About Krav Maga as a System

Krav Maga (Hebrew for “contact combat”) is the official self-defense and fighting system of the Israeli Defense Forces. It has been recognized as the most efficient self-defense system for real-life situations, emphasizing practical defenses against real attacks.

Krav Maga is a simple, effective self-defense system emphasizing instinctive movements, practical techniques and realistic training scenarios. Plus, because it’s based on a person’s natural reactions, it is easy to learn. You can become proficient in months rather than years.

The Krav Maga system incorporates fitness, self-defense and fighting like no other system. Krav Maga‘s self-defense classes are a total-body workout that combines kicking, punching, street fighting, ground fighting and defenses against weapons. It’s the best skill-building workout around.

History of Krav Maga

 1910  -  Imi Lichtenfeld, Founder of Krav Maga, is born.

Imrich (“Imi”) Sde-Or*, founder of Krav-Maga, was born in 1910 in Budapest, which at the time was one of the centers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He grew up in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, in a home where sports, law, and Central European education were equally respected. Samuel Lichtenfeld, Imi’s father, was undoubtedly quite a unique figure. At age 13 he joined a traveling circus, and for the next 20 years engaged in wrestling, weightlifting, and various demonstrations of strength. For him the circus was also a school, where he met people involved in a wide variety of sports, including some quite unusual ones. These people taught Samuel what they knew – including various martial arts.

With his father’s encouragement, Imi became active in a wide range of sports. He first excelled in swimming, and subsequently in gymnastics, wrestling, and boxing. In 1928 Imi won the Slovakian Youth Wrestling Championship, and in 1929 the adult champion- ship (in the light and middle weight division). That year he also won the national boxing championship and an international gymnastics championship. During the ensuing decade, Imi’s athletic activities focused mainly on wrestling, both as a contestant and a trainer.

1930′s  -  Street Fighting in Bratsliva

In the mid thirties, conditions began to change in Bratislava. Fascist and anti-Semitic groups appeared, determined to upset the public order and harm the city’s Jewish community. Imi became the un-crowned leader of a group of young Jews, most of them with a background in boxing, wrestling, and weightlifting. This group attempted to block the anti-Semitic bands from entering the Jewish quarter and wreaking havoc there.

1940′s  -  Departure From Europe

In 1940, having become a thorn in the side of the anti-Semitic inclined local authorities as a result of his activities, Imi left his home, family, and friends and boarded the last immigrant ship that succeeded in escaping the Nazis’ clutches. The vessel was an old riverboat named Pentcho, that had been converted to carry hundreds of refugees from Central Europe to the land of Israel (then called Palestine).

In 1944 Imi began training fighters in his areas of expertise: physical fitness, swimming, wrestling, use of the knife, and defenses against knife attacks. During this period, Imi trained several elite units of the Hagana and Palmach (striking force of the Hagana and forerunner of the special units of the IDF), including the Pal-Yam, as well as groups of police officers.

1948  -  State of Israel is Formed

In 1948, when the State of Israel was founded and the IDF was formed, Imi became Chief Instructor for Physical Fitness and Krav-Maga at the IDF School of Combat Fitness. He served in the IDF for about 20 years, during which time he developed and refined his unique method for self-defense and hand-to-hand combat.

 

 

1964  -  Krav Maga Offered to Israeli Citizens

After he finished his active duty, Imi began adapting and modifying Krav-Maga to civilian needs. The method was formulated to suit everyone – man and woman, boy or girl, who might need it to save his or her life or survive an attack while sustaining minimal harm, whatever the background of the attack – criminal, nationalistic, or other. To disseminate his method, Imi established two training centers, one in Tel Aviv and the other in Natanya.

Imi continued to personally supervise the training of those who have attained high ranks in Krav-Maga, and to spend time with the instructors in Israel and abroad. Imi monitored the trainees’ progress and achievements, captivating them with his personality and imparting them with his knowledge and unique personality.

1981  -  Darren Levine attends first international instructors course for Krav Maga held in Isreal

In 1981 the Krav Maga Association of Israel and the Israeli Ministry of Education held the first International Instructor’s Course at Wingate Institute for Physical Education. A generous philanthropist in New York, S. Daniel Abraham, sponsored a delegation of 23 members from various cities in the United States to attend the course. This course was supervised by Imi himself, who was then 71 years old and retired from his military career. The course was taught by Krav Maga lead instructors Shike Barak, Eyal Yanilov, and Ruevin Moimon. Darren Levine was chosen to be part of the delegation because of his martial arts and boxing background, as well as his involvement in the physical education program at the Heschel Day School near Los Angeles, California.

The course was a 6-week intensive course consisting of 8+ hours of training per day, six days a week. It was a strenuous and exhausting 6 weeks, and by the end of the course only a few people passed. Darren Levine was one of them.

1982  -  Darren Levine Teaches Krav Maga at the Heschel Day School

After returning home from Israel, Darren began teaching Krav Maga at Heschel Day School as an elective class. The class became so popular that it was incorporated into the physical education program.

 

 

 

1983  -  Krav Maga Association of America Is Formed

Krav Maga Association is formed at Imi’s request. Darren, Joel Bernstein (one of Darren’s students), and other prominent members of the Jewish community in Los Angeles formed the Krav Maga Association of America, Inc. The Association’s goal has always been to help promote : (1) Krav Maga in the United States and (2) good relations between the United States and Israel.

 

 

1984 – Imi passes his black belt to Darren Levine

In 1984 Darren Levine received his first degree black belt in Krav Maga. At the belt ceremony, Krav Maga founder, Imi Lichtenfeld, passed on his own black belt to Darren.

At the same time, Darren received his full Instructor’s Certification from Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sport as well as the Krav Maga Association of Israel.

 

1997 – Krav Maga Worldwide Training Center – West L.A. Opens

Krav Maga National Training Center (now called KMW Training Centers™ • West LA) opens. Continuing demand from civilians and law enforcement agents prompted Darren and his top students to open the Krav Maga National Training Center, a 6,000 square foot facility in West Los Angeles.

The Center, which opened in February of 1997, was the first training facility of its kind in the world — incorporating a full time schedule of Krav Maga self defense, fighting and fitness classes. The Krav Maga National Training Center became a training ground for civilians, law enforcement and military units.

1998 – Imi Lichtenfeld, Founder of Krav Maga, Passes

Imi Lichtenfeld, the founder of Krav Maga, died in 1998 at the age of 88. His funeral was attended by many of the highest-ranking and most important members of the Israeli military. He will be sorely missed.

But Imi’s legacy lives on. His system of Krav Maga was founded on moral and human values, emphasizing personal integrity, non-violence, good citizenship, and humble conduct. These principles have been, and will continue to be, the guiding force for the students of Krav Maga.

To date, Krav Maga has been taught to thousands of civilians, law enforcement, and military personnel in Israel, Europe, and the United States. Through his efforts, Imi has saved numerous lives and has helped thousands to “walk in peace.”