Founder Imi (Emerich) Lichtenfeld (1910-1998) is krav maga's founder. Imi was born in Budapest, Hungary and later resided in Bratislava, Slovakia. Imi's father, Samuel Lichtenfeld, joined a professional circus where he excelled at wrestling and boxing. After developing extensive knowledge in fitness training along with wrestling, boxing, and mixed-skill fighting, Samuel joined the police as a detective and had the leading arrest record. Samuel also opened the gym "Hercules" where Imi began his training. Imi rapidly distinguished himself as a champion in judo, boxing, wrestling, gymnastics and ball room dancing among other athletic pursuits.

In 1935 Imi visited Palestine with a team of Jewish wrestlers to participate in the Maccabi games but could not participate because of a broken rib that resulted from his training while on route. This led the fundamental krav maga precept, "do not get hurt" while training. Imi returned to Czechoslovakia to face increasing anti-Semitic violence. Imi organized a group of young Jews to protect his community. On the streets, Imi acquired hard won experience and the crucial understanding of the differences between sport fighting and street fighting. He developed his fundamental self-defense principle: "Use natural movements and reactions" for a defense combined with an immediate and decisive counterattack. From this evolved the refined theory of "simultaneous defense and attack" while "never occupying two hands in the same defensive movement."

Imi arrived in Israel after serving with great notoriety in the Czech Legion. Israel's early leaders immediately recognized Imi's fighting prowess and innovativeness. Imi began to train Israel's first fighting units the Palmach, Palyam, and Haganah in military close quarters combat. This training included fighting fitness, bayonet tactics, sentry removal, knife fighting, stave/stick fighting and any other military oriented problems that required a creative solution. After retiring from the Israeli Defense Forces in 1964 as chief instructor for physical fitness and hand-to-hand combat (which became recognized as the system "krav maga") Imi established the Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA) in 1978 to promote krav maga throughout the world for both civilians and law enforcement. Imi focused both on teaching professionals and adapting his system to provide 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. (For more about krav maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld please visit www.kravmagaisraeli.com and click "Founder.")

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. Haim fought in the Six Day War, War of Attrition, and Yom Kippur War. Prior to the 1967 War, Haim resumed his competitive boxing and decided to learn more about the krav maga principals he had learned in the military. In 1978, Haim helped Imi co-found the IKMA. Along with Imi and other top instructors, Haim Gidon co-founded the Israeli Krav maga Association (IKMA) which he now heads as President. In 1994, Haim was elected as IKMA president and opened his current gym and the main training center for the IKMA located on Ben Zion Street, Netanya, Israel. In 1995, Imi nominated Haim as the top authority to grant 1st dan krav maga black-belt and up. In an IKMA ceremony, Imi awarded Haim Gidon 8th dan and stated 9th and 10th dans "were to come" designating Haim as the highest ranking krav maga instructor. (Video clips of the ceremony are available at www.kravmagaisraeli.com).

Imi approved of Haim's adding extensive groundwork modified weapons defenses and other additions/improvements to the krav maga system. Grandmaster Gidon is also a committee member of the Wingate (Israel's national sports institute) professional committee representing the self-defense style of krav maga. 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. Haim has received special commendation from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies worldwide for his specific krav maga law professional training curriculum. His teaching expertise is requested worldwide.

Ohad Gidon (6th dan) is one of the highest-ranking instructors in the wold. Ohad began his krav maga training at an early age under Ohad's father, Grandmaster Haim Gidon, Imi Lichtenfeld's senior student. Ohad is instrumental in krav maga's development and revising the krav maga curriculum in conjunction with Grandmaster Haim Gidon. Ohad is recognized as a "senior coach" by Wingate. Ohad graduated at the top of his class from Israel's prestigious Technion Institute where he completed his electrical engineering degree. Ohad has received special commendations from several American law enforcement agencies.

