Founder Of K.A.M.I

Eli Avikzar

4257_101273396756_679751756_2574905_7581144_n(16.6.1947 - 16.5.2004)

Eli Avikzar emmigrated to Israel from Morocco in 1963 as a boy with nothing in his pocket, except a rich background of street fights from his hometown, Casablanca. He was forced to fight local gangs who were harassing him for being Jewish in a hostile Arabic environment.

Eli began training with “Imi” Lichtenfeld(Sde-Or), the founder of Krav Maga (Contact Fight) in November 1964 at his institute in Netanya, and became his principal student. In those days there were no training outfits or grades for Krav Maga, so they trained in army uniforms. In 1965 “Imi” added Judo training, as part of the Krav Maga training and distinguished teachers like Gadi Schornic and Amos Grinshpen became Eli's Judo instructors.

Eli trained twice a week, and after receiving his Orange belt in Judo and with “Imi's” consent, went to train in Tel-Aviv, where he continued practicing Judo and added Karate and Jujitsu to his training schedule. Eli would then return regularly to “Imi's” training classes and together they improved and developed counter exercises to Judo, Karate and Jujitsu.

“Imi” stuck to the motto that every person, with or without coordination, strong or weak, can perform Krav Maga exercises, by utilizing ones own maximum force.

Until 1968 there were no grades in Krav Maga and trainee's grades were determined largely by their knowledge in Judo.

In 1968 Eli Avikzar began learning Aikido under the guidance of an Englishman named Mike and within a year became his training partner. Mike was astounded by Eli's rapid progress and offered him to go abroad for his Black belt trainings in Aikido. Following mike's recommendation, Eli left for France in 1971, passed the test and received a brown belt in Aikido. Prior to his journey, Eli received his Black Belt in Judo, in addition to the first Black Belt ever given in Krav Maga, which he received from “Imi” on the 1.5.1971. Upon his return, Eli started working as an instructor alongside “Imi” in both Netanya and Tel-Aviv training centers. In addition, they trained special army and volunteer units. In 1977 Eli went to Germany and after passing the test, received a Black Belt level in Aikido from the European Federation.

In 1974 “Imi” retired and handed Eli his Krav Maga Training Center in Netanya. In 1976 Eli joined the permanent force, as Head of the Krav Maga section. The role of Krav Maga in the army advanced greatly after his appointment. More courses were given and every P.E. instructor was obliged to learn Krav Maga and teach it. The improvement of Krav Maga in the I.D.F. was a result of the development of methods and exercises in civil life, and it became accepted and more professional, proving its efficiency in fighting units. Eli continued to develop Krav Maga within the I.D.F. until his retirement in 1987. Up to this date, Eli had trained 80,000 male soldiers and 12,000 female soldiers.

In 1978 the Krav Maga Association was established. As an active member of the Judo Association, Eli Avikzar helped to establish the professional and Rank committees in the Krav Maga Association.

In 1979 Eli appointed his first two black belts to trainees:

* Avi Avisidon

* Eyal Yanilov

A List of Eli's students is at the bottom of this page showing the Level of Black Belts awarded by him.

In 1981 Eli travelled to the U.S.A. along with “Imi” and some of his trainees for a 45-day performance tour, as part of a fund raising trip. In 1983, following that visit, the first American group arrived in Israel for a 3 week Krav Maga instructors course. In 1984 the Krav Maga Association awarded a Black belt to two American trainees, Allen Feldman and Darrin Levine. In 1985 Eli went to the U.S.A. as a representative of the Krav Maga Association, to lecture to the Department of Police, and in 1987 he returned again to the U.S.A. to give his first course to the Los-Angeles Police Department.

The many improvements Eli added to Krav Maga transformed it into a new method that was parallel to Krav Maga.

The name K.A.M.I. (Israeli Defense Battle) is attached to Eli's ideology since the method is divided into two parts: Self Defense and hand to hand combat (KAMI does not participate in any competitions). A combat fight develops if a self defense exercise does not totally neutralize the attacker. From this theory comes the name Israeli Krav Magen which means Israeli Defense Battle.

K.A.M.I. adjusts itself to the altering state of the street and to the immediate, modern, contemporary dangers. K.A.M.I. renews and improves, adds and revises exercises to find solutions to a changing environment. In practice, the exercise are short and efficient and all is permitted to save lives. "Minimum Movement against Maximum Movement becomes Minimum Defense against Maximum Offense"

In 1987 Eli Avikzar retired from the Krav Maga Association and in 1989 founded K.A.M.I. - Israeli Krav Magen Association, with “Imi's” blessing. Today, the K.A.M.I. method has over 40 branches across the country. It is recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Education as the recommended method for schools, it is authorized by the Academic College at Wingate, "Na'amat" (women's organization), and P.E. teachers and it is used by various security forces and is well known throughout the world.

In 1996 Eli was granted a Dan 8 grade, including a Founder Diploma, which was the first to be issued by “Imi”, and in 1999 was granted Dan 10 grade by all the esteemed and professional members in K.A.M.I., including senior pupils and P.E. Institutes in Israel.

In 1999 Eli was given wordwide recognition and the Dan 10 belt from martial arts heads from Israel and abroud, Israeli sports institutes and his senior students.

