Krav-maga

The krav-maga (or Krav-Maga, Krav Maga, of the Hebrew קרבמגע which means “close combat literally”) is a method of Israeli coil-defense . In the beginning, it was created by Imi Lichtenfeld for the needs for the Israeli armed . Today, it is also used by many police forces and international troops of elite. He also knows a relative interest in the civilians.

Chronology

Imi Lichtenfeld, founder and visionary

Bratislava, city active of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, shelters following the example many towns of Eastern Europe an important Jewish community Ashkénaze. Samuel Lichtenfeld is detective and instructor as a chief of the departmental police force become famous for his many elucidated businesses and his teaching of coil-defense. His/her son Imi, born with Budapest in 1910, will be inspired largely by the activities of his father. He gains many competitions in fight, boxes and gymnastic.

When, in the Years 1930, the Fascisme makes its appearance, It gathers around him a group of young athletes from which the mission is to protect the local Jewish community. It took part in many brawls which sharpened its awakening on the differences between the sporting events and the “street battles”. From its action, it quickly becomes unpopular near the local authorities, and begins in 1940 a 2 years tour which will finally carry out it in Palestine, after a passage in the British troops. It joined then the Haganah, paramilitary formation Jewish preceding the future Israeli army. It belongs to the shock troops, the Palmach, where it teaches the fight, the gymnastics and the bases of the self-defense.

Expansion

In 1948, it takes part in the war of independence of the State of Israel, then it joined Tsahal as an chief-instructor for physical education and the closed fights . Its objective is to develop a simple, effective method and quickly assimilable to meet the needs for the army: the techniques were born from a progressive readjustment made possible by the experience feedbacks on the battle field. After a 2 years mission in Ethiopia, Imi Lichtenfeld leaves the active service in 1964. It opens a school with Netanya and creates officially the krav-maga (literally Combat Brought closer in Hebrew). After the idea and the development of following contents of the principles (e.g.: the shortest way, defense and simultaneous counter-attack) but however disordered remainder, Imi and its team structure with order their discoveries to be able to teach them ( " I had thought of creating an applicable system in the réalité" ).

1980 mark the beginning of the internationalization of the krav-maga, circumscribed before in the only State of Israel. Imi authorizes its most gifted disciples to teach this method throughout the world, those starting by making known their discipline within the Jewish communities of the diaspora (inter alia Eyal Yanilov in the USA, Richard Douieb in France, Kobi Lichtenstein in South America). FBI, DEA, the Marine, GIGN and SAS popularize this new closed form of fights near the general public and of many clubs start to propose to the civilians a different way to practice coil-defense (mainly under the impulse of Darren Levine in North America and Richard Douieb in Europe).

The death of the founder in 1998 mark the beginning of the dissensions within the leading authorities. Little before its disappearance, Imi Lichtenfeld still affirmed that its wish expensive was that " each child can defend himself, high in the respect of autrui" .

Objectives of the krav-maga

The objective of the krav-maga is to learn how to defend oneself in a minimum from time of formation.

The krav-maga is not a mixture of various martial arts and is not conceived like an art but like a method of close combat. In this preoccupation with an effectiveness, the krav-maga is in perpetual evolution. One finds there however a great number of techniques of combat resulting from the Boxe feet fists, Jiu-jitsu and Lutte.

The drives differ from those of martial arts or the sports from combat insofar as the goal is neither the competition nor a cultural and physical practice. To that is added the absence of rules a priori and the priorities.

The method having to be integrated quickly for the training of the soldiers, it is not based on particular physical qualities and is thus not reserved for troops of elites. Simplicity is determining. The krav-maga is based on the reflexes and the speed of action. Courses are given to the children for a long time, even if much issues reserves on the ambiguity of the “blows to the parts”.

7 principles of Imi Lichtenfeld

the first is a principle of prevention of good sense: to avoid finding in a dangerous situation , for example if one hitch-hikes, to avoid the individuals little engaging; to avoid Secondly crossing to feet a dangerous district downtown…
, the krav-maga is an art of coil-defense based on the natural reflexes of the human body.
Thirdly: to defend themselves and attack by the shortest way and since the position where one is, by privileging minimum of taking risk for oneself .
Fourth principle: according to the situation, and according to the need, according to the danger which the adversary represents, to try to discourage this one by speaking .
Fifthly, one uses the significant points human body (eyes, throat) to reach or control the adversary.
Sixth principle: to try to use all objects with its range , then natural weapons of the body.
the Finally last principle, but perhaps most realistic: no the law, no limitation on the plan of the techniques, not of interdicts, all the blows are allowed .