Yoav Krayn (5th dan and IKMA General Secretary) is one of the highest-ranking instructors in Israel. Yoav trained under Imi and was one of Imi's senior students. Since 1980, Yoav has trained under Imi's most senior student, Grandmaster Haim Gidon. Yoav serves as general secretary for the Israeli Krav Maga Association. He also travels regularly to the United States and Europe to train civilians and law enforcement. Yoav was interviewed by gear Magazine to provide his insights on krav maga training and he has received special commendations from several American law enforcement agencies. Yoav was recently featured on the Fox News Network's Good Day Show along with Grandmaster Gidon and David Kahn. Yoav sits on the IKMA's professional committee for krav maga technique development and IKMA grades committee.

Yigal Arbiv (4th dan) is one of Grandmaster Haim Gidon's senior instructors and has trained with Grandmaster Gidon for fifteen years. After serving in an elite paratroop unit as a weapons specialist, Yigal attended Wingate, Israel's national sports institute, an exclusive training academy for instructors and coaches, where Yigal received his krav maga coaching certification. Yigal is a security professional and krav maga instructor teaching in several schools in Israel. Yigal regularly travels abroad to teach law enforcement and civilians. Yigal was featured in www.realfighting.com for krav maga's weapon defenses. Yigal has received special commendations from several American law enforcement agencies. Yigal sits on the IKMA's professional committee for krav maga technique development and IKMA grades committee and IKMA grades committee. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Noam Gidon (4th dan) is one of Grandmaster Haim Gidon's top instructors and has trained with his father, Grandmaster Gidon, since childhood. After completing his military service, Noam attended Wingate, Israel's national sports institute, an exclusive training academy for instructors and coaches where Noam received his krav maga coaching certification. Noam is a student at Technion, Israel's prestigious technical institute. Noam along with Yoav Krayn and Yigal Arbiv, is instrumental in the IKMA instructor certification program overseen by Grandmaster Gidon. Noam sits on the IKMA's professional committee for krav maga technique development and IKMA grades committee.

David Kahn (IKMA U.S. Chief instructor and IKMA board member) received his advanced blackbelt teaching certifications 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, David trains local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies along with select military units including the U.S. Marines Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and United States Air Force security forces. David is certified by State of New Jersey Department of Public Safety Criminal Justice Division Police Training Commission. Grandmaster Gidon along with 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, Men's GQ, Special Operations Report, Military.com, Penthouse, Absolute, Self, Fitness, Razor, Giant, New York, New Yorker, gear, Allure, Daily News, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Camp Lejeune RotoVue, and Princeton Alumni Weekly, with several additional articles forthcoming. David was also featured on several news programs. David trains Emmy and Golden Globe Award Winning Actor James Gandolfini ("Tony Soprano") and Grammy Award Winning Musician John Mayer. David authored the books: 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 Advanced Krav Maga: The Next Level, (St. Martin's Press, 2008 and Atlantic Brown, 2009). David's third book, Krav Maga Weapon Defenses is due out in 2012 along with his Mastering Krav Maga DVD Series in the spring of 2011. David may be contacted at (609) 585-MAGA or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Steve Moishe (3rd dan) is one of Grandmaster Haim Gidon's top instructors and has trained under Grandmaster Gidon for more than two decades. Steve travels internationally to instruct on the behalf of the IKMA. He assists Grandmaster Gidon at the IKMA's main training facility in Netanya, Israel in teaching Israeli and international instructors as well as instructing regular classes with Grandmaster Gidon. Steve sits on the IKMA's professional committee for krav maga technique development.

Rick Blitstein (senior blackbelt) is one of a few hand picked individuals who traveled to Netanya, Israel in 1981 to complete an intensive krav maga instructors course. Under the watchful eye of krav maga founder, Imi Lichtenfeld, they were taught by Israeli experts for the purpose of introducing krav maga in the United States. Imi and Rick formed very close bonds and spent much time training together in both Israel and the United States. For many of the past twenty years, Rick has worked in the field of private and corporate security, teaching and using krav maga in real-life situations. Rick has recently opened his own Krav Maga Academy in Miami Beach. A member of the IKMA and recognized as a senior black belt instructor, Rick is committed to the proper expansion of the system in the U.S. and around the world, as Imi expressly dictated before his passing away in 1998. Rick sent his student David Kahn to train with the IKMA for instructor certification. Rick was featured in several publications such as The Miami Herald and network programs including ABC, CBS, Fox News, and the international Spanish cable program Musica Si. Rick teaches in Miami, Florida. (305) 532-2595 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .   www.israelikravmaga.com

