Imi Lichtenfeld

From MartialTalk Online Martial Arts Encyclopedia Project

Imrich Lichtenfeld later known as Imi Sde-Or

Founder of the self-defence system Krav Maga.

He was born 1910 in Budapest (Hungary). He grew up in Bratislava (Slovakia). He was a successful boxer and wrestler. In the late 1930's Anti-Semitic riots threatened the Jewish Population of Bratislava. Together with other Jewish boxers and wrestlers, he helped to defend his people. In this time he learned that sport has little in common with real fighting. He started to develop a system of simple techniques for self-defense.

In 1940 he fled from Slovakia to Israel, where he arrived in 1942. There he taught fighters of the Jewish underground organisations Haganah and Palmach. After the founding of Israel in 1948 he became an instructor at the School of Combat Fitness.

Later he modified Krav Maga for the needs of police forces and civilians.

He died in January 1998 in Netanya (Israel).