Imi Lichtenfeld

Krav Maga was developed by Czechoslovakian Imi Lichtenfeld, the son of a renowned police officer in Bratislava. Imi was a champion heavyweight boxer, an expert in Ju-Jitsu and Judo as well as a trapeze acrobat. Imi's family was forced to emigrate, eventually landing in what was then Palestine and is now known as Israel.

Soon after the Israeli state was established in 1948, Imi was asked to develop a system of fighting and self-defense for the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). Imi carefully refined Krav Maga during his career as chief instructor of hand to hand combat for the IDF. Beginning with Special Forces units like the Haganah, Palmack, and Palyam, Krav Maga became the official combatives training for all military personnel, Israeli police and security forces. Faced with the task of preparing both fit and out-of-shape soldiers, Imi developed a comprehensive system that relied on simple, instinctive moves rather than rigid techniques requiring years of training.

In 1964, Imi retired from the IDF and began teaching Krav Maga to civilians, law enforcement, and military applications. In 1978, Imi and several of his students created the Krav Maga Association, which was aimed at promoting the teaching of Krav Maga in Israel and throughout the world.

Krav Maga Worldwide 

In 1981, the Krav Maga Association of Israel and the Israeli Ministry of Education held the first International Instructor's Course at Wingate Institute for Physical Education. A delegation of 23 members from various cities in the U.S. attended the course, which was supervised by Imi himself. Californian Darren Levine was selected to be part of the delegation because of his martial arts and boxing background, as well as his involvement in the physical education program at the Heschel Day School near L.A. During the course, Imi befriended Levine and told him that he would come to the U.S. to teach and train him.

Darren Levine went on to offer Krav Maga classes at the Heschel Day School. At Imi's request, Levine and one of his students, Joel Bernstein, along with other prominent members of the Jewish community in L.A., formed the Krav Maga Association of America, Inc. In 1987, Levine and his top students began teaching Krav Maga to law enforcement in the United States Under Imi's guidance, they adapted Krav Maga to suit the needs of U.S. law enforcement and military personnel.

Shortly after Levine received his 6th degree black belt in Krav Maga, Imi awarded him a Founder's Diploma for Special Excellence in Krav Maga. Imi has awarded this diploma only twice.

These diplomas were given to the people that Imi wanted to be the leaders of Krav Maga.

Krav Maga Worldwide Enterprises was formed in January of 1999 to expand and promote Krav Maga in the U.S. and around the world. Krav Maga is rapidly gaining in popularity and almost 10,000 people are currently studying the art. It is widely used by members of the U.S.'s local, state and federal police agencies, including the FBI, Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms.

Krav Maga Worldwide Europe

In 1996, Thierry Viatour as Director of the Belgian Association of Krav Maga launched Krav Maga Performance's school (formerly Ecole Liègeoise de Krav Maga) and he began teaching to the Belgian Army and many Law Enforcement officers. 

In 2006, he joined the world's leader, Krav Maga Worldwide Enterprises, Inc. and Darren Levine as Europe Chief Instructor with "Train The Trainer" status and he created Krav Maga Worldwide Europe!

Over Thierry’s 15 teaching history, while many things has been changing in the Krav Maga field, his primary goal has remained essentially unchanged. He is focused to provide to his students the best self defense and fitness training experience possible.

Thierry is also author of The Krav Maga Notebook and The Krav Maga Notebook DVD. He has contributed significantly to the growing of the Krav Maga in Europe and we are proud of what he accomplished over the past years.

Today, Krav Maga Worldwide Europe has more than 45 official training centers in Europe. Other locations are on the way …