Abel Kahn (IKMA instructor) began his krav maga training with David Kahn and completed his 180 hour instructor training certification in Israel with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Senior Instructors Yigal Arbiv and Steve Moishe. Abel is one of only five Americans to earn Grandmaster Gidon's certification course in Israel. He trains regularly in Israel under Grandmaster Gidon. Abel is certified by State of New Jersey Department of Public Safety Criminal Justice Division Police Training Commission. He has trained civilians and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in the United States. He currently teaches in New York City and Hamilton, New Jersey. Abel has appeared in numerous publications including the Daily News, Time Out, Absolute and in the book Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method - For Fitness and Self Defense. Abel is responsible for the national roll-out of Israeli krav maga in the United States in coordination with the Israeli Krav Maga Association. (609) 585-MAGA OR This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Alan Feldman (senior blackbelt) is one the original martial arts instructors who received a scholarship to train in Israel in an intensive program to harvest American instructors. Alan began teaching krav maga in the Philadelphia area in 1981. Alan is certified by the ministry of education in Israel and is one of the highest ranking American instructors. Training directly under krav maga founder, Imi Lichtenfeld, and his top ranked instructors, Alan has taught thousands of civilians in numerous schools, colleges, organizations, and agencies in addition to founding the first privately owned krav maga school. A member of the Israeli Krav Maga Association and recognized as a senior black belt instructor, Alan is committed to the proper expansion of the system in the U.S. and around the world and has qualified several American instructors. Over the years Alan was featured in many publications and was most recently interviewed by NBC Channel 3 News, Philadelphia. Alan teaches at the Israeli Krav Maga U.S. Training Center.

Dror Saporta (3rd Dan) studied krav maga for more than two decades. During this time he acquired training and instruction from krav maga founder and first Grandmaster Mr. Imi Lichtenfeld (Sde-Or) and Imi's appointed successor Grandmaster Haim Gidon. Dror served in the IDF for seven years as an officer. He completed an extensive number of specialized combat skills training courses and was deployed numerous times in "active"zones. During his commission, Dror completed an intensive instructor's course required of all krav maga black-belt candidates in Israel. In addition to being qualified as an instructor by the Israel Krav Maga Association, he is also certified by the Israel Ministry of Education and the Nat Holman Trainers School of the Wingate Sports Institute, Israel. Dror was later recruited by the Israeli Ministry of Education's Sports Department to create and implement a high school krav maga curriculum for the Tel- Aviv school system. Dror began teaching krav maga in 1983 and joined the International Security Academy (ISA) that same year. In his capacity as a chief krav maga instructor, Dror has taught civilians, law enforcement and security personnel in Israel, the United States and Central America. He also provided personal protection and security consultation to various high profile and high risk company clientele. Dror spearheaded and won the legal battle to preserve the name krav maga for all to use in the United States. Dror passed away in 2008.

Mike Delahanty (IKMA associate LE instructor) served four years in the United States Marine Corps and currently is a detective with a municipal police department. Mike has trained in self-defense since 1993 and completed his associate instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon, Yigal Arbiv and David Kahn. Mike assists in IKM law enforcement and civilian training at the Israeli Krav Maga U.S. Training Center.

David Ordini (IKMA associate instructor) has studied self-defense since the early 1990’s and completed his associate instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon, Yigal Arbiv and David Kahn. Dave assists at the Israeli Krav Maga U.S. Training Center.

George Foster (IKMA associate LE instructor) served four years with the United States Marine Corps with a thirteen month tour of duty in Vietnam. George retired in 2004 from the Edgewater Twp. Police Department. George was a certified PR-24 instructor and pressure point control and defensive tactics instructor for the Burlington Police Academy for over sixteen years. George completed his associate instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon, Yigal Arbiv and David Kahn. George assists in IKM law enforcement training at the Israeli Krav Maga U.S. Training Center.

