Imi Lichtenfeld

Who Was Imi Lichtenfeld?

Imi Lichtenfeld was a kind and clever man who loved to help people stay safe. He was born on May 26, 1910, in Budapest, a beautiful city in the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. When he was little, his family moved to Bratislava, where he grew up.

Imi was very good at sports! He loved to swim, box, wrestle, and do gymnastics. He was so strong and fast that he won many prizes in competitions.

Making Krav Maga

Imi saw that some people needed to protect themselves in real danger. He thought that the sports fighting he knew wasn’t enough for real life. So he made up a new way to defend yourself called Krav Maga. Krav Maga teaches quick moves and strong steps to stay safe.

Helping the World

Later, Imi moved to Israel and taught many people how to use Krav Maga. He helped the army, police, and everyday people learn this safe way to protect themselves. He opened training centers in Tel Aviv and Netanya and created groups to share Krav Maga all over the world.

Imi Lichtenfeld passed away in Netanya in 1998, but his idea of Krav Maga still helps people today!