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The story of the birth of the State of Israel is a story of self-defense. Since 70 A.D. when Roman legions under Titus defeated a Jewish revolt, Jews living in the Holy Land have been under constant rule by foreign powers, including: Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, and Ottoman-Turks. In 1919, following World War I and the onset of the British Mandate, Jews formed an underground army known as the Haganah (Hebrew meaning “defense”) which dealt with ongoing conflicts with local Arab gangs. In addition, an elite unit called the Notrim (guards) was established by local police to defend Jewish agricultural settlements and an army unit called the Nodedot (wanderers) was formed to help with ongoing racial riots. In 1941, during World War II and the threat of German troops in North Africa, British forces sanctioned the first official Israeli Special Forces unit from the Haganah, named Pal’mach (Hebrew acronym for Plugot Machatz = strike platoon). These commandos were trained in close contact fighting, strenuous physical conditioning, firearms, wilderness survival training, and communications skills (foreign languages). The hand-to-hand combat training, which became known as the acronym KAPAP for Krav Panim l’Panim (face-to-face combat) was a general mix of Western-style boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling and military knife and baton training. After the war ended and the British left the region, Israel declared their independence on May 14, 1948 and the Haganah was renamed the Tzahal as an acronym for Tzava Haganah Le Yisrael (army defense to Israel or Israel Defense Force - IDF). To this day the IDF is known as one of the best and most respected military forces in the world. In 1953 the IDF created an elite unit called Unit 101, commanded by Major Ariel Sharon (the current Prime Minister of Israel) to replace the Pal’mach and infiltrate enemy lines.Their rapid successes led to further commissions and an expansion to other Special Forces units such as the Sayeret Mat’kal (who performed the successful raid on Entebbe, Uganda to rescue over 100 hostages), Sayeret Tzanahnim (Airborne), Sayeret Golani (mountain warfare), and the YAMAM (police counterterrorist unit). All members of the Special Forces continued to train in KAPAP – hand-to-hand fighting, which, in the 1970’s also became known as Lochama Zehira (micro fighting).
Krav Maga
In the 1980’s, the IDF adopted a self-defense and exercise system taught and developed originally by KAPAP instructor, Imi Lichtenfeld known as Krav Maga (Krav means “fighting” or “combat” and Maga means “contact” or “touch”). Most of the Israeli Special Forces, however, which are a coveted and respected commission, continued to teach the KAPAP or Lochama Zehira tactics. Krav Maga is a well-rounded hybrid system which has evolved throughout many years to address realistic defense conditions. To say Krav Maga in Israel is like using the term Karate in the United States. It implies self-defense. Krav Maga was in large part built out of KAPAP but was open-minded in its approach to incorporate several Oriental martial arts such as Japanese ju-jitsu, Judo and Muay Thai kickboxing (introduced in the 1980’s). In addition to its use by the IDF, Krav Maga became very popular with the civilian population and there developed many Krav Maga schools, masters and organizations. In the small town of Netanya, Israel are the headquarters for both the International Krav Maga Federation and the Israeli Krav Maga Federation. Both claim the regulatory rights to oversee the system. The Wingate Institute in Israel, where many of the worlds Krav Maga experts received their black belts, recently lost a court battle to have exclusive rights of instructor training. In addition, being a generic term for self-defense, even Taekwondo instructors can call themselves Krav Maga instructors in Israel. In contrast, in the United States the Krav Maga Association of America trademarks the term Krav Maga. Darren Levine, the head of the American Association studied directly under Imi Lichtenfeld and continues to teach a high level, well-respected and effective course and seminars.
Dennis Hisardut
In the late 1970’s, a South African-born martial artist – Judo specialist, named Dennis Hanover helped establish the foundation of what is today the military form of Krav Maga. By the 1990’s with the emergence of many Krav Maga schools and systems, Dennis Hanover began teaching the Special Forces units his style of Krav Maga under the new name Hisardut (survival). He and his sons also taught a civilian version of Hisardut. In Israel, Hisardut has become known as Dennis Hisardut, after its founder. Hisardut has become very popular in Israel and is considered by many a step-up in applicability over Krav Maga. Like Krav Maga, Dennis Hisardut® under the direction of Alon Stivi is also trademarked in the United States.The program involves many aspects of survival including tactical knife fighting, disarmament and wilderness survival programs.
