Krav maga is a self-defense system developed in Israel that incorporates techniques from boxing, muay thai, judo, and wrestling. It was created by Imi Lichtenfeld in the 1930s in Bratislava to defend the Jewish community from fascist attacks. Krav maga focuses on real-world self-defense and efficient, devastating counterattacks. It was later incorporated into the Israeli Defense Forces' training to teach soldiers how to incapacitate opponents quickly and survive violent encounters.
2. INTRODUCTION
• Krav maga is a self-defense system developed for the military in israel that consists
of a wide combination of techniques sourced from boxing, savate, muay thai, wing
chun, judo, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and grappling, along with realistic fight training.
• Krav maga is known for its focus on real-world situations and extremely efficient
and brutal counter-attacks.
• It was derived from street-fighting skills developed by slovakian-israeli martial artist
imi lichtenfeld, who made use of his training as a boxer and wrestler, as a means of
defending the jewish quarter against fascist groups in bratislava in the mid-to-late
1930s.
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4. HISTORY
• Compared to a host of other Martial disciplines and combat styles, KravMaga is a
relatively new Self Defence system. It was created, developed and practiced by `Imi`
Sde-Or, ( Imrich Lichtenfeld). He was born in Hungary 1910 and grew up in
Bratislava, Slovakia. Krav Maga can literally be translated to ‘Contact Combat’.
• Imrich used his experience in Boxing and Wrestling as a base to develop and build a
tried and tested street fighting survival combat system.
• It was truly inspirational, for Imrich found himself in the middle of a great life and
death struggle and started assisting Jews in the Jewish quarter against Nazi
sympathisers and the waves of anti-Semitic thugs and ‘Einsatzgruppen’ Nazi Death
Squads that poured into Bratislava throughout the Second World War.
5.
6. Contd….
• He tested and devised a combat system that involved lethal striking techniques
and brutal counter attacks to dispose of one’s enemy as quickly and as
efficiently as possible, in all sorts of real life situations, and when under
extreme duress.
• With the use of punches, low risk, low level kicks, elbow, knee and open hand
strikes, Krav Maga is devastating in its effectiveness when applied with speed,
power and aggression.
• It was incorporated immediately as part of the IDF training programme and his
system and school still exist in Israel to the present day. He was instrumental in
teaching his system to the IDF Special Forces and other agencies such as
MOSSAD and Shin Bet.
• Krav Maga incorporates martial combat techniques from many traditional
martial styles such as Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Judo, Boxing, and Muay Thai.
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8. PRINCIPLES
• Counter attacking as soon as possible (or attacking pre-
emptively).
• Targeting attacks to the body's most vulnerable points, such as:
the eyes, neck or throat, face, solar plexus, groin, ribs, knee,
foot, fingers, etc.
• Maximum effectiveness and efficiency in order to neutralize the
opponent as quickly as possible.
• Maintaining awareness of surroundings while dealing with the
threat in order to look for escape routes, further attackers,
objects that could be used to defend or help attack, and so on.
