Krav Maga

Krav Maga was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld in Czechoslovakia in the 1930's. Lichtenfeld, upon moving to Palestine prior to the establishment of the state of Israel, began teaching hand to hand combat to the Haganah, the Jewish underground army. After Israel was established, Krav Maga was adopted as the official martial art of the Israeli armed forces and police. Eventually, after Licktenfeld's retirement, he began to teach his methods to the civilian population.

Krav Maga in Hebrew is usually translated as "close combat." Krav Maga is not a sport, and has no competitions or competitive aspect. The basic principles of Krav Maga are that every self-defense response or attack must be the fastest, the strongest, the shortest, the most natural, and to the point. Krav Maga emphasizes that practitioners must deal with the immediate threat first, such as hands around the throat, then neutralize the opponent.

It is stressed that initiative or forward momentum must be taken from the attacker immediately. It is acceptable to run away, if that is the best chance of escape. Krav Maga techniques can be used armed opponents, multiple opponents, and in close quarters.

Krava Maga incorporates many disarming techniques, and fighting in unusual circumstances and places is practiced. Before 1985, all experts in Krav Maga lived in Israel, and few foreigners came to Israel to study Krav Maga. The first non-Israeli to open a Krav Maga instruction school was Darren Levine, who currently runs a school in Los Angeles.