What is Krav Maga;
Krav Maga (the meaning of words in Hebrew is a battle of contact - contact fight) is a system of self defense and fighting invented by the Israelis for use in the difficult battlefields of the Middle East after long experience and conflict situations. That alone is proof of it's effectiveness.
It was created by Imi Lichtenfeld during his military career in the Israeli army as Chief Instructor of Hand to Hand Combat of I. D. F. (Israeli Defense Forces).
The Krav Maga was launched purely as operational (Operational Krav Maga) and was taught only in special forces of the army, police, intelligence services and certain groups of persons accompanying security official in Israel. Taught and included in all their training like counterterrorism, antisabotaz, installations security, security of public figures and others, and today is the official self defense and fighting system of Israel, recognized by the Ministries of Culture and National Defense. Over the years it was adapted and went on Israeli civilians and Europe as the most practical and effective self-defense system. Now it is becoming a very popular art that combines physical exercise and self-protection. Hollywood celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, the Anjelina Joli the Kameron Diaz, Matt Damon have already added Krav Maga in their rutine, while more than 200,000 people worldwide have already been initiated to Krav Maga secrets. Adapted to the needs of ordinary citizens, the Krav Maga is based on the innate human instinct for self preservation and uses hands, forearms, elbows, feet, knees and head for attacks on sensitive body parts like ears, eyes, neck or groin and others, with the ultimate goal of self-protection. Addressed at all people, regardless age or physical construction, it is easy to learn, doesn't require extensive training and can also be used by people with limited physical abilities.
Imi Lichtenfeld: The founder of Krav Maga
Imi Lichtenfeld was born in 1910 in Budapest. He grew up in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia in a home where he was nurtured in athletics, justice and western education.
His father, Samuel Lichtenfeld, was a unique personality. At age 13 he followed a wandering circus, and for the next 20 years he was into wrestling, weightlifting and generally on demonstration of physical power. To him the circus was a school, where he met several sport's people dealing with unorthodox sports. They taught him of what they knew about their occupations, including the martial arts. With the encouragement of his father, Imi did several sports. He became first at swimming, wrestling and boxing. In 1928 he won the wrestling national teen championship in Slovakia and in 1929 the men's championship. The same year he won the boxing championship and an international gymnastics championship. In the decade that followed he became interested in wrestling as an athlete and coach. But in the mid-30s things began to change in Bratislava. Fascists and anti-Semitic groups began to make their appearance, against the Jewish community. Lichtenfeld headed a group of young Jews who had 'militant' education and was trying to prevent anti-Semitic groups to enter their area. From 1936 until 1940, violence was endless.To 1940 things started to get very difficult for Imi hence he let his friends and family to board a ship of immigrants escaping from his pursuers. The ship after an eventful trip managed to reach Palestine and Imi's destination. He ranked in Jewish army and since 1944 he began to train soldiers and commandos: physical strength, swimming, wrestling, use of knife and defense against knife attacks.In 1948 when the State of Israel was founded, he took over as head trainer on physical fitness and Krav Maga in Israel's military school. He served for nearly 20 years, and during those years he perfected his distinctive method of self defense and fighting with bare hands.
The most significant contribution came after his retirement when he began adapting the system to the needs of citizens. The Krav Maga was amended in such way to "fit" to a man and a woman without requiring separate physical abilities. It was the appropriate tool on the hands of anyone was needed to protect his/her life against any riskthey would face on the street. To popularize the art of the Imi established two training centers, one in Tel Aviv and one in Natan. Even during the last years of his life, Imi Lichtenfeld continued to oversee the system development and progress of the new trainers. On January 9, 1998 he let his last breath.
Timeline
1910: Imi Lichtenfeld is born. An athlet with significant discrimination
1930: Imi perfects his technique of fighting in the streets of Bratislava
1948: The Government of Israel requests Imi Lichtenfeld to develop an effective system of self-defense.
1964: Imi devotes himself to adapt Krav Maga use in everyday life.
At the age of 88 Imi Lichtenfeld dies.
