INTERVIEW WITh DAVID KAHN
David Kahn (IKMA U.S. Chief instructor and IKMA board member) received his advanced blackbelt teaching certification from Grandmaster Haim Gidon. David trains regularly in Israel with Grandmaster Gidon and was elected to the board of the IKMA. As the Grandmaster's envoy, David is committed to the proper expansion of the system in the U.S. and around the world. Under the oversight of Haim Gidon and working with senior Israeli instructors Ohad Gidon, Yoav Krayn and Yigal Arbiv, David trains local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. David is certified by State of New Jersey Department of Public Safety Criminal Justice Division Police Training Commission. Top Israeli instructors regularly visit David's classes in New York City and New Jersey. David also teaches krav maga at his alma mater, Princeton University. Prior to his instructor-training in Israel, David spent three years during law school training with Senior American Instructors, Rick Blitstein and Alan Feldman. David was featured in numerous publications including Men's Fitness (UK), Penthouse, Absolute, Self, Fitness, Razor, Giant, New York, New Yorker, gear, Allure, Daily News, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Princeton Alumni Weekly, with several additional articles forthcoming. David was featured on several news programs. David trained Emmy and Golden Globe Award Winner Actor James Gandolfini ("Tony Soprano"). David authored the book: Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method - For Fitness and Self Defense, St. Martin's Press, 2004, Piatkus Publishers, 2005 and Orana Publishers (2006) and will have his next book, Advanced Krav Maga: The Next Level, published by St. Martin's Press in the fall of 2008. (609) 585-MAGA or israelikrav@gmail.com
What is krav maga?
The generic name krav maga is derived from two ancient Hebrew words, krav translated as "combat" and maga translated as "contact" to form the combination "contact combat." Krav maga is used every day by the men and women of the Israeli defense and security forces. Krav maga's origins were developed by a Czech, Imi Lichtenfeld, in the late 1930's to protect his community against anti-Semitic violence. Krav maga is recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Education as the leading method of self-defense.
In developing the self-defense system, survival in any situation was foremost in Imi's mind. Accordingly, krav maga relies on a person's natural instincts and reflexes for self-defense. Awareness and mental conditioning are integral to krav maga training. Krav maga's philosophy is never to do more than necessary, but to react with speed, economy of motion, and the appropriate measure of force. Speed is paramount and one is taught to strike instinctively at the human body's vulnerable parts. Krav maga is dynamic and constantly evolves as situations require. The system is battle-tested and street-proven.
Most important, krav maga emphasizes that there are no rules on the street. If a situation is dire, the defender must do whatever is necessary to overcome the threat. This may include multiple strikes to the groin, throat, and kidneys, a finger planted into an eye, shouting into an attacker's ear, or a head butt or a bite to the neck. Because of this philosophy, krav maga is not suited for tournaments and must be practiced under controlled conditions. A student appreciates the simplicity and universal application of krav maga immediately. Krav maga uses the concept of retzef, Hebrew for "continuous motion" to complete a defense.
Krav maga uses the same building blocks from the simplest defenses to the most advanced techniques including empty-handed defenses and disarms against bladed weapons, firearms, hand grenades, and even rocks. Krav maga is world-renowned for its disarming techniques against assailants posing a threat with handguns, rifles, knives and edged weapons, sticks and even rocks. The system also incorporates subduing techniques that can de-escalate or escalate a situation quickly such as the proper way to grab, and - if necessary - break an attacker's finger to gain control.
Imi designed krav maga for people of all shapes, sizes, and physical abilities regardless of age. While krav maga was designed to teach soldiers to become proficient in hand-to-hand combat tactics in a short time, the same is true of krav maga's civilian adaptation. Krav maga is well received within law enforcement and military circles. Numerous law enforcement agencies and military branches all over the world train their men and women in krav maga.
How does krav maga differ from other martial arts or fighting styles?Krav maga is complete fighting system. The only rule is that there are no rules. In its military capacity and highest levels of learning, krav maga teaches not just defenses against armed and unarmed attack, but how to initiate an attack. An IKMA krav maga practionner is as comfortable in a ground confrontation as standing confrontation. (Note: a practionner does not necessarily want to be situated on the ground during a confrontation for several reasons including the threat of multiple attackers. Nevertheless, the reality is that many fights to end up on the ground.) Imi designed krav maga to be learned in a short time, and, equally important, to be retained. Krav maga does not emphasize traditional katas or choreographed routines.
What is the Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA)?
