 Krav
Maga. We are saddened to report that Imi Lichtenfeld, the founder
and grandmaster of Krav Maga, passed away on January 9th, 1998.
Born in 1910, Imi was raised and educated in Bratislava, the capital
of Slovakia. His father, Samuel, started his career as a circus
acrobat and wrestler and opened later the first heavy athletics
club in Bratislava, "Hercules". He entered the Police
Department and served for three decades as a Chief Detective Inspector
and became well known for his considerable arrest record, particularly
of dangerous criminals. Imi Lichtenfeld May 25th, 1910 - January
9th 1998 Besides his duties as a detective, Samuel became involved
in teaching various self-defense techniques to the local policemen,
constantly emphasizing the importance of proper moral conduct, whether
dealing with criminals or law abiding citizens. Inspired and encouraged
by his impressive father, Imi engaged in a variety of sports, concentrating
finally on gymnastics, boxing and wrestling. He participated intensively
over a decade in many national and international competitions, winning
a considerable number of medals, mostly in wrestling. Imi fought
fascism in Bratislava when it appeared in the thirties. He led a
fairly small group of concerned athletes and youth who defended
local Jews against fascist thugs. During those years, he took part
in numerous brawls which sharpened his awareness of the basic differences
existing between street fights and the sport contests which were
so familiar to him. It was at that time that many of the principles
which were later to constitute the foundation of his discipline,
Krav Maga, started to crystallize. As the situation in Imi's homeland
deteriorated, his activities became rapidly unpopular with the local
authorities. As a result, Imi had to leave his home, family and
numerous friends and in 1940, embarked on a ong odyssey which took
him down the Danube River to the Black Sea and across the Mediterranean
to the Middle East. It took him two years to get there, two years
interwoven with many typical acts of courage and gallantry, first
on the immigrant ship Pentcho and later during his service in the
Czech Legion. Finally, Imi reached his original destination Israel,
then called Palestine. He joined the Haganah, which was the paramilitary
organization of the Jewish community and once his professional capacities
were recognized, became involved in training soldiers in basic self-defense
techniques. These activities continued after the proclamation of
the State at which time the Haganah was incorporated into the Israel
Defense Forces.  There,
in the army, Imi became the Chief Instructor of the military school
for Physical Training and Krav Maga. During the twenty years he
served in the army, Imi developed his unique system of self-defense
and hand to hand combat, training the instructors and the fighters
of the I.D.F's elite units. After his retirement from the service,
Imi devoted both his time and energy to adapting Krav Maga to everyday
life. The system was adjusted so that it would supply solutions
to ordinary men, women, children and senior citizens who might be
facing an aggressive encounter. Since 1964, Krav Maga is no longer
a secret method and its teaching rapidly spread within the Israeli
population, thanks to a team of Imi's qualified graduates. These
instructors who were personally chosen and trained by Imi are also
accredited by the Israeli Ministry of Education as teachers of Krav
Maga. In 1978, Imi and some of his followers established the Krav
Maga Association, a non-profit making public benefit organization,
aiming at promoting the teaching of Krav Maga in Israel and throughout
the world. Krav Maga is now taught on a regular basis within both
private and public frameworks, especially after it was recognized
by the Ministry of Education as the leading method of self-defense.
Instruction in Krav Maga is today given in several centers throughout
the world, particularly in the United States, and through seminars
for foreign students by the Krav Maga Association in Israel. Imi's
system of Krav Maga was founded on moral and human values, emphasizing
personal integrity, non-violence, good citizenship and humble conduct.
These principals have been, and will continue to be the guiding
force for the disciples of Krav Maga. We, at the Krav Maga Association
of America, Inc. and the Krav Maga National Training Center are
dedicated to continuing Imi's life-long commitment to the basic
goals of Krav Maga. To educate and build people mentally, spiritually
and physically, so that in a time of need one will be able to defend
and and attack in maximum speed and efficiency. To establish in
one a sense of self worth. To work toward the bringing together
of hearts and ending violence around the world, between all peoples,
irrespective of color, race or religion. |