Krav Maga History and Benefits

Origins of Krav Maga

Krav Maga is a tactical mixed-martial art and combative self defense system thats put great emphasis on continuous motion, attacks to an assailant’s soft spots (pressure points), and simultaneous defense and attack. It was created so that no experience was needed, and any age, gender or physical ability could be successful at it.

Krav Maga was developed by using techniques taken from boxing, wrestling, savate, Muay Thai, Jujutsu, Judo, Wing Chun and grappling, together with realistic fight training. It was developed in the mid-to-late 1930s by Imi Lichtenfeld as a means of defending the Jewish against fascist groups, and many of the “terrorist” organizations which threaten a peaceful way of life.

The first “students” of Lichtenfeld were a group of men who were tasked to patrol their community and defend the residents from attackers. Soon after, Imi realized that his method lacked that sense of urgency in terms of disabling and neutralizing any threat easily and quickly.

By 1942, Imi moved to Palestine where he was put in-charge of the training of the military’s forces like the Palmach, which is the elite strike force, the Palyam, which is the marine commandos, and the Haganah.

When Israel gained statehood in the year 1948, the elite fighting forces that Imi trained merged to form the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), with the IDF School of Combat Fitness as their training ground. Imi was named as the Chief Instructor of Physical Fitness, and it is in this capacity that he continued to develop his system of self-defense now known as Krav Maga.

Krava Maga was and still is the official combative style of the IDF. New recruits are taught this combative technique in minimal amount of time, just like you can learn. In 1974, the Krav Maga Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Krav Maga, was formed.

Today, Imi Lichtenfeld has been retired from the IDF School for nearly 20 years. However, he continues to teach Krav Maga to civilians. He continues to add and improve the style he has developed for the military forces in 1942.

Phoenix Krav Maga and Fitness is the only certified Krav Maga school in Anthem. For more information on our exciting classes, including free reports on how to stay safe and 2 free classes, please fill out the form below.

Benefits of Krav Maga

The basic principle of the krav maga training classes system is to inflict as much pain to your attacker with the goal of ending the attack as soon as possible. To do that, we use a cardio based training format to build strength, power, flexibility, stamina, endurance and more! You need to exercise!

Why not learn how to defend yourself too!

Krav Maga must always be used to defend yourself and/or someone else. In the same light, the system should not be used in competitive sports or messing around, as these moves can be used by smaller, inexperienced and out of shape men and women of all ages to deal with threats from bigger, stronger and younger attackers.

Benefits of Krav Maga are numerous, here are just a few:

1. It builds self confidence (more than you can ever imagine!) – Let’s face it; in the face of a threat, it becomes easy for us to lose confidence. It becomes easier still to cower in fear and let it consume us. With classes at Phoenix Krav Maga and Fitness, however, you get that boosted confidence and self worth because you know that regardless of the attack, you are prepared!
2. It makes great exercise. – With real-life scenarios as drills and the intense conditioning, you are sure to get a really tiring yet effective workout. In fact, even the two minute drills will be exhilarating, Imagine the pounds you will lose and the way your conditioned body will look like after just a handful of classes!
3. It is practical. – You don’t have to worry about special forms or rituals with Krav Maga classes. It is a very practical and doable self-defense system with only one key focus and that’s brutal efficiency. Hence, you will learn that many of the strikes use the same basic motion, which make it easy to learn like second nature. The techniques are also built on the body’s natural instincts, so anyone at any level can learn it.
4. It relieves you of stress. – When you are stressed, do Krav Maga training. It has been proven that when you are stressed, the most effective way to relieve it is to take part in intense physical activity. There is nothing like punching and kicking to unwind from the stresses at work, school or homelife!