April 2025: The Global State of Krav Maga: Major Organizations, Breakaways, and Innovators
Origins and Expansion
Krav Maga—Hebrew for "Contact Combat"—was created in the mid-20th century by Imi Lichtenfeld (1910–1998), a Hungarian-born athlete skilled in boxing, wrestling, and gymnastics. Facing violent anti-Semitic threats in Bratislava during the 1930s, Imi honed a practical, reality-based fighting system emphasizing survival and efficiency.
After immigrating to Mandatory Palestine in 1942—a region under British control at the time—Imi joined the Haganah, a pre-state defense organization that later became the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). There, he began refining the techniques that would evolve into what is now formally known as Krav Maga.
By 1948, with the establishment of the State of Israel, Krav Maga was formally adopted by the newly formed IDF as its core hand-to-hand self-defense system, later adapted for both military and civilian use.
Imi’s original students—including Eyal Yanilov, Avi Moyal, Darren Levine, Richard Douieb, and Yaron Lichtenstein—spread Krav Maga globally. Their diverse teaching methods and philosophies ultimately led to multiple significant global organizations and schools, each adding their own unique perspective and interpretation.
Major Global Krav Maga Organizations
These are the largest and most influential Krav Maga organizations in the world—many of which were founded by Imi's direct students and have shaped the system’s global footprint.
1. Krav Maga Global (KMG)
Founder: Eyal Yanilov (direct student and successor to Imi Lichtenfeld, awarded Founder’s Diploma)
Established: 2010 (split from IKMF)
Philosophy: Adaptive, modern training approach evolving continuously.
Scope: Over 60 countries, 1,500 certified instructors, and hundreds of affiliated schools worldwide.
Website: https://krav-maga.com/
2. International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF)
Founders: Avi Moyal, Eyal Yanilov, Gabi Noah (direct students of Imi)
Established: 1996
Philosophy: Structured curriculum, standardizing Krav Maga globally for civilians, law enforcement, and military sectors.
Scope: Operates in over 80 countries worldwide.
Website: https://kravmaga-ikmf.com/
3. Krav Maga Worldwide (KMW)
Founder: Darren Levine (direct student of Imi; awarded Founder’s Diploma)
Established: 1999
Philosophy: Practical self-defense combined with fitness-oriented training.
Scope: Over 150 training centers globally, more than 450 certified instructors.
Website: https://www.kravmaga.com/
4. European Federation of Krav Maga (FEKM)
Founder: Richard Douieb (direct student and European representative appointed by Imi)
Established: 1997
Philosophy: Emphasis on preserving traditional techniques and maintaining rigorous standards.
Scope: Dominant in Europe, approximately 20,000 members across 15 countries, and 200 affiliated schools.
Website: https://www.krav-maga.net/en/
Regional Influence & Reach
Krav Maga’s presence varies dramatically by region. Some organizations dominate in specific countries or continents, while others have developed niche specialties. This regional view offers another way to understand their impact.
Israel: KMG, IKMF, IKM, and Bukan remain central figures, closely tied to the system’s roots.
USA: KMW and KMA have the strongest foothold, though independent innovators are quickly growing.
Europe: FEKM dominates in France and surrounding countries, with TKM and IKMF present across the UK and Germany.
South America: Bukan and CKM are especially active in Brazil.
Additional Prominent Krav Maga Organizations
These organizations may be smaller in scale but are highly respected for their instruction, lineage, or innovation. Many were formed by senior instructors from the larger federations, often evolving to serve specific regions or training needs more directly.
These organizations may be smaller in scale but are highly respected for their instruction, lineage, or innovation. Many were formed by senior instructors from the larger federations.
5. Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA)
Founder: Imi Lichtenfeld (IKMA is the original Israeli organization founded by Imi himself)
Current Leadership: Grandmaster Haim Gidon (appointed by Imi as his successor), U.S. Chief Instructor David Kahn
Established: 1978
Philosophy: IKMA continues to teach what it considers the most authentic version of Krav Maga as passed down by Imi, with modern adaptations for real-world violence. Haim Gidon was designated by Imi as the head of the system and holds a 10th dan black belt.
