Welcome to Federation of Israeli Martial Arts

FIMA is a non-political, governing, unifying and certifying body that supports and promotes
ALL styles of Israeli Martial Arts and self-defense.

Welcome to Federation of Israeli Martial Arts

FIMA is a non-political, governing, unifying and certifying body that supports and promotes
ALL styles of Israeli Martial Arts and self-defense.

Our mission

1) To educate civilians, military, security and law enforcement personnel around the world in Israeli Martial Arts and to provide a forum by which ideas and techniques may be exchanged for the benefit of all. 

2) To unify all practitioners of Israeli Martial Arts under one umbrella whereby we can work together focusing on our common principles and philosophies while benefiting in productive ways from our differences.

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With the recent terrorist activities brought to light in the last few years and the number of deadly weapon assaults at an all-time high, civilians, law enforcement, and even the military are now more than ever vulnerable to random acts of violence. Personal safety and security cannot be assumed. Aggravated assault, armed burglary, rape, kidnapping, home intrusion, carjacking, murder, terrorism as well as random acts of violence are on the rise. Solidifying the need for practical, realistic self-protection. There are no better systems for this in the world than Israeli martial arts and self-defense tactics.

There has been an explosion in the number of Israeli systems and styles. The terms Israeli Defense and Krav Maga have become commonplace and attract a great deal of attention. With the increased appeal of Israeli systems, there has been far too much time spent arguing over who is the rightful heir, who has a claim to “original” systems and trying to get “a piece of the pie” - the martial art and self-defense market.

FIMA was formed specifically to rise above this conflict for the purpose of sharing commonalities, enhancing education, providing networking opportunities, and analyzing techniques and tactics from various styles in a non-partisan and non-biased way for the benefit of all Israeli martial arts practitioners.

Benefits of FIMA Membership

  • Free ID Membership Card, Logo Patch, Official Membership Certificate, FIMA t-shirt
  • Members can attend one free class in any FIMA school around the world when they visit (must present your FIMA ID card).
  • Network with the largest worldwide group of Israeli Martial Arts practitioners.
  • Exposure to a wide variety of Israeli martial arts and self-defense styles.
  • Eligibility for recognition of current rank, belt, or instructor certification. Submission of application and appropriate documentation from a recognized Israeli Martial Arts organization required.
  • Participation in FIMA-sanctioned seminars/workshops to attain rank levels or instructor certification.
  • Access to members-only section of the FIMA website for FIMA BREAKDOWN (weekly videos featuring specific IMA techniques to provide continuing education), and other members only information.
  • Discounts for FIMA merchandise - 5% for 3 yr Members and 10% for LIFETIME members
  • Priority admission for FIMA-sponsored workshops and seminars.
  • Online learning through our future FIMA university.

Types of Memberships

FiMA MEMBERSHIP

To become a member, select the JOIN NOW button below to complete the application online.  The ability to apply as an Instructor is on the Membership application.
You will then be directed to the payment section to complete membership process.

3 year memberships are $125 including the above items.  We also offer lifetime memberships, payment options,  as well as a monthly subscription of $9.99.  Details are on the checkout page once you submit your application below.

JOIN NOW (LIVE IN USA)
JOIN NOW (OUTSIDE USA)

INSTRUCTOR

Following completion of a certified instructor training course in any officially-recognized Israeli martial art, FIMA members in good standing are eligible to apply for FIMA Instructor Recognition or FIMA Instructor Certification. Requires submission of proper documentation and approval of FIMA directors. 

JOIN NOW (LIVE IN USA)
JOIN NOW (OUTSIDE USA)

Styles Supported by FIMA

Krav Maga
Director: Itay Gil

Kapap
Director: Moshe Galisko

Hisardut
Director: GM Hanshi Moti Horenstein

Kavanah
Director: GM Naftali Yehuda

Click on Style or Director name above for more information.

The history of Israel is important as it is intimately entangled with a history of the need for self-protection. The Jewish people trace their origin to the first monotheist. Abraham who lived in the Land of Canaan – later known as Israel. The name Israel comes from the name given to Jacob (Abraham’s grandson) whose 12 sons became the leaders of the 12 tribes of the Jewish nation. One of the tribes, Judah is the origin of the term Jew. The organized nation of Israel began about 1300 BCE after an exodus from Egypt under Moses. Correspondent Charles Krauthammer wrote (1998): "Israel… is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago.”

