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About Krav Maga

About Krav Maga Boston

About Krav Maga Yashir Boston

Krav Maga Yashir Boston teaches authentic Krav Maga direct from the source (Israel). Krav Maga – meaning “Contact Combat” in Hebrew - is the system of hand-to-hand fighting that is used by the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). Using instinct and natural movement(s), its goal is to get an inexperienced/untrained individual combat-ready in the shortest possible time. Rather than teaching complex techniques, which are difficult to perform under the stress and duress of a real-life confrontation, Krav Maga keeps everything direct and simple. The system is focused on what you will do in an actual fight, rather than what you might want to try and do – it is this understanding which separates Krav Maga from other martial arts and self-defense systems. Our training comes direct from Israel where Head Instructor, Gershon Ben Keren, received his training, teaching certifications and belts. If you want to understand why Krav Maga is so effective click here to watch a few short videos explaining some of the concepts upon which the system is based. If you are interested in experiencing genuine and authentic Krav Maga firsthand, learning how to deal with both unarmed and armed attacks, please use the button below to sign up for one of our beginner/introductory classes.


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Krav Maga Yashir

The Krav Maga Yashir system (Yashir in Hebrew meaning “direct”), is the style of Krav Maga taught by Gershon Ben Keren, a 5th Degree Black Belt in Krav Maga, who has been training in Krav Maga since 1993, and is a 2010 inductee into the Museum of Israeli Martial Arts, in Herzliya, Israel – to read more about Gershon Ben Keren, please click here. The system utilizes simple, direct movements that work with the body’s natural responses when attacked; and from these natural responses, more effective and complex solutions can be developed, such as throws, takedowns, locks and controls, etc. Whilst primarily a striking system, Krav Maga Yashir, teaches a wide range of responses to different assaults, based on the context(s) in which they are experienced e.g. there may be times when it is better to control than to punch or strike, etc. Although originally a military system, it has been adapted for civilian scenarios, and is designed to adhere to the legalities of the locale within which it is taught.

The Krav Maga Yashir system teaches defenses and solutions, to both armed (knife, gun – short and long barrel – stick, etc.) and unarmed attacks, that may involve single or multiple attackers, whether you are standing, seated, or even lying on the ground. Both from a prepared and unprepared state. As well as teaching physical solutions to violent situations, non-physical solutions such as de-escalation and disengagement are also taught; along with how to predict, identify, prevent and avoid violence in the first place. Because violence doesn’t occur in a vacuum, you will also learn how to use the environment to your advantage, as well as how to identify and use improvised weapons.

Whilst many schools in the U.S. teach Krav Maga, more as a workout than a system of self-defense/close combat, we continue to teach it as a fighting system as it was originally intended. Our training comes direct from Israel, and we regularly bring Krav Maga instructors from Israel to teach seminars, and conduct training sessions; as well as bring students with us to Israel, to train.

If you are interested in taking a beginner's class use the button below.


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A Brief History Of The Israeli Martial Arts

Krav Maga was not the first Israeli Martial Art, and in fact the name/term Krav Maga wasn’t used until 1948, and when it was it was used synonymously to refer to KAPAP (an acronym, that stood for Krav Panim a Panim – meaning fighting face-to-face), and Judo Shimushi, or “Useful Judo” - The first IDF handbook of close quarter fighting was published in 1947/48, under this title. It was revised in 1960, and the title renamed to Krav Maga, indicating how this name was now being used to refer to what was being taught regarding hand-to-hand fighting (the name remains to this day).

The original KAPAP system/approach was a training regime developed by Gershon Kopler (Ju-Jitsu and Boxing), Yehuda Markus (Ju-Jitsu and Judo), and Maishel Hurwitz (Stick/Baton), who were members of the Haganah - a Jewish paramilitary organization fighting for the independence of Israel – and the Palmach, its elite fighting branch. In 1942, Imi Lichtenfeld emigrated to Israel from Bratislava, and was recruited into the Palmach, as an instructor. When the IDF was created – largely from the Haganah – in 1948, Imi became one of eight KAPAP instructors at the physical training school; and eventually became the lead instructor of KAPAP/Krav Maga, until he left in 1964. By this time, his name was synonymous with the term Krav Maga, however when he first started teaching civilians after leaving the IDF, this wasn’t a name/term that he used, initially advertising his classes as being Judo and Ju-Jitsu; even when he eventually made the switch referring to what he taught as Krav Maga, he also continued to teach Judo alongside Krav Maga (something we continue to do at Krav Maga Yashir Boston).

14 years after leaving the IDF (with his student Eli Avikzar, replacing him as Head of the IDF’s program) in 1978, Imi founded the non-profit IKMA (Israeli Krav Maga Association). Three years before his death, in 1995, he established the IKMF (International Krav Maga Federation), to help spread his Krav Maga approach globally ( Krav Maga Yashir Head Instructor, Gershon Ben Keren, was originally an instructor with the IKMF. After Imi’s death, many of his original instructors left the IKMA, to teach independently or with other splinter associations that had started to form in his later years.

Whilst Imi was designing his program for civilians in the 1960’s, a South African Karateka and Judoka, Dennis Hanover, arrived in Israel, and in the 1970’s and 80’s began to teach the IDF’s Krav Maga program; whilst at the same time developing his own distinct approach to close quarter fighting, which he referred to as Hisardut ( meaning “Survival” in Hebrew). Krav Maga Yashir Head Instructor, Gershon Ben Keren, has also been an instructor under Dennis Hanover, whose instructors continue to teach fighting skills within the IDF at the highest level and have headed up some of the most prestigious positions within the military, and its related agencies; demonstrating how Krav Maga within the IDF continues to evolve and be influenced by instructors and their personal martial arts backgrounds. Dennis Hanover is not alone in this, with instructors such as Itay Gil, and former instructors such as Roy Elghanyan, modifying and evolving what they teach – with other instructors continuing to do the same. This is the constantly evolving nature of Krav Maga.

If you are interested in taking a beginners class, to experience authentic Krav Maga firsthand, use the button below.


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