The International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF)

TThe need for the IKMF originally arose in the early 1990’s, when the teaching of Krav Maga (KM) was starting to spread beyond the borders of Israel. At that time the initial KM Association was divided and not functioning efficiently due to dissension amongst the higher graded instructors. As a result, Imi (the founder of Krav Maga) asked Eyal Yanilov, his closest assistant, and the chief instructor of Krav-Maga, to assist him in forming a new International KM Federation. The formation of this new organization was delayed till after the initial Association broke apart in 1995.

With Imi’s consent and support, the International Krav Maga Federation was founded in early 1996 by Eyal Yanilov, Gabi Noah, Avi Moyal, Eli Ben-Ami and several other respected instructors. All Expert and Master Diplomas, grades and levels issued by the IKMF, the new and leading organization, were authorized by Imi. The International Krav Maga Federation curriculum was first organized by Eyal, who for 10 years had been responsible for the modern curriculum of the KM system, as head of the “Professional Committee”. Imi approved this new curriculum at the time of the IKMF’s formation, as well as subsequent changes made in 1997.

From its formation in 1996, the International Krav Maga Federation has grown to be the largest and most professional Krav Maga organization in the world. The IKMF now successfully operates in Israel, most European countries, ex-communist countries (such as Poland, Russia and Hungary), Australia, North America, South-east Asia and the Far-East. Generally in each country with an active International Krav Maga Federation branch, there are local instructors at different grades and levels assisting a director who is responsible for the growth of both the Krav Maga system and the local IKMF organization in that country.

The International Krav Maga Federation trains and educates civilian students and instructors (with Krav Maga and/or other martial arts background), law-enforcement officers and instructors, military personnel and instructors, as well as security and close protection officers and their instructors. All such individuals are accepted into the ranks of the IKMF.

Chief Instructor

The International Krav Maga Federation is run by Eyal Yanilov (chairman and head instructor), Gabi, Avi and Eli as directors. All four have assigned responsibilities including countries, professional and management areas.

Eyal Yanilov (born in 1959) studied Krav-Maga under the personal tutelage of its founder, Imi Sde-Or (Lichtenfeld), and has served as the Grand master’s closest assistant and foremost disciple since the early 1980s. Active in this field since 1973, he  holds the unique “Founder’s Diploma of Excellence” (This diploma was given only to two people, the other - one of Eyal’s top students, Mr. Darren Levine, Expert level 6, of the United States).

Eyal Yanilov started his Krav-Maga training with Mr. Eli Avikzar (one of Imi’s top students at the time) and soon after-wards began to study directly with the founder himself.

At an early age, Eyal was instructing at the training studio that Imi had entrusted to Eli Avikzar, and on many occasions assisted and substituted for the Grandmaster in lessons and preparations with students who were to be tested for grades of expert level. At a later stage, when Imi appointed him Head of the Krav-Maga Professional Committee, Eyal was responsible for preparing and updating the Krav-Maga curriculum. In this capacity Eyal had the task of imparting the new developments and accumulated knowledge, changes in techniques, and the latest training methods to the other senior instructors.

In 1984 Grandmaster Imi Sde-Or placed Eyal in charge of preparing the complete and comprehensive series on the Krav-Maga discipline (of which this book is a part). Since then, and until the system’s founder passed away in January 1998, the two were deeply engrossed in the task of writing down the principles of Krav-Maga and clarifying its various techniques.

Since directing the first self-defense instructors course for American citizens, in 1981, Eyal Yanilov has been teaching a large number of Krav-Maga and self-defense instructors courses in many countries around the world, under the auspices of the Israeli Ministry of Education and the International Krav-Maga Federation (IKMF). Eyal, together with his most advanced students who serve as local directors or chief instructors in their countries, are the key force in spreading Krav-Maga’s teaching throughout the world. Mr. Yanilov is currently serving as Chairman and Chief Instructor of the IKMF, and heads the International School of Krav-Maga. In this capacity, he is in charge of the development, definition, and dissemination of the system.

Mr. Yanilov is a graduate of the School for Trainers and Instructors at the Wingate Institute for Sport and Physical Education, and also holds a degree in Electrical Engineering. He has spent years training fighters of elite units and members of special anti terrorist squads, while teaching at colleges for physical education instructors.

Since the early eighties Eyal has been training different groups, in various seminars and courses: ordinary civilians coming to learn self-defense, military units, police units, executive protection personnel, special units, SWAT teams, and other security-oriented groups in Israel, Europe, South America, and the United States. Within this context, he specializes in improving the fighting skills and general abilities of members of these groups.

Mr. Yanilov’s main objective now is to educate future Krav-Maga instructors around the world, and he always enjoys promoting any such initiative in this direction.