Krav maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld established the non-profit Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA) in 1978 to promote krav maga throughout the world. After Imi's retirement in 1964 as the military's chief instructor of physical training and self-defense, he focused on adapting his system to provide both professional security agencies and ordinary civilians - men, women, and children - with solutions to avoid and/or end a violent encounter. Haim Gidon, the highest-ranking individual in the world at 10th degree black-belt, heads the organization as Imi's appointed successor. The IKMA sponsors worldwide programs and courses are available at the Association's main training facility in Netanya, Israel. More information in both English and Hebrew can be found at the IKMA's website: www.kravmagaisraeli.com.
The IKMA is the governing body for Israeli krav maga recognized by the Israeli government and headed by Grandmaster Haim Gidon. Grandmaster Gidon, holds a tenth degree blackbelt (redbelt), the highest rank in krav maga. While improving the krav maga system daily, Haim follows Imi's fundamental premise that krav maga must work for everyone even against the most skilled adversaries. Any representation that a complete or ultimate guide to krav maga exists is a fallacy. Israeli krav maga is constantly refined and developed by Grandmaster Gidon and the IKMA professional committee. Constant improvement, evolution, and adaptability make krav maga a most formidable fighting system along with system's genius to teach anyone the core self-defense and fighting principals.
What are the differences between the IKMA and other krav maga organizations?
Krav maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld remained with his original krav maga organization, the IKMA, until his final days. Haim Gidon was duly elected President of the IKMA in 1994. In 1996, after Imi awarded Grandmaster Gidon his 8th dan and announced publicly that "9th and 10th dans" were to come, (Video clips of the ceremony are available at www.kravmagaisraeli.com), several members left the IKMA to form their own competing krav maga organizations. These organizations instruct krav maga according to their own interpretations. Imi formally approved of Haim's modifications and additions to the krav maga curriculum which were not made available to these new competing krav maga organizations. Imi's designation of Haim Gidon as his successor firmly establishes Imi's faith in his original organization. Imi and Haim's hometown in Israel, Netanya, serves as the hub of krav maga learning and development. Many non-affiliated organizations use and have registered the IKMA's distinct kuf-mem logo without the IKMA's permission. The IKMA strongly opposes this and is challenging this misappropriation of its logo and goodwill.
The Krav Maga Association of America severed ties with the IKMA in 1995 and began franchising their own schools in the late 1990's using their own curriculum. As noted, the IKMA curriculum changed considerably with Imi's approval in the late 1990's and no other competing organizations had access.
Who is Haim Gidon?
Grandmaster Haim Gidon, (10th dan and IKMA President) is a member of krav maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld's first training class in the early 1960's. Along with Imi and other top instructors, Haim Gidon co-founded the Israeli Krav maga Association (IKMA) which he now heads as President. In 1995, Imi nominated Haim as the top authority to grant 1st dan krav maga black-belt and up.
Grandmaster Haim Gidon was krav maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld's top student for twenty eight years. In 1996, Imi publicly nominated Haim as his successor. Imi remained a fixture in Haim's 21 Ben Zion Gym until his final days sharing what he loved best with Haim – instructing, watching, and encouraging the development of the Israeli krav maga system. Haim continues Imi's extraordinary legacy of developing and improving Israeli krav maga. With each visit to Haim's gym I marvel at the improvements and additions made to the system – true to Imi's goal of creating the most modern and comprehensive self-defense and hand-to-hand fighting system in the world. Under Grandmaster Gidon's supervision and authority, the IKMA's belt guidelines (white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black 1-5 dans) are constantly updated. Haim has taught and molded a whole new generation of instructors and students both in Israel and abroad. Haim's unparalleled skills and those abilities of his top students, including his sons Ohad and Noam, Yoav Krayn, Yigal Arbiv, Steve Moishe and others are requested worldwide by elite military units, law enforcement agencies and civilians. Grandmaster Gidon runs annual instructor certification and advanced training courses in Israel and at the Israeli Krav Maga United States Training Center. www.israelikrav.com and www.kravmagaisraeli.com
Haim Gidon is also a committee member of the Wingate (Israel's national sports institute) professional committee representing the self-defense style of krav maga. Haim Gidon, as President and Grandmaster of the IKMA, has taught the Israeli Police defensive tactics for the last thirty years to Israel's security and military agencies.
Why is Israeli krav maga so popular with law enforcement?
The Israeli self-defense system, krav maga, has achieved global recognition for its efficiency, simplicity, and, when required, brutal effectiveness. Battle-tested and street-proven Israeli krav maga ("contact combat") was developed for the Israel Defense Force as its official self-defense and close-quarters-combat system. Krav maga was soon both adopted and adapted by the Israeli National Police. Israeli law enforcement needed a defensive tactics system based on utility, instinct, simplicity, and adaptability. Imi Lichtenfeld's krav maga system has reached global prominence in military, law enforcement, and civilian circles.
Dr. Silvio Izzo
President of “Special Combat Solution”
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