Priorities of the krav-maga

In a given situation, the answer must be:

Immediate
As strong as necessary
Without call
Natural
Selected to serve an precise objective like decentralizing, fleeing, to immobilize on the ground, to neutralize or deviate somebody.

Drive with the krav-maga

The krav-maga does not presuppose that the combatants respect a whole of rules. In particular, the drive insists on atypical situations such as:

To react to a surprised attack;
To fight with naked hands against an adversary armed with a weapon sharp, knife, possibly dissimulated, blunt (beater) or with fire;
To prevent the adversary leaving a weapon or from making use of it;
To fight against several adversaries, to leave a situation of surrounding;
To protect a third person.

The drive with the krav-maga covers as situations likely to degenerate into combat and methods, as well verbal as physical.

The qualities developed at the time of the drive are: improvement of the reflexes, fluidity, speed, precision, the correct use of the natural weapons of the body, determination, self-control, and of the answers adapted to the situations of aggression.

The passage of the first rank girdles black in France

Supervised in France by the French federation of karate and associated disciplines, this program technical is composed of two parts: an identical joint base for all the disciplines (test of Kihon, Kata and kihon ippon kumite) and a part specific to the krav-maga.

1° ) Program imposed with partner

in guard: defense against all the low kicks and sequence of at least two blows (counter-attacks) (x3)
release of all the throttlings and seized front, back, on side and sequence of at least two blows (x3)
basic defense against all the attacks with the Stick and the Knife (from top to bottom, upwards, in Tuck, on all the levels and all the distances) (x3)

2° ) technical Test with or without weapon

two partners attack simultaneously the defender, one is armed with a knife the other of a stick, the defender is without weapon (lasted: 1 mn)
defense against threat with the Handgun: vis-a-vis the face, with the body (x3) and of back to the back of cranium, in the back (x3)
on side in front of the arm, with the back of the arm (x3)

3° ) Test fights with or without weapon

the blows are carried, however some safety regulations are to be respected:

if a combatant is touched hard, the sequence who follows must be light or stopped according to the degree of hardness
if a combatant at the time of giving a Coup of head, this one must be simulated
if a combatant at the time of touching places not-protected like the cervical , the blow must be simulated
if a combatant is touched with the shell, this one must take a step or two on side to at least mean the advantage which its adversary

would have taken The candidates are not judged with the number of points but on their general attitude, and not according to gaining or of the loser. They should not conceal but show of courage, determination, coolness, technique and respect of the partner.

defenses and responses against a punch or nonknown foot in advance (x5). Several rules are essential: not to move back on the attack, defense/against simultaneous as far as possible, reaction in counter-attack even if one is touched, after defense and the counter-attack no movement must be useless in the following sequences

Main confederations of krav-maga in the world

Since the death of Lichtenfeld, a certain number of federations developed in Europe and in the world:

the IKMA - Israeli Federation of krav-maga: founded in 1978, directed by Haim Gideon, 10th daN and successor of Imi Lichtenfeld, represented in France by Gabriel Elbaz. Haim Gideon was a direct pupil of Imi Lichtenfeld.

the IKMF - International federation of krav-maga (Eyal Yanilov, represented by Emmanuel Ayache): Eyal Yanilov, 8th daN, was a direct pupil of Imi Lichtenfeld, founder of the method. In 2004, Eyal Yanilov and Gaby Noah name Emmanuel Ayache directing of IKMF for France and Switzerland. This Federation created in 1994 is present in more than 30 countries at the world.

the FEKM-RD - European Federation of Krav Maga (Richard Douieb): Richard Douieb, 6th daN. Its founded federation in 1997, the FEKM (more cash: 5000 members), is most important in France and on this continent. It was also formed by Raphy Elgrissi and Haim Zut.

the KMAA - American Association of krav-maga (Darren Levine): Darren Levine, 1st not-Israeli to obtain the black belt of krav-maga in 1984, founds the KMAA in 1983. He is currently prosecutor near the District Attorney of Los Angeles. Since February 2006, Krav Maga Worldwide, Inc. and the American Association of krav-maga of Darren Levine are represented in Europe by Thierry Viatour.

the KMBA (Brazilian Association of krav-maga, founded in 1990) and the KMSA (South American Federation of Krav Maga, founded in 2003): Kobi Lichtenstein, 6th daN, represents the krav-maga for all South America through these 2 federations.

the KAMI - Israeli Association of krav-maga (Eli Avikzar): the Krav Magen , synthesis of Aikido, Judo and Krav Maga, was created by Eli Avikzar, first black belt in 1971 and 8th daN. In spite of its death in 2004, this federation founded in 1987 is always present in many countries under the impulse of the successor of Eli, Avi Avisadon.

External bonds

International federation of krav-maga
European Federation of krav-maga - Richard Douïeb

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