Masters
Imi Lichtenfeld (Sde-Or) developed the beginning of the system that would become Krav-Maga while in Hungary and Czechoslovakia in the 1930s. He first taught his fighting system in Bratislava in order to help protect the Jewish community from Nazi militias. Upon arriving in the British Mandate of Palestine prior to the establishment of the Jewish state, Imi began teaching hand-to-hand combat to the Haganah, the Jewish underground army. With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Imi became the Chief Instructor of Physical Fitness and Krav-Maga at the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) School of Combat Fitness. He served in the IDF for about 20 years, during which time he continued to develop and refine his hand-to-hand combat method.
After he finished his active duty, Imi began adapting and modifying Krav-Maga to civilian needs. The method was formulated to suit anyone who might need it to save his or her life, whatever the background of the attack - criminal, nationalistic, or other. During his last years, Imi continued to personally supervise the training of those who had attained high ranks in Krav-Maga and to spend time with the instructors in Israel and abroad. Imi monitored the trainees' progress and achievements, captivating them with his personality and imparting them with his knowledge and unique personality. Imi passed away in January 1998 in Netanya, Israel.
Avi Moyal was born in 1966 and has been learning Krav Maga since childhood. In 1985 he received his "Expert degree" and joined the IDF Marines, completed his Officers training with excellence, and served as a Platoon Commander in a Terror Demolition Unit. He acquired many combat hours and experience while commanding subordinates on special operations in Lebanon.
Avi Moyal graduated his BA and a trainer's course. He also graduated the senior trainers’ course in the Wingate Institute with excellence. He ran instructors’ courses in the Wingate Institute for many years, and today he is one of the four leading Krav Maga authorities in the world. Amongst his instructors were Imi Lichtenfeld, Eli Avigzar, and Eyal Yanilov.
He instructs women, children and adults in the Israeli private, commercial and governmental sectors. He also instructs armies and security organizations worldwide. He has published a booklet about Krav Maga for grade school pupils, which is one of his areas of expertise. He is also the part of the IKMF Global Instructors team.
Eyal Yanilov was born in 1959 and studied Krav Maga under the personal tutelage of its founder, Imi Lichtenfeld (Sde-Or), and has served as the Grand master's closest assistant and foremost disciple since the early 1980s. Active in this field since 1974, he is now its most senior instructor. Mr. Yanilov is the only individual who carries the highest grade ever given by Imi, Master level 3 / Expert level 8, and holds the unique “Founder's Diploma of Excellence".
Since the early 80’s Eyal has been training different groups, in various seminars and courses. He educated all the first generations of instructors in USA, Europe and Australia. He has been teaching civilians, military units, police units, executive protection personnel, special units, SWAT teams, and other security-oriented groups in Israel, Europe, South America, Australia, Japan and the United States. He specializes in improving the fighting skills and general abilities of members of these groups. Mr. Yanilov’s main objective now is to educate future Krav Maga instructors around the world, and he always enjoys promoting any such initiative in this direction.
Gabi Noah was born in Syria in 1964. He immigrated to Israel in 1979 and started to learn Krav-Maga with Rafi Algrisi. Two years later he was trained by Eli Avigezer and Imi Lichtenfeld (Sde-Or), the founders of the Krav-Maga method.
Throughout the years Gabi has coached in many different institutions such as schools, police units, security units, and prisons. He coaches civilians in all age groups: children, women and men. He also coaches fighters and officers in different government units in Israel and around the world.
Today Gabi’s institute in Netanya is the international center of the union of Krav-Maga. Gabi has a Master rank from the International Union of Krav-Maga.
Eli Ben-Ami was born in December 1952. He started training in Krav-Maga in 1968 with the creator and the founder of the system, Imi Lichtenfeld, at his first civil training club in Tel-Aviv, Israel. From 1994 through 2004 he was an active member of the Citizen Guard (police). During his 10 years of service, he trained special police units and prison guards in Krav-Maga.
Today, he is Master level (black belt rank-6). He owns and operates several training clubs in Israel and is responsible for the following European countries: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Romania and South Africa.
In the civilian sector, he trains children from the age of 4 and up including youth and adults. Further more, he trains the Law Enforcement and Military sectors, Civil & Military Instructors’ courses, Security Instructors’ courses and conducts Krav-Maga seminars for Public Transportation drivers, Nurses, and other special groups.