KRAV MAGA

Imi Lichtenfeld, was born in 1910 in Bratislava, in Czechoslovakia. Inspired and encouraged by his father Samuel, a former circus acrobat and prize-fighter, teacher of physical education, police detective and chief instructor of the Local Police who was reputed for his self-defence instruction and for his impressive arrest record, Imi practised many sports. He finally specialised in gymnastics, wrestling and boxing, and for ten years took part in many competitions, which he frequently won, mainly as a wrestler.

In 1928 Imi won the championship for free-style wrestling for the youth of Slovakia.

In 1929 he won the same championship for free-style wrestling but for adults and in two categories of different weights, as well as the national boxing championship plus an international gymnastic competition.

In 1935 : a rib broken during training just before a competition in Palestine kept him from competing ; from this event he drew a lesson concerning the question of safety while practice, contrary to the belief that you must win at all price : « first of all, avoid being wounded …. »…..

From 1936 to 1940 Imi practised mainly wrestling. He trained, practised and won a dozen medals and prizes. He was considered one of the best wrestlers in Europe. Simultaneously, he practised acrobatics and devoted himself also to dramatic art. He taught gymnastics to one of the best theatre companies in Czechoslovakia and acted in various productions.

During this period, Imi took part in numerous oppositions and street fights against anti-semitic agressors, either alone or in a group. With the rise of fascism and anti-semitism, the nazis spread over Slovakia and the Jews were violently attacked ; Imi organised a group of young Jews mainly from boxing, wrestling or physical culture clubs to counter these attacks and to stop the gangs of anti-semites invading the Jewish neighbourhood.

These incidents forged the spirit and body of Imi and transformed him from sportsman to accomplished street-fighter with a unique experience which planted the seed which was later to become the system of self-défense he initiated – the Krav-Maga.

The bases of his self defense were :

• Use reflexes and natural movement;
• Simultaneous attack and defense;
• Recuperate after an assault.

In 1940 Imi had become a problem for the local authorities now fascist and he was obliged to leave his home, his family and his friends. He embarked on the last immigrant ship which managed to escape the nazis. It was an old river boat named the Pentcho and was converted into a transport ship for hundreds of refugees fleeing central Europe for the promised land of Israël (Palestine).

The odyssey of Imi on board this ship is full of emotional episodes and lasted two years.

In the Roumanian delta the ship was placed in quarantine to try and starve the passengers. Several times Imi was obliged to dive into the water, in peril of his life, to save passengers fallen overboard or to recover bags of food, While saving a child from drowning, he caught an ear infection which almost cost him his life.

The boat was saved from being destroyed by mines because if was flat bottomed.

Later, the boiler of the ship exploded and it ran aground near the Greek island of Kamilanisi. Imi and four of his friends took a rowing boat aiming for Crete to ask for help. Ignoring his ear infection and the arguments of his friends, Imi refused to give up the oars for an entire day. But despite their heroic efforts, violent winds capsized the boat and they never accosted Crete. On the morning of the 5^th day, a British warship picked up the five survivors and took them to Alexandria in Egypt.

Imi was in very bad shape and underwent several operations in hospital. At this point he was at death’s door and the doctors gave him no hope of recovery. However, the surgeon managed to save his life. After his convalescence, Imi joint the Czechoslovakian legion under the command of the British Army. He served in different places in the Middle East for a year and a half before finally receiving permission to enter Israël (Palestine).

In 1942 friends of Imi introduced him to General SADEH, general of the Hagana (pre – IDF = Israeli Defensive Forces) who immediately accepted him in the organization because of his knowledge of close combat.

In 1944 Imi began training Israeli fighters. He trained various top regiments of the Hagana : Palmach (fighting regiments), Palyam (marine commandos) as well as officers of the police force. He taught them the physical condition necessary to fight, how to overcome individual obstacles, bayonet techniques, how to attack guards, close combat without weapons (Krav-Maga in Hebrew), swimming, knife attacks, pole fighting techniques.

In 1948 with the birth of Israel and the IDF, Imi became Chief Instructor in physical education and Krav-Maga for the Army. He served with the IDF for 20 years perfecting and developing his method of unique close combat. Imi personally trained the best members of Israel’s elite regiments and formed many generations of instructors in Krav-Maga. For this he received recognition from the highest grades in the Army.

Later, the Minister of Education gave state endorsement for the teaching of Krav-Maga in civil society.

The Krav-Maga was an answer to the various needs of the IDF. It had to be easy to learn and apply, in such a way that a soldier, an office worker or a member of an elite regiment could become efficient in a short period of time and also that the techniques could be applied in spite of intense stress.

At the beginning of the sixties while training a regiment of the Royal Police in Ethiopia, Imi became aware that one of his pupils was really trying to hurt him while he was teaching a method of defense against a bayonet attack. At the next move, Imi struck very forcibly and in such a way that the pupil had to submit. This incident made him reflect more on the attitude he had to convey to his pupils in order to train in good conditions and avoid being hurt : « Do not try to prove who you are ».

In 1964, after retiring from the IDF, Imi began to adapt the Krav-Maga for the needs of a civilian society. The method was adapted to fit everyone : men and women, young and old, everyone who at one point would need to survive an attack with a minimum of risk and damage. To spread his method, Imi opened 2 training centres in Tel Aviv and Netanya, his home town, which become the centre for anyone practicing Krav-Maga. He adopted the belt system in order to structure his discipline and to assure quick progress in total security.

Meanwhile, Imi continued to act as consultant and instructor of Krav-Maga pour the IDF and other security forces.

In 1972, the first instructor formation for non-military people began at the Institute Wingate. From then on the method spread to many civilian societies. Since then, thousands of people from all walks of life have trained in Krav-Maga : Israeli Secret Service, Police Force, schools, private and public institutions, especially since it has been endorsed by the Israeli Ministery of Education.

In 1978, Imi founded the Israeli Krav-Maga Association to spread the method and transmit its values. He remained president until his death.

In 1981, the Krav-Maga began to be known throughout the world.

Up until his death, Imi continued to develop the technique and conceptions of Krav-Maga. He controlled not only its progress but the success of its pupils, captivating them with his unique personality and his pronounced sense of humour in communicating his knowledge and advice.

On the 8^th of January 1998 Imi died at the age of 87 retaining a strong mind even in his last moments.

Imi’s Principles

The essence of Krav-Maga rests on several principles:

First a somewhat generic principle, i.e., prevention – to avoid being in dangerous situations. For example when hitch-hiking, to avoid unwholesome individuals; when walking, to avoid dangerous neighbourhoods.

Second : Krav-Maga is based on the human body’s natural reflexes.

Third : Starting from whichever position one is, in to defend and attack along the shortest distance and to favour methods which involve minimum personal risk.

Fourth : To attempt to discourage one’s opponent verbally bearing in mind the actual situation, its requirements and the danger presented.

Fifth : to attack the weak areas of the human body (the eyes, the throat) in order to strike or to subdue one’s opponent;

Sixth : to try to use any object within one’s reach as well as the body’s natural weapons;

Seventh : the most realistic principle: no holds barred, no boundaries as to the techniques employed, nothing is forbidden, all strikes are legitimate.”

“To master self-defence so well as to never have to kill anyone.”
Karate Bushido n°195 – October, 1992

Tribute to Imi Lichtenfeld

Imi Lichtenfeld died on January 08, 1998. Krav-Maga was henceforth bereft of his creator. The task of continuing its teaching, its development and especially of perpetrating the spirit of his founder now falls to us. ” (Source: F.E.K.M)

For more information, please consult F.E.K.M website : www.krav-maga.net