Scope: IKMA is based in Netanya, Israel, with affiliated schools worldwide. David Kahn represents the federation’s U.S. presence and is a published author on Krav Maga and official spokesperson for the system.
Website: https://ikmakravmaga.com/
6. Krav Maga Alliance (KMA)
Founder: John Whitman (former president of KMW, trained under Darren Levine)
Established: 2009
Philosophy: Focuses on high-quality instructor certification and realistic training.
Scope: Over 130 affiliated schools globally, with approximately 1,625 certified instructors.
Website: https://www.kravmagaalliance.com/
7. Tactica Krav Maga Institute
Founder: Danny Zelig (direct student of Eyal Yanilov)
Established: 2006
Philosophy: Authentic Israeli Krav Maga adapted for civilian and tactical communities.
Scope: Leading presence in the San Francisco Bay Area, known for its rigorous training standards.
Website: https://www.kravmagainstitute.com/
8. International Krav Maga (IKM)
Founder: Gabi Noah (former senior IKMF instructor, direct Imi student)
Established: Early 2000s
Philosophy: Classical Krav Maga with real-world practical application.
Scope: Active in multiple countries across Europe, North America, and Israel.
Website: https://www.ikmkravmaga.be/
9. Total Krav Maga (TKM)
Founder: Nick Maison (former UK Director of IKMF/KMG)
Established: 2009
Philosophy: Safe, effective training emphasizing flexibility and modern combatives.
Scope: Prominent presence throughout the United Kingdom.
Website: https://totalkravmaga.com/
10. Bukan School of Krav Maga
Founder: Yaron Lichtenstein (Imi’s direct student, 9th Dan Black Belt)
Established: 1977
Philosophy: Strict adherence to Imi’s original teachings and classical Krav Maga.
Scope: Brazil-based, with affiliated schools in Europe, South America, and Israel.
Website: https://kravmaga-bukan.com/en/bukan-2/
11. Commando Krav Maga (CKM)
Founder: Moni Aizik (Israeli martial artist, military background, not a direct Imi student)
Established: Late 1990s
Philosophy: Military-style combatives adapted for civilian self-defense.
Scope: Training centers and certified instructors worldwide, notably in North America and Europe.
Website: https://commandokravmaga.com/
12. Krav Maga Federation
Founder: Rhon Mizrachi (direct student of Imi Lichtenfeld, and student of Haim Zut)
Established: 1994
Philosophy: Rhon emphasizes preserving the purity of Imi’s original system, with strict technical standards and a strong focus on realism and discipline. His organization is known for producing highly skilled, no-nonsense practitioners.
Scope: Primarily based in the U.S. (notably New York City), with a growing international presence and highly regarded instructor certification programs.
Website: https://kravmagafederation.com/
Independent Innovators: Beyond Traditional Krav Maga Branding
These leaders began within the Krav Maga ecosystem but went on to create entirely new systems. Their programs often blend striking, grappling, weapons work, and pressure-tested combatives into a holistic, experience-based curriculum. While no longer branded as Krav Maga, their roots are undeniable—and their influence significant.
These leaders started in Krav Maga but went on to create new systems or schools that blend combatives, MMA, and modern defense concepts—breaking out of the traditional mold.
13. Ryan Hoover – Fit to Fight
Location: Charlotte, NC
Philosophy: Combines Krav Maga fundamentals with MMA, wrestling, and striking arts; emphasizes pressure testing, scenario-based training, and continuous evolution beyond the limitations of traditional Krav systems.
Lineage: Ryan Hoover is a co-author of multiple Krav Maga books alongside Darren Levine, founder of Krav Maga Worldwide. While his current approach is independent and hybridized under the Fit to Fight® banner, his early Krav Maga training was closely tied to Krav Maga Worldwide, where he was a senior instructor and training director before launching his own curriculum. Also, tickled to include Ryan here as he is famous for his “Fuck Your Lineage” mindset.