From 1250 BCE for almost 700 years, Israel was ruled by Jewish leaders such as King David – who made Jerusalem the Capital and his son King Solomon – who built the famous Temple. From about 587 BCE the region was invaded by a succession of superpower empires beginning with the Babylonian (modern day Iraq) army, Persian, Greek Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Christian crusaders, Ottoman, and finally the British Empire. On May 14, 1948 under the leadership of David Ben-Gurion, the modern State of Israel reclaimed their ancient independence with the departure of the British forces. The following day armies of five Arab countries, Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon, and Iraq, invaded Israel – beginning the War of Independence. Five full scale wars have been waged against Israel.

1) 1948 – War of Independence
2) 1956 – Sinai War
3) 1967 – Six Day War
4) 1973 – Yom Kippur War  
5) 1982 – Lebanon War. Facing insurmountable odds (Israel, about 60 miles wide can be crossed in about two hours of driving or one days walk - which one of the FIMA founders has actually done), Israel successfully defended itself each time.

For many years since the last major war, Israelis have faced many attacks from neighboring countries and from within. Continual rocket attacks and terrorist threats involving every type of weapon are commonplace. Spontaneous surprise knife and gun attacks require preparedness and a society where virtually every man and woman in the country has had some training in personal defense.

Brief History of Israel

Realistic, unbiased, non-partisan history from Krav Maga historians, experts, instructors and former IDF members Noah Gross (Field to Battlefield, 2010), Moshe Katz (Israel A Nation of Warriors 2012), Dr. Grinberg (History PhD).

Historical Kapap and Krav Maga

1880’s: Jewish defense took form in response to Arab/Turk violence against Jewish immigration to Israel. 1903: Maccabee Union formed, taught physical fitness; incorporated stick and rifle training. 1907: HaShomer (“The Guard”) formed, used hand-to-hand self-defense to defend Jewish settlements. 1919: civilian militia, Haganah (Defense) was formed to protect the Jewish community. Haganah explored hand-to-hand training and combat tactics, resulting in Kapap קפא”פ)) - krav panim el panim (face to face fighting).

January 1941: First Kapap instructor course (Haganah). Separate disciplines including: boxing, wrestling, jiujitsu, stick fighting, knife fighting, and firearms/gun disarm;- focus on physical conditioning, stone throwing, Bayonet, wilderness survival, explosives, etc. Course instructors: Maishel Horowitz (Short stick/Walking stick), Menashe Harel, Yehuda Markus (Jiujitsu/Judo), Gershon Kofler (Jiujitsu/Boxing) and Yitzhak Shtibel (Boxing). May 1941: Palmach went underground to become elite standing military fighting force for the Haganah. From 1941 until 1948 Moshe Zohar was Chief Instructor of physical training.

1942 to 1948: Imi LIchtenfeld was Palmach Kapap instructor, born in Hungary in 1910 and grew up in Czechoslovakia. Trained in boxing, judo, wrestling and gymnastics by his father, he integrated real world defense when faced with growing Nazi anti-Semitism. Served in British army and in 1942 moved to Israel.

1947: civil war broke out as UN General Assembly passed Resolution 181 – a 2-state Partition Plan for Palestine. May 1948: Israel became a State, Arab states began military invasion. IDF – Israeli Defense Forces or Tzava Haganah Le’Yisrael (Zahal) created, incorporating 3 underground paramilitary operations: Irgun, Lehi, and Haganah/Palmach with Moshe Zohar as Chief Instructor of physical training. Mairon Avramson was chief officer of physical training school and Imi Lichtenfeld as one of eleven Kapap instructors. 1949: physical training service became IDF branch and term Krav Maga (קרב מגע) or “Contact Combat” was used. Until 1958, terms Kapap, Krav Maga and Judo Shimushi (practical Judo) used interchangeably. Gershon Kopler and Yehuda Markus: two main Kapap instructors attributed with system forming basis of Kapap and eventually Krav Maga. 1953: committee formed to slim down hand-to-hand Krav Maga system to 35 main techniques. Imi Lichtenfeld was one of those responsible for determining the curriculum.

