The Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA)

The Israeli Krav Maga Association was formed by Imi Lichtenfeld ( Sde-Or ) and a group of his students on Oct 22, 1978. The expressed purpose of the Association was to create a public civilian organizational structure to support practitioners of the Israeli Krav Maga.

As such, Imi Lichtenfeld continued to enhance and develop his system within the framework of the Israeli Krav Maga Association, in three main fields:

1. What are the correct solutions to dangerous situations (i.e. what to do)?
2. How should this material be taught (i.e. how to teach)?
3. Enlarging the circle of Krav Maga practitioners and creating national and international recognition as to the efficiency and importance of the Israeli Krav Maga.

Imi Lichtenfeld continued his work in these fields as the Israeli Krav Maga Association president from its inception until the date he passed away, (January 8 th 1998). Imi system is continued in the Israeli Krav Maga Association by Imi’s top student and cofounder of the Israeli Krav Maga Association, Mr. Haim Gidon, who had been granted a Dan-8 rank from Imi himself. Haim Gidon holds a 10 th degree black belt level as the head of the sysem and is the official grand master of the Israeli Krav Maga. Haim Gidon was nominated by the general assembly of members and instructors as the permanent president of the Israeli Krav Maga Association.

Through the years, extensive work has been done in the Israeli Krav Maga System. There are currently several organizations that practice their interpretations of the Krav maga system and whose founders began their training and careers within our Association. The Israeli Krav maga Association welcomes the work done to expand Imi Lichtenfelds’ Krav maga system.

Israeli Krav Maga is recognized by the Israeli government as a formal martial art system . Krav Maga is taught extensively at civilian organizations, in schools, community centers and martial arts clubs. Professional diplomas for instructors and coaches are formally recognized as teaching credentials in government establishments.

These diplomas were awarded to individuals who graduated the appropriate courses in the school for coaches at the Wingate Institute for Physical Education in Israel. The martial arts professional committee supervises all related courses and the president of the Israeli krav Maga Association, represents the authority on Krav Maga. Israeli Krav Maga is taught and is well established in the Israeli law enforcement community as well as security forces.

Chief Instructor

Mr. Haim Gidon presides over the Israeli Krav Maga Association. Mr. Gidon is the recognized Grandmaster of the Israeli Krav Maga system. This system was created and developed by Mr. Imi Lichtenfeld. Haim Gidon improves and continues to enhance the system by developing new techniques to the system in the topics of self-defense, face to face combat, avoidance, Retzef, hand blows, cold arms, fire arms, ground wrestling - and adding innovative teaching methods.

Grandmaster Gidon was Imi Lichtenfeld’s top student for 28 years. In that time Haim Gidon actively participated in the activities and fulfilled key positions in the administration of the Israeli Krav Maga Association (as cofounder of the Association, board member, professional committee, grades committee, chairperson of the Association and edited the systems’ materials from beginner level - yellow belt - through very high expert level - 5th DAN black belt.

In 1991 Imi Lichtenfeld, asked Haim Gidon to teach the instructors of the Association , black belt holders and club owners the system advanced materials. Imi Lichtenfeld personally granted Haim Gidon his 8 th degree black belt (8 th DAN) and considered him as his successor. Master Haim Gidon has been teaching KM from 1977 when he established the first civilian school of Imi system KM.

Through these years he instructed a whole generation of practitioners. His senior students teach in Israel and abroad in shools, clubs, community centers and security services. Instructors are sent to teach e.g. London, Manchester, Canada, France, New York, NJ, Holland to train civilians , sec personnel, policemen.

The professional materials are constantly improved and are compiled in a professional book on yellow belt up and senior belts.

On February 28 th 1998 , Mr. Haim Gidon was elected as Grandmaster and chairman for life, by general assembly of the Israeli Krav Maga Association. Haim Gidon represents the krav maga system at the professional martial arts committee of the Wingate institute