ISRAELI KRAV MAGA ASSOCIATION (IKMA)

The Original Israeli Krav Maga Association

Krav Maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld established the original non-profit Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA) on October 22, 1978, to promote Krav Maga throughout the world. In 1964 after Imi’s retirement as the military’s chief instructor of physical training and self-defense, Imi focused on adapting his system to provide both professional security agencies and ordinary civilians – men, women, and children – with solutions to avoid and/or end a violent encounter.

Grandmaster Haim Gidon

After Imi’s passing in 1998, Grandmaster Haim Gidon, now, the highest-ranking individual in the world at 10th-degree black belt, currently heads the IKMA as Imi’s appointed successor and President. Haim was a member of Imi’s first training class in the early 1960s, and along with Imi and other top instructors, co-founded the IKMA. In 1995, Imi nominated Haim as the top authority to grant 1st dan Krav Maga black-belt and up.

U.S. Chief Instructor David Kahn

David Kahn has trained extensively under Grandmaster Gidon and serves as the IKMA’s United States Chief Instructor. David is the only American to sit on the board of the IKMA. He is responsible for coordinating U.S. activities along with Rinaldo Rossi, and Don Melnick.

IKMA Programs

The IKMA sponsors programs worldwide. Every July, the IKMA sponsors a 15-day instructor certification course. Imi and Haim’s hometown, Netanya, Israel serves as the hub of Krav Maga's learning and development. All courses are taught at the IKMA main facility at 21 Ben Zion Street. 

Training classes in the United States are held at the IKMA training centers in Hamilton and Cherry Hill, New Jersey.