IKMF — APD International Krav Maga Federation Portugal
Director IKMF Portugal
The art of Krav Maga was founded by Imi Lichtenfeld (Sde-Or). Imi was born in Bratislava to a renowned police officer and circus acrobat. As a child, Imi excelled in various sports such as wrestling and boxing and practiced several martial arts. When anti-semite riots began to spread through his home town Imi and his family were forced to immigrate to Israel (Palestine at the time).
In 1948, Once Israel had declared it's independence, IDF's (Israeli Defense Force) officials approached Imi and requested him to develop a system of self defense and fighting based upon his experience and his work with special forces units as the 'Hagana', 'Palmach' and 'Palyam'.
During his 20 years of service as chief instructor of hand-to-hand combat, Imi carefully refined the methods of Krav Maga, Making it the official combative training for all military personnel, Israeli police and security forces. Imi developed a doctrine enabling both fit and out-of-shape soldiers to practice it successfully. Rather than rigid movements and techniques requiring years of training Krav Maga integrated instinctive and simple moves accessible to all.
In 1964 Imi retired from the IDF and continued teaching Krav Maga to civilians, as well as law enforcement units and military applications. The Krav Maga association was founded by Imi and several of his students in 1978, aiming to promote KM's unique techniques locally and throughout the world.
When the teaching of Krav Maga (KM) started to spread beyond the borders of Israel, arose a need to found an international organization. This happened mostly because the initial KM association existing at the time was divided and not functioning efficiently, due to dissension amongst the higher graded instructors. Imi resulted in forming a new international KM federation with the support of his most loyal students and respected instructors, among which IKMF's chairman nowadays, Avi Moyal.
Once the IKMF was finally formed, All Expert and Master Diplomas, grades and levels issued by it, were authorized by Imi, As well as the IKMF curriculum. Imi approved this new curriculum at the time of formation of the IKMF as well as subsequent changes made in 1997.
Since 1996 The IKMF expanded and is now the largest and most appreciated KM institution worldwide. The IKMF has branched out and is successfully active locally, in Israel as well as in Australia, North America, South & East Asia, the Far East, Most EU countries, and ex-communist countries (such as Poland, Russia and Hungary). The general Structure of the organization in each country is relatively similar: A director, responsible for the growth of both the KM system and the local IKMF organization in said country, and, of course, local instructors at different grades and levels assisting him.
The IKMF trains and educates all types of trainees, with or without KM (or other martial art) background, such as civilian students and instructors, military personnel and instructors, law-enforcement officers and instructors etc.
The IKMF trains and educates civilian students and instructors (with KM and / or other martial arts background), Law-Enforcement officers and instructors, military personnel and instructors, as well as security and close protection officers and their instructors. All such individuals and groups are accepted into the ranks of the IKMF.
"HISTORY OF IKMF KRAV MAGA", International Krav Maga Federation, https://kravmaga-ikmf.com/ikmf/history/
Imrich ( Imi ) Sde-Or, founder of Krav Maga, was born on May 26, 1910, to a Hungarian Jewish family in Budapest in the Austro-Hungarian Empire . He grew up in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, with a father who provided him quite an unusual childhood. Samuel Lichtenfeld, his father, was a chief inspector on the Bratislava police force and a former circus acrobat. Imrich ("Imi") Sde-Or With his father's encouragement, Imi Sde Or engaged in a wide range of sports, such as swimming, boxing, wrestling and gymnastics. He trained at a Gymnasium owned by his father, who taught self-defense.
Imi excelled in wrestling both as contestant an as trainer, Also winning several awards in these fields. In the mid-thirties, Fascist and anti-Semitic groups appeared in Bratislava, threatening to harm the city's Jewish community there. Imi Sde Or led a group of former boxers and wrestlers to defend his Jewish neighborhood against the fascist gangs. This group attempted to block the anti-Semitic gangs from entering the Jewish quarter. Encountering as many "street fights" as he did, Imi quickly realized that sport had little in common with real combat and began developing a system of techniques for practical self-defense in life threatening situations.
In 1940 Imi fled the Nazi occupation of his homeland, and boarded the last immigrant ship that succeeded in escaping the Nazis' clutches. He boarded the vessel "Pencho", which shipwrecked on the Greek Dodecanese Islands, and arrived to Palestine in 1942.
At his arrival, Israel's early leaders recognized Imi's fighting abilities and in 1944 he began training fighters in his areas of expertise: physical fitness, swimming, wrestling, use of the knife, and defenses against knife attacks. During this period, Imi trained several elite units of the Hagana and Palmach (striking force of the Hagana and forerunner of the special units of the IDF), including the Pal-Yam, as well as groups of police officers. After the establishment of Israel in 1948 and the formation of the IDF he became Chief Instructor for Physical Fitness and Krav-Maga at the IDF School of Combat Fitness. Imi served in the IDF for about 20 years, during which time he developed and refined his unique method for self-defense and hand-to-hand combat.
In 1964, Imi Sde Or retired from the Israeli military, and began adapting and modifying Krav-Maga to civilian needs. The method was formulated to suit everyone - men and women, boy or girl, who might need it to save their life or survive an attack while sustaining minimal harm, whatever the background of the attack - criminal, nationalistic, or other. To disseminate his method, Imi established two training centers, one in Tel Aviv and the other in Natanya. He trained teams of krav maga instructors, who were accredited by him and the Israeli Ministry of Education. He also created the Israeli Krav Maga Association in 1978.
Even during his last years, Imi continued to personally supervise the training of those who have attained high ranks in Krav-Maga, and to spend time with the instructors in Israel and abroad. Imi monitored the trainees' progress and achievements, captivating them with his personality and imparting them with his knowledge and unique personality.
Imi Sde Or, a most valued teacher and fighter, passed away on the 9th of January 1998, at the age of 88.
"THE FOUNDER OF KRAV MAGA IMRICH (IMI) SDE-OR", International Krav Maga Federation, https://kravmaga-ikmf.com/krav-maga/the-founder/
A IKMF – APD International Krav Maga Federation – é uma Associação Promotora do Desporto, sem fins lucrativos e registada no Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude.IP, que se dedica ao ensino e promoção do Krav Maga e de outras atividades desportivas, recreativas, culturais e sociais ligadas à defesa pessoal.
Todos os dias trabalhamos com várias associações, escolas e grupos sociais, e ensinamos crianças, jovens e adultos a desenvolverem capacidades psíquicas importantes, e a recorrerem a movimentos simples e instintivos para conseguirem prevenir, lidar e a sobreviver a qualquer tipo de violência e ataque.
O nosso objetivo não é ensinar ninguém a lutar. Queremos promover a confiança, o autocontrolo (emocional e físico), a autopreservação, a gestão de stress, a resiliência, e ajudar as pessoas a identificar situações de perigo e a lidar com elas da melhor forma.
Mas queremos fazer mais! Chegar mais longe. Ajudar o máximo de pessoas, muitas delas em contextos de maior vulnerabilidade. Para isso precisamos de apoio, patrocínios e donativos.
IKMF — APD International Krav Maga Federation Portugal, https://www.ikmf-portugal.pt/en/blank-5