| How does Krav Maga differ from most other | | | | Graduates returned to the USA and established |
| forms of self defense? Most other forms of self | | | | training centers in different areas of the country. |
| defense have rules the practitioner must follow. | | | | More students went in 1984 and 1986 to Israel to |
| Anyone who has ever boxed, knows that you | | | | also become instructors. 1985 saw Law |
| cannot hit below the belt, and eye gouges are out | | | | Enforcement Agencies begin a training program. |
| of the question. This is OK, because in a boxing | | | | At this current time the fighting technique is being |
| match, you are not fighting for your life. But in | | | | taught in numerous police departments throughout |
| the real world, criminals have only one rule...there | | | | the USA. |
| are none. | | | | The core philosophy |
| If you are going to survive an attack from | | | | The main philosophy of this self defense system |
| someone with this mentality, the self defense | | | | is the neutralization of a threat, by an |
| method you choose had better follow the same | | | | instantaneous offensive and defensive maneuver, |
| rules as your attacker. I believe that Krav Maga | | | | and to emphasize aggression. The system is now |
| will provide you with the tools that you will need | | | | used exclusively by the Special Forces of the |
| to survive. | | | | Israel Defense, while other variation which have |
| The creation of Krav Maga | | | | very similar techniques are now used by |
| The development of Krav Maga began in the | | | | intelligence and law enforcement organizations in |
| 1930s in Bratislava Czechoslovakia. During this | | | | several other countries around the world. |
| period in Bratislava, Imre Lichtenfeld a trained | | | | This specialized fighting system usually has no |
| wrestler and boxer, began teaching his fighting | | | | rules, but is taught with the idea of keeping the |
| techniques to the Jewish community to help them | | | | user safe and by using any means at your |
| protect themselves against rampant anti Semitic | | | | disposal to stop an aggressor, with both women |
| violence. After moving to what was at the time | | | | and men usually having the same type of training. |
| Palestine,but is now the nation of Israel, he began | | | | Some organizations have different levels, ranks |
| to teaching his fighting system to the Jewish | | | | and belts like traditional other martial arts, but for |
| underground army. | | | | most practitioners there is no official uniform or |
| In 1948 the State of Israel was established and | | | | any other special dress. |
| Imre Lichtenfeld began teaching at the combat | | | | The general principles include preemptive |
| fitness school of the Israel Defense Force. He | | | | attacking, attacks targeted at some of the |
| was assigned the role of Chief Instructor of | | | | vulnerable areas on the body, such as the jaw, |
| training and Physical Fitness. Over a period of | | | | eyes, groin and throat, as well as other places. |
| fifteen years he served with the Israel Defense | | | | Using continued attacking to try to stop an |
| Force developing and refining his method of hand | | | | opponent quickly, being aware of ways to escape, |
| to hand combat. | | | | watching for any more attackers, looking for |
| In 1964 although he was leaving the military he | | | | objects to help with the defense and being very |
| continued with the supervision and refinement of | | | | aware of the surrounding area while defending |
| this fighting system, and worked with both law | | | | oneself. |
| enforcement and the military in implementing it. He | | | | The training tries to cover realistic situations that |
| also spent time adapting his fighting techniques to | | | | can be encountered in combat, walking the street, |
| suit the needs of civilians. In January 1998 Imre | | | | and many other varied environments. Students |
| Lichtenfeld died in Netanya Israel at the age of 88. | | | | are taught to ignore any distractions and training |
| How it spread to America | | | | can occur outdoors using different restrictive |
| In 1981 six instructors traveled from Israel to the | | | | situations and various surface areas. Krav Maga |
| United States of America to demonstrate to | | | | also trains a student to be aware of what is |
| some Jewish Community Centers this proven | | | | happening in any surroundings and of a potential |
| fighting system. The FBI became interested and | | | | threat. The ultimate goal of any martial is to avoid |
| after seeing a demonstration, twenty two people | | | | violence, but when it is unavoidable it must be |
| were sent back to Israel to be instructed in this | | | | dealt with brutally and decisively. |
| new martial art. | | | | |