History of Krav Maga
Krav Maga was developed by Imi Sde-Or (Lichtenfeld), a Hungarian-Israeli martial artist and self-defence expert. During the 1930s, Imi used his boxing, wrestling, and athletic experience to protect Jewish communities from violent anti-Semitic attacks in Bratislava. Through these real-world confrontations, he discovered that many traditional fighting methods were impractical under the stress and chaos of actual violence.
After immigrating to what would later become Israel, Imi joined the Haganah and subsequently became the Chief Instructor for Physical Fitness and Hand-to-Hand Combat in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Drawing upon his combat experience and military requirements, he developed a simple, effective, and adaptable self-defence system that could be taught quickly to soldiers from diverse backgrounds.
The name "Krav Maga" translates from Hebrew as "Contact Combat." The system is based on natural body movements, instinctive reactions, and practical techniques designed to neutralise threats as efficiently as possible. Rather than focusing on competition or sporting rules, Krav Maga emphasises personal safety, situational awareness, threat avoidance, and the ability to defend against real-world violence.
Following his retirement from military service, Imi adapted Krav Maga for civilian use, making it accessible to men, women, and children of all ages and abilities. Today, Krav Maga is practised worldwide by civilians, law enforcement, military personnel, and security professionals, remaining true to Imi's original philosophy: to provide ordinary people with the skills and confidence to protect themselves and others.
As Imi often stated, the purpose of Krav Maga is simple: "So that one may walk in peace."
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When the teaching of Krav Maga (KM) started to spread beyond the borders of Israel, arose a need to found an international organization. Imi formed the IKMF with the support of his most loyal students and respected instructors, among which was IKMF's current chairman, Avi Moyal.
Since 1996 The IKMF expanded and is now the largest and most appreciated KM institution worldwide. The IKMF has branched out and is successfully active in over 100 countries globally.
The IKMF trains and educates civilian students and instructors (with KM and / or other martial arts background), Law-Enforcement officers and instructors, military personnel and instructors, as well as security and close protection officers and their instructors. All such individuals and groups are accepted into the ranks of the IKMF.