Krav Maga, meaning “contact fight”, is the martial art Israeli soldiers learn when they join the army nowadays. It’s based on hits and kicks being completed by various hits and kicks as well as ground combat.
Imrich Lichtenfeld is considered as the father of Krav Maga. He was born in 1910 in Slovakia and developed the self-defense system in the 1930s to protect himself from anti-Semitic attacks. He combined boxing and wrestling and Jiu Jitsu, which his father had taught him. After emigrating from Slovakia in 1940, an adventurous escape and some time spent in the British army, he was allowed to enter Palestine in 1942.
He taught Krav Maga in the British protectorate of Palestine until he was appointed as main combat instructor of the Israeli army after the establishment of Israel in 1948. He also developed forms of Krav Maga which were adapted to legitimate defense, thus civilians could be taught. Krav Maga is considered rather easy to learn, because there are many instinctive movements. Krav Maga is not only useful to protect yourself, it is also very good for your fitness and stress management.
Copyright and Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krav_Maga (Image: Esquilo), http://www.krav-maga-berlin.de/
