David Kahn - Advanced Krav Maga: The Next Level of Fitness and Self-Defense

How did you first learn of Israeli krav maga ?

I learned of Israeli krav maga in 1979 when Imi and some of his senior students visited Cleveland on their krav maga publicity tour across the United States. Rick had studied various martial arts and we decided to see what this man had to offer. We arrived early at Imis demonstration. Rick sat at the side of the hallway. Suddenly, these imposing men came in with their white gi uniforms and black belts. These were tough-looking guys. When Imisaw us, he stopped and looked at Rick. Imi grabbed Rick by the hair and hoisted him and said, Follow me. It was a strange episode for a father to see another man grabbing his son by the hair and pulling him away. What I did not realize was that Imi knew Rick already; they had met previously in Israel in 1977 on a kibbutz. Imi led just the two of us into the demonstration room. What we saw amazed us. I had never seen a group of people move like that. I asked Imi, But what if someone had a gun in his hand? using my pointer and thumb to simulate a gun. Imi answered my question by saying, I would think about it and then do this. He suddenly took his hand out of his pocket and threw the coins into my face. Imi finished his thought: While you are distracted we would move and finish you. We spent the next fifteen minutes asking about different scenarios and how they would react. I was so impressed and Rick was too, but Rick had seen some of this before. After having lived in Israel from 1976 to 1978, when he first met Imi, Rick decided to return to Israel on the personal invitation of Imi in 1981 to attend the first international instructors course.