Jeff Eget (IKMA assistant Instructor) began his training with David Kahn in 2007 and completed his instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Yigal Arbiv.  Jeff served in the United States Army, is a Gulf War II veteran, and is an Army Combatants Trainer and graduate of the U.S. Airborne School.  Currently, Jeff is active law enforcement, an experienced Police Academy instructor, and now is one of the lead assistant instructors in both Bordentown and Cherry Hill.

Jeff Gorman began his training with David Kahn in 2003 and completed his instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Yigal Arbiv.  Jeff is one of the lead assistant instructors at both Israeli Krav Maga Bordentown and Cherry Hill.

Chris Eckel (IKMA Instructor & Bordentown Manager) began his training with David Kahn in 2006 and completed his instructor with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Yigal Arbiv in both the United States and in Israel.  Chris has completed in excess of 150 advanced instructor training hours under Grandmaster Gidon and additional training with Sgt. Major (res.) Nir Maman.  Chris manages Israeli Krav Maga Bordentown and is one of the lead assistant instructors in both Bordentown and Cherry Hill.   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Chris Morrison (IKMA assistant Instructor) began his training with David Kahn in 2007 and completed his instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Yigal Arbiv.  Chris is one of the lead assistant instructors at Israeli Krav Maga Bordentown.

Frank Colluci (IKMA assistant Instructor) began his training with David Kahn in 2007 and completed his instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Yigal Arbiv.  Frank served in the U.S. Navy and has over 30 years of previous martial arts experience.  Frank is one of the lead assistant instructors in Bordentown and Cherry Hill.

Avital Zeisler (IKMA Instructor) is currently the only woman internationally to have been accepted as a full instructor with the IKMA. Her martial arts training includes: Muay Thai,Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and Israeli krav maga. As the only woman certified under the IKMA system, Avital had the privilege and opportunity to work with military personnel and police officers, including CNN security specialist, Steve Kardian. Avital’s teaching experience covers a wide range of classes. This includes Street Self Defense, Cardio Kickboxing, and military style conditioning classes having also studied at the National Ballet School. Avital also specializes in core and muscular endurance training as well as combat fitness.  She supports this through volunteering her time by speaking to high school students and teaching them Street Self-Defense.  Avital has trained numerous celebrities including actress Kari Matchett and singer John Mayer.  Avital also choreographed ight scenes and acted as a stunt double for the hit television series Covert Affairs.

Robert Dell'Aquila (IKMA instructor) began his training with David Kahn in 2006 and completed his instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Yigal Arbiv in both the United States and Israel.  Rob is also a certified personal strength and conditioning coach.

Ron Klem served with the New Jersey State Police for 26 years and began his krav maga training in 2005 with David Kahn.  Ron completed his instructor certification with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Yigal Arbiv.  Ron is one of Israeli Krav Maga's lead defensive tactics instructors having also served as an instructor for the NJSP. Ron has completed additional advanced tactical training with Sgt. Major Nir Maman.

David Gollin (IKMA assistant instructor) began his training with David Kahn in 2007 and completed his instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Yigal Arbiv in both the United States and Israel.  David teaches at both the Israeli Krav Maga Cherry Hill Training Center and the Miriam Katz JCC in Cherry Hill.  David also assists as a junior wrestling coach.

Don Melnick (IKMA instructor) began his training with David Kahn in 2006 and completed his instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Yigal Arbiv in both the United States and Israel.  Don has completed over 150 advanced instructor training hours under Grandmaster Gidon and additional training with Sgt. Major (res.) Nir Maman. Don is the Managing Partner for Israeli Krav Maga Cherry Hill, one of the lead instructors and coordinates Israeli Krav Maga's civilian and law enforcement training programs for southern New Jersey.    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rinaldo Rossi (IKMA instructor) has studied krav maga since the early 1990’s and continued his training with David Kahn in 2006.  Rinaldo completed his advanced instructor training with Grandmaster Haim Gidon and Yigal Arbiv in both the United States and Israel.  Rinaldo is a partner in Israeli Krav Maga Cherry Hill and is the senior instructor.  Rinaldo is certified to teach krav maga law enforcement techniques and applications and spearheads the Israeli krav maga's law enforcement training in Southern New Jersey.  Rinaldo has also trained in Israeli firearms tactics with Sgt. Major (res.) Nir Maman.   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it