In 2004 Eli Avikzar passed away leaving his dream "Every boy and girl should know to defend themseles"

 


Last Rank given by Eli Avikzar


Name


Dan 1


Adini Guy


Dan 1


Adler Yaakov


Dan 1


Almon Oded


Dan 1


Amselem Albert


Dan 1


Amselem Asi


Dan 2


Arie Avner


Dan 1


Arnia Michal


Dan 1


Arnia Raviv


Dan 2


Asulin Moshe


Dan 1


Avikesar Ronen


Dan 4


Avikzar Yehuda


Dan 1


Aviram Boaz


Dan 7


Avisidon Avi


Dan 1


Avital Aviv


Dan 1


Avital Fransua


Dan 1


Avitov Amir


Dan 1


Avrahami Mickey


Dan 1


Avtalion Moshe


Dan 1


Bafri Penina


Dan 3


Barkan Tal


Dan 2


Beit-Av Zohar


Dan 1


Ben Shimon Noam


Dan 2


Ben-Ami Eli


Dan 1


Ben-David Danny


Dan 1


Benisty Yohan


Dan 1


Ben-Kfir Hadar


Dan 3


Ben-Margui Itzik


Dan 1


Ben-Zion Ido


Dan 1


Boiarsky Yuri


Dan 1


Biton Asi


Dan 1


Blashnikov Avner


Dan 3


Broitman Barak


Dan 1


Broshi Shlomo


Dan 1


Cohen Amir


Dan 2


Cohen Eliran


Dan 1


Dafni Danny


Dan 4


Dar Guy


Dan 2


Darshpiel Pablo


Dan 1


David For Moti


Dan 1


Dekel Rafi


Dan 1


Deutch Tal


Dan 1


Dishon Guy


Dan 1


Edelman Arie


Dan 2


Fadida Simon


Dan 2


Fallach Amos


Dan 1


Galbert Yuval


Dan 1


Ganach Avi


Dan 1


Ganach Eli


Dan 1


Geva Shay


Dan 2


Gideon Haim


Dan 1


Giladi Tal


Dan 1


Giladi Yogev


Dan 2


Gonen Perry


Dan 2


Gorlik Rani


Dan 1


Grinberger Yehuda


Dan 1


Grosberg Eyal


Dan 2


Gulet-Kotzer Sebastien


Dan 1


Guy Roi


Dan 1


Gvirtzman Ahi


Dan 1


Hagag Rammy


Dan 3


Halaf Rahamim


Dan 1


Hasid Shahar


Dan 1


Hazan Avner


Dan 1


Herzig Shlomo


Dan 1


Inbar Asaf


Dan 2


Ivgi Sondrin


Dan 1


Kahiri Itay


Dan 1


Kahiri Regev


Dan 1


Kama Amit


Dan 1


Kings Ofir


Dan 1


Kogos Ilan


Dan 1


Koren Yehuda


Dan 1


Kossia Gossia


Dan 1


Landau Shmuel


Dan 1


Lavi Gadi


Dan 5


Lavstein Eli


Dan 1


Levi Moshe


Dan 1


Levi Viki


Dan 1


Lichtenstien Kobi


Dan 2


Lightner Zigmond


Dan 1


Livne Hilel


Dan 2


Lugasi Ami


Dan 2


Mangam Hofen


Dan 1


Mazo Boris


Dan 3


Meri Fernando


Dan 1


Mesika Eyal


Dan 2


Miara Izchak


Dan 1


Miller Assaf


Dan 2


Miller Shlomo


Dan 2


Mimon Reuven


Dan 1


Mizrahi Alon


Dan 1


Moiyal Avi


Dan 1


Moiyal Rami


Dan 1


Morduch Sammy


Dan 1


Nachum Haim


Dan 3


Nelkin Akiva


Dan 1


Nezer Tal


Dan 2


Nimrovski Sharon


Dan 2


Nimrovski Yaakov


Dan 3


Niv Ami


Dan 1


Noach Gabby


Dan 2


Ovadia Itzhak


Dan 2


Peleg Ziv


Dan 1


Peretz Aviram


Dan 3


Rochlitz Moti


Dan 1


Rotem Yuval


Dan 1


Sadon Joel


Dan 1


Sadon Maksim


Dan 1


Saidof Eliasaf


Dan 1


Saidof Hila


Dan 2


Saidof Nissim


Dan 1


Saidos Yaara


Dan 1


Saiferes Rona


Dan 1


Samuel Michal


Dan 1


Sannes Avi

Dan 1

Sasson Jack

Dan 1

Sasson Matan


Dan 1


Savir Brothers


Dan 1


Segal Aviad


Dan 1


Segal Nir


Dan 2


Sela Avi


Dan 1


Shahak Rotem


Dan 1


Shalom Ran


Dan 3


Sharabi Erez


Dan 1


Sharoni Miki


Dan 1


Sharoni Yossi


Dan 2


Shaulian Eitan


Dan 1


Sher Yonatan


Dan 2


Shuweka Roni


Dan 2


Simho Ovad


Dan 1


Solomon Nir


Dan 1


Sorokin Guy


Dan 3


Tabib Ilan


Dan 1


Tamam Kobi


Dan 2


Tav Pini


Dan 1


Trivaks Haim


Dan 2


Vigdorchik Izik


Dan 4


Yanilov Eyal


Dan 1


Yeffet Avraham


Dan 2


Yemin Shaul


Dan 1


Yifrach Amichai


Dan 1


Zabari Asaf


Dan 1


Zaken Avi


Dan 1


Zion Avner