Krav Maga is still very young. Created in the mid-1930s, the number of Krav Maga practitioners is very small compared to other martial arts. But this number is increasing exponentially thanks to the Krav Maga experts around the globe. The leading Krav Maga experts are Imi Lichtenfeld direct students or 2nd generations. Some 3rd generations are starting to emerge too.
Krav Maga experts are active participants in the Krav Maga community to promote the Krav Maga self-defense method and most of all to improve the art. They have co-founded the leading Krav Maga federations that now exists on all continents. They try to confront increasingly realistic and diverse situations. Some of them have even participated in real military conflict of the past decades.
Among the most recognized Krav Maga experts
Imi Lichtenfeld
Founder of Krav Maga
The founder, Imi Lichtenfeld, created Krav Maga during the mid-1930s. During this time, anti-semitic movements in Isreal were growing fast. Imi gathered his friends from his boxing and wrestling classes to defend jews from these attacks. These events allowed him to develop his own fighting style that will become the Krav Maga we know today. He has devoted his life to develop his fighting art. Find out more about the history of Krav Maga.
Eli Avikzar
Israeli Krav Maga Association
Eli Avizkar was the first person to obtain a Krav Maga black belt degree in 1971. He is also the founder of the Israeli Krav Magen Association with over 40 branches across Israel now recognized as the recommended method in school by the Israeli Ministry of Education.
Raphy El Grissi
This Israeli-brazilian master of Krav Maga has received his black belt from the Israeli Krav Magen Association and started teaching it at the age of 15. He has since devoted his life to bring Krav Maga to South America where he will found the South American Federation of Krav Maga as the chief instructor. He has served three years in the israeli special forces.
Haim Zut
Kobi Lichtenstein
South American Federation of Krav Maga
This Israeli-brazilian master of Krav Maga has received his black belt from the Israeli Krav Magen Association and started teaching it at the age of 15. He has since devoted his life to bring Krav Maga to South America where he will found the South American Federation of Krav Maga as the chief instructor. He has served three years in the israeli special forces.
Haim Gidon
Co-founder of International Krav Maga Association
Haim Gidon was a member of Imi Lichtenfeld first training class in the army. He helped co-found the International Krav Maga Association and is now the Grandmaster of this organisation since 1994, Imi’s retirement date. He has now more than thirty years of experience in teaching. All the improvement he brought on the Krav Maga techniques has led him to earn a 10th dan red belt.
Richard Douieb
European federation of Krav Maga
Richard Douieb has received the official delegation of Imi Lichtenfeld to teach Krav Maga in France and Europe, which he does since 1987. In 1997, is founded the European federation of Krav Maga, which is today the biggest Krav Maga federation with more than 18000 members. Richard is not only known for its expertise in Krav Maga but also in many other martial arts such as judo, jiu jitsu and boxing (French champion of boxing in 1983).
Eyal Yanilov
Krav Maga Global
Eyal Yanilov is a direct student of Eli Evikzar and one of the first student to receive a Krav Maga black belt from him. He became Imi’s personal assistant. He devoted his life to promote Krav Maga to the general public as well as military and special forces around the world. In 1996, he and other high ranked practitioners created the International Krav Maga Federation user the guidance of Imi. Hr finally went on his own to found Krav Maga Global in 2010.
Darren Levine
Krav Maga Association of America
Darren Levine is the founder of Krav Maga Worldwide (formerly Krav Maga Association of America). Born in 1960 in Los Angeles, he was on the first outsider of Israel to begin training with Imi. He is now a worldwide reknowned expert in Krav Maga with his 6th degree black belt and the Los Angeles county district attorney’s prosecutor. He helped a lot to popularize Krav Maga throughout the USA and the medias.