The Avikzar lineage
The only Krav Maga school transmitted father-to-son in direct biological descent from the original creator.
Imi Lichtenfeld
1910 — 1998 · Bratislava, then Israel
Born in Slovakia in 1910, Imi was a champion boxer and wrestler. After defending Bratislava's Jewish community in the 1930s, he immigrated to Palestine in 1942. He created Krav Maga as the official hand-to-hand combat system for the Haganah, then the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when Israel was founded in 1948. He taught the IDF's combat system until 1964, then developed civilian Krav Maga.
Read full biographyEli Avikzar
1937 — 2004 · Israel
Eli Avikzar was Imi Lichtenfeld's first student to receive a black belt in Krav Maga, in 1971. He became the second Chief Instructor of Krav Maga for the IDF after Imi, training elite units. He founded KAMI (Krav Magen Israel), the official Israeli Krav Maga association, and developed the technical refinement of the system. He is the father of Yehouda Avikzar.
Read full biographyYehouda Avikzar
1975 — today · Israel
Yehouda began training Krav Maga at age 4 under his father Eli, becoming the youngest black belt in Krav Maga history at age 14. He carries forward the Avikzar System — Imi's original principles, refined by Eli, transmitted father-to-son in unbroken biological lineage. Awarded the 10th Dan on May 21, 2024 by a council of 10th Dan masters.
Read full biographyWhy this lineage matters
- ✓Most Krav Maga organizations today are 3-4 generations removed from Imi. Their instructors learned from instructors who learned from instructors.
- ✓Yehouda is the only direct biological descendant in the lineage. He learned from someone who learned directly from Imi himself, day after day, for years.
- ✓Eli Avikzar was personally certified by Imi (1971), making the line: Imi → Eli → Yehouda. Two steps. No dilution. No marketing modifications.
- ✓When you learn from Yehouda, you learn what Imi taught, refined by Eli's pedagogy, transmitted in family.
Learn the authentic Krav Maga
From the only family carrying the unbroken Imi lineage.
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