A Brief History of Krav Maga

Krav Maga (pronounced KRAHV mug-GAH), meaning “Contact Combat” in Hebrew, is a real-world self-defense system. This practical form of self-defense is based on the body’s natural reactions, prioritizing effectiveness and adaptability in high-pressure situations. The Krav Maga system was first developed by a Hungarian-born Israeli martial artist, Imi Lichtenfield, as a way to protect Jewish communities.

Throughout his life, Mr. Imi Lichtenfield trained in boxing and wrestling, in the 1930s, a time of great anti-semitic unrest, Mr. Lichtenfield led a group of Jewish fighters (boxers and wrestlers) to protect Jewish communities against the rise of anti-semetic riots. The experience gained from street fighting laid the foundation for what Krav Maga is today.  In the late 1940s, he began to train Jewish Paramilitary Groups, which later became the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). Later, the system Mr. Lichtenfield created would come to be known as Krav Maga.

Today Krav Maga combines various techniques from Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Muay Thai. This system has been proven and continues to be used in real-world applications through civilian defense, military, and law enforcement worldwide.

Krav Maga works because the self-defense system is designed to be simple, direct, and effective. When you train Krav Maga you can have confidence that the system has been forged through generations of battles and conflicts. It is a great choice to help keep you and your loved ones safe!