1958: Imi Chief Instructor of IDF Krav Maga branch. Krav Maga became more integrated system using the foundational basis and principles of Kapap. Imi retired from IDF in 1963 and opened first civilian Krav Maga club in Netanya. By mid 1960s: term Kapap no longer used. According to Israeli martial arts authority Noah Gross, military Krav Maga manuals from the 1970s were 90% identical to those found from 1964, 1960 and even 1953. No one person can be credited with “inventing” Krav Maga. After the death of Imi Lichtenfeld, many claimed leadership. In recent years, the number of Krav Maga organizations ballooned to over twenty-five associations, organizations and styles. The vast majority of these Krav Maga styles share many similarities as they were spin-offs of the original three to four civilian organizations.

History of Israeli Defense

The Israeli Advantage

  • Traditional martial arts schools have lost the actual application of many techniques. Fundamental to Israeli martial arts and self-defense styles are the actual applications.
  • Traditional martial arts, in general, rely on consistency; teaching the same techniques over decades or even centuries. Israeli martial arts are continually modified to address the need for new and evolved techniques, the ever-changing world and novel attack strategies and tactics.
  • Not for sport or competition – Israeli MMA being the application and exception.
  • Continuously and realistically tested.
  • Focus on essential movements.
  • Instinctive – when possible.
  • Simplicity.
  • Utility of movement.
  • Adaptability - continuous evolving.
  • Effectiveness.
  • Emphasize teaching of principles over techniques.
  • Priority on physical conditioning.
  • Success less dependent on practitioner’s strength.
  • Focus on mental toughness and preparedness – stress training.
  • Psychologic and verbal de-escalation techniques.
  • Instructors have experience in security, law enforcement and/or military – serving or teaching.
  • Weapon training restricted to those commonly used on the street: sticks, knives, firearms, explosives, etc
  • Weapon training in how to effectively use – not just disarming techniques.
  • All aspects of a realistic fight – armed and unarmed addressed.
  • Multifaceted such that success not dependent on expertise in any one tactic such as punches, kicks, throws, grappling.
  • Hybrid systems borrowing from multiple systems such as judo, jiujitsu, wrestling, muay thai, aikido, karate, escrima, kung fu, Brazilian jiu jitsu, etc.
  • Simultaneous defense and attack
  • Continuous defense/attacks (retzev) until an attacker is neutralized.
  • Striking focus is against resistance – body or bag rather than in the air.
  • Use of improvisational weapons and weapons of opportunity – no rules.
  • No point sparring. Sparring is performed with realism as focus to neutralize attacker and develop fight strategy.
  • Self-defense strategies/techniques merged with Close Quarters Combat systems – prepares for self-protection whether surprised in an attack or behind enemy lines.

The Israeli Advantage

  • Traditional martial arts schools have lost the actual application of many techniques. Fundamental to Israeli martial arts and self-defense styles are the actual applications.
  • Traditional martial arts, in general, rely on consistency; teaching the same techniques over decades or even centuries. Israeli martial arts are continually modified to address the need for new and evolved techniques, the ever-changing world and novel attack strategies and tactics.
  • Not for sport or competition – Israeli MMA being the application and exception.
  • Continuously and realistically tested.
  • Focus on essential movements.
  • Instinctive – when possible.
  • Simplicity.
  • Utility of movement.
  • Adaptability - continuous evolving.
  • Effectiveness.
  • Emphasize teaching of principles over techniques.
  • Priority on physical conditioning.
  • Success less dependent on practitioner’s strength.
  • Focus on mental toughness and preparedness – stress training.
  • Psychologic and verbal de-escalation techniques.
  • Instructors have experience in security, law enforcement and/or military – serving or teaching.
  • Weapon training restricted to those commonly used on the street: sticks, knives, firearms, explosives, etc
  • Weapon training in how to effectively use – not just disarming techniques.
  • All aspects of a realistic fight – armed and unarmed addressed.
  • Multifaceted such that success not dependent on expertise in any one tactic such as punches, kicks, throws, grappling.
  • Hybrid systems borrowing from multiple systems such as judo, jiujitsu, wrestling, muay thai, aikido, karate, escrima, kung fu, Brazilian jiu jitsu, etc.
  • Simultaneous defense and attack
  • Continuous defense/attacks (retzev) until an attacker is neutralized.
  • Striking focus is against resistance – body or bag rather than in the air.
  • Use of improvisational weapons and weapons of opportunity – no rules.
  • No point sparring. Sparring is performed with realism as focus to neutralize attacker and develop fight strategy.
  • Self-defense strategies/techniques merged with Close Quarters Combat systems – prepares for self-protection whether surprised in an attack or behind enemy lines.

Israeli Martial Art Styles