ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL KRAV MAGA FEDERATION (IKMF)
The art of Krav Maga was founded by Imi Lichtenfeld (Sde – Or). When anti-Semite riots began to spread throughout his hometown in Bratislava, Imi and his family were forced to immigrate to Israel (Palestine at the time).
Based on his experience and his work with special forces units as the Hagana, Palmach, and Palyam, the Israeli Defense Force officials requested Imi to develop a system of self defense and fighting.
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.
When Imi retired from the Israeli Defense Force and continued to teach Krav Maga to civilians and law enforcement units. As Krav Maga expanded beyond the borders of Israel, the International Krav Maga Federation was formed. Once the IKMF was formed, all Expert and Master Dimplomas, grades and levels issued were authorized by Imi as well as the IKMF curriculum.
Reference: http://www.kravmaga.co.il/history.html
FROM SOLDIERS TO CIVILIANS
In 1970 Imi began teaching a state-recognized Krav Maga instructor’s course. He encouraged the instructors to join military, security, and police units or to establish themselves as professional instructors within the civilian community.
Imi focused both on teaching professionals and adapting his system to provide ordinary civilians with solutions to avoid and/or end a violent encounter.
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.
Reference: Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method-for Fitness and Self-Defense by David Kahn
MEET OUR INSTRUCTOR
STEVEN COMAS
OWNER/INSTRUCTOR
Steve Comas is a Bronx native and has resided there all his life. Growing up at a time when the Bronx had a reputation for being one of the “rougher” boroughs to live in, he often found himself attempting to avoid physical confrontations.
He began training martial arts to better deal with his environment as a teen. Throughout his youth, he has had the opportunity to study various styles from wrestling, kung-fu (tiger style), American Kickboxing, Muay Thai and boxing. It wasn’t until his adult years that he began researching about Krav Maga and became enamored with its concept and principles.
Understanding his first motivation to learn martial arts and his realization that he wanted to have the physical and mental skill set needed to defend himself and his loved ones in real-world situations, he signed up for his first class. From that first class, he realized how different it was from other fighting styles, and needless to say, he never looked back.