World Survival/Hisardut Krav Maga
Founded by Miki Erez in the mid 1990’s. While in the Israeli Air Force Miki Erez was a student of Imi Lichtenfeld in Krav Maga. Shihan Erez studied Hisardut directly under Grandmaster Dennis Hanover. In addition, Erez students of Mas Oyama in Kyukshu (Oyama) full contact Karate. Erez incorporated Oyama karate with more Thai kickboxing into a modified form of Survival Hisardut, which called World Survival Hisardut Krav Maga. This advanced form of Hisardut, is enhanced by the addition of new facets of overall “survival” including proper nutrition.
KavanahTM
The next phase in Israeli Martial Arts. Miki Erez, Moti Horenstein and Dr. Neil (Naftali) Farber worked together to develop this system, which is a compilation of all existing self-defense systems (technically the basis is Krav Maga and Survival Hisardut). The system also incorporates several Oriental martial styles including Oyama Full Contact Karate, Brazilian Ju Jitsu, Japanese Ju Jitsu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Dynamic Taekwondo, and Combat Hapkido. In addition, this art incorporates the nutritional and health concerns in Survival Hisardut with new mental, psychological and philosophical foundational principles utilizing the concepts of Kavanah – with great intent, purpose and mindfulness. With the State of Israel as an example, the goals of Kavanah are not simply to survive, but to live well.
Israeli Systems
KAPAP
Meaning: Krav Panim l’Panim (Face-to-face (hand to hand) fighting
Principles: Tactical knife fighting, close range tactics
Components: Western-style boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling
Krav Maga
Founder: Imi Lichtenfeld
Meaning: Contact Combat
Principles: Develop the ability to quickly and efficiently defend against any conceivable threat to you, a friend, or a family member....’so one may walk in peace.’ A well-rounded hybrid system.
Components: KAPAP, Japanese Ju-jitsu and judo.
Israeli Hisardut
Founder: Dennis Hannover
Meaning: Survival
Principles: A realistic -and proven approach to personal protection, armed or unarmed and against all weapons, that allows you to develop a personal security plan, recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations, predict an imminent attack and defend yourself accordingly.
Components: Krav Maga, Judo, Ju Jitsu, Muay Thai kickboxing
World Survival /Hisardut Krav Maga
Founders: Miki Erez
Meaning: Survival
Principles: To defend, attack and overwhelm. Similar to Israeli Hisardut with addition of full-contact Oyama karate and focus on overall physical health.
Components: Krav Maga, Israeli Hisardut, Muay Thai kickboxing, Oyama Full Contact Karate, Nutritional and general physical health
LOTAR
Avi Nardia Lotar
Founders: LOTAR has been practiced and developed in the Israeli army.
Meaning: Lochama b’ Terror (Fighting terrorism)
Principles: Antiterrorism, includes close combat drills and tactical firearms.
Kavanah
Founders: Miki Erez, Moti Horenstein, and Naftali Farber
Meaning: Fight and Defend = Krav ve Haganah = Kavanah (intent and purpose).
Principles: Synthesis of many Israeli self-defense systems plus practical street Hapkido. Blend of aggressive physical tactics with mental and philosophical principles and foundations for better living.
Components: Krav Maga, World Survival Hisardut, KAPAP, Haganah/FIGHT, combat Hapkido
Combat Survival
Founder: Moni Aizik
I created Combat Survivalas a culmination of my years of experience in several different styles of martial arts. During my service in the Israeli military, I began training in Krav-Maga, Kapap, Lotar, Hisardut, as well as serving as a Judo coach to Olympic Silver Medal winner, Yael Arad. I continued to master my knowledge of Judo, Jujitsu and Anti-Terrorism Self-Defense Components:Krav-Maga, Kapap, Lotar, Hisardut, Judo Jujitsu and Anti-Terrorism Self-Defense
Meaning:Anti-Terrorism Self-Defense and healthy lifestyle
