the translation of the name is contact fighting. Those who teach it prefer not to call it "Martial Art", and it is not, in fact. Krav Maga prefers a very "offensive" approach when one is the victim of an aggression or under an armed threat, this, which is the peculiarity of this combat system, provides for a rapid, strong, constant and prolonged phase of reaction with various blows before the threat or aggression becomes stronger. If other traditional martial arts, especially of Eastern origin, tend to associate a philosophical and spiritual system in addition to the teaching of the techniques, Krav Maga responds to military-type criteria such as the effectiveness and speed with which the desired result is reached, which is the neutralization of the opponent, in a short time. Krav-Maga is a harmonic synthesis of techniques derived from martial arts, from the systems of fighting with bare hands and from the methods of the Close Quarter Combat of Major Firebairn. For about a decade now, Krav Maga has become a reality even for ordinary citizens in the field of self defense, as the various Associations or Federations have scientifically studied and developed specific methods suitable for each individual, any build (women, men and boys), who lend themselves to self-defense in any place and situation (on foot, by car, indoors or outdoors, etc..) introducing official programs with the release of the relevant belts.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF KRAV MAGA

1st - Attack for the shortest path
2nd - Defending for the shortest path
3rd - neutralize the attacker
4th - Use the sensitive point
5th - Do not call the attack with gestures

SIMPLICITY

The KRAV MAGA is based on simple movements and natural movements. They are the ones that work best in real combat, unlike pre-ordered moves that don't have naturalness.

SPEED

The reaction speed determines the effectiveness of the technique, so it is essential to practice the reaction speed with a fast and explosive response.

EFFECTIVENESS

The KRAV MAGA was born in a difficult context, where it was vital that the techniques were effective. To give an overview, the targets of shots in the KM are divided into three categories:
1st Category - in these points of the body irreversible damage can be created at the touch (you can kill).
2nd Category - in these points it is possible to create broken bones, tendons or muscles and it is possible to create the k.o.
3rd Category - they cause pain without KO, and are the least dangerous.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE KRAV MAGA

The classification of Krav Maga as a close combat system (as the translation of the name shows) is also evident in its poor aptitude to be practiced as a competition sport.In fact, Krav Maga can hardly be practiced in a sporting form, as is the case for Karate. Taekwondo Do and other combat sports, because unlike these traditional Martial Arts which ritualize gestures, Krav-Maga is a pragmatic combat system. Each gesture is essential, lean, quick and without "frills", each blow is directed towards a sensitive point and must hurt, must make the opponent unable to react and must allow us time to get away safely. These characteristics therefore fail. to make KM a competitive sport in which a judge declares the "point" and the opponent respected and where, normally, the solar plexus, the cerebellum, the genitals, the carotids, the throat and the eyes are areas, considered untouchable and if touched give penalties.

DIFFUSION

In addition to Israel, Krav Maga has spread to countries where the presence of Jewish communities is strong, as well as to the USA, Russia, France and Italy, all countries that have strong ties with Israel and the Jewish world. and where there are links between state intelligence forces, the Mossad, the CIA or the FBI. These techniques are increasingly taught to Special Corps of the elite military departments, to the State Police, Carabinieri, and Local Police Corps up to the operators of security and private surveillance (eg bodyguards).

THE STUDENTS OF THE GRAND MASTER

After the death of the founder of Krav Maga, Imrich Lichtenfeld, his direct students, who are or were excellent teachers, have formed various Krav Maga schools around the world. The oldest graduates are, Eli Avikzar, Haim Zut and Raphy Elgrissi. Eli Avikzar notably trained Richard Douieb (who also had Raphy Elgrissi and Haim Zut for teachers), Eyal Yanilov, Haim Gideon and Kobi Lichtenstein. After their training all three were trained directly by Imi.