Website: https://fittofight.com
14. Shannon Langewell - Nomad Krav Maga
Founder: Shannon Langwell
Established: 2017
Philosophy: Modernized and comprehensive Krav Maga, integrating mixed martial arts and tactical elements.
Scope: Primarily USA-based, strong growth and reputation in the Midwest and Western United States.
Lineage: Shannon Langwell, also known as Shane Langwell, refined his Krav Maga expertise by training with top instructors in the field. He integrates techniques from Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, and law enforcement defensive tactics into his curriculum at Nomad Krav Maga.
Website: https://nomadkravmaga.com/
15. Donavin Britt – Las Vegas Combat Academy
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Philosophy: Integrates Krav Maga, MMA, Muay Thai, grappling, and modern combative methods; strongly emphasizes real-world application and adaptability to diverse threats.
Lineage: Donavin Britt holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt under John Whitman of Krav Maga Alliance. He also trained under Grandmaster Eyal Yanilov of the International Krav Maga Federation. Britt was the first American certified as an instructor by Sgt. Major Nir Maman of the Israeli Special Forces Krav Maga.
Website: https://lasvegascombatacademy.com/
Philosophical Similarities and Differences
The organizations above may all trace their roots to Imi Lichtenfeld, but over time, they’ve evolved to reflect distinct philosophies, training models, and priorities. As Krav Maga grew beyond Israel—into civilian, military, and law enforcement contexts—new demands emerged, leading to both innovation and divergence. These differences can be grouped by a few key dimensions:
Traditional vs. Adaptive: Traditional: FEKM, Bukan Adaptive: KMG, IKMF, Fit to Fight, Nomad
Structured vs. Flexible Curricula: Structured: IKMF, FEKM, KMA Flexible: TKM, Nomad, Fit to Fight
Specialized vs. Broad Training: Specialized: CKM (military), KMW (civilian focus) Broad: IKMF, KMG (civilian, military, law enforcement)
Krav Maga’s Fragmentation
The splintering of martial arts organizations is not only common—it’s practically a feature, not a bug.
Look at any major martial art, and you’ll find the same pattern:
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has dozens of lineages: Gracie Barra, Alliance, Checkmat, Atos, and countless breakaway teams.
Karate split into Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, Kyokushin, Wado-Ryu, and more.
Taekwondo has the ITF, WT, ATA, and numerous others.
So is Krav Maga’s fragmentation normal?
Yes—but it’s also a bit different.
Speed of global adoption: Krav Maga grew internationally incredibly fast.
Lack of a centralized governing body: It was never codified in the way other martial arts were.
Cross-sector training: Civilian, military, and law enforcement contexts created early divergence.
Combatives-first mindset: Encouraged innovation and change.
No control over the name: Anyone can use “Krav Maga,” for better or worse.
The Bottom Line
Krav Maga’s evolution is natural—but unusually fast, loud, and market-driven. While that leads to fragmentation, it also drives innovation. And it puts a healthy burden on students to do their homework, ask questions, and find the right fit.
Forge Krav Maga: Our Lineage and Vision
Forge Krav Maga traces its heritage to the Tactica Krav Maga Institute, established by Danny Zelig, a direct student of Eyal Yanilov and former instructor within KMG. Danny's influence made Tactica a prominent San Francisco training center recognized for authenticity and effectiveness.
In 2025, under new owner Micha Hershman, Tactica rebranded to Forge Krav Maga. While preserving its authentic lineage from Imi to Eyal to Danny, Forge emphasizes continuous evolution, innovation, community, and practical combat training.
At Forge, we train for all stages of the fight—from standing to clinch, takedown to ground. We integrate weapons training with empty-hand techniques, preparing students for the chaos of real violence while maintaining a supportive, ego-free training environment. Forge proudly represents both the tradition and the evolution of Krav Maga, aspiring to remain one of the most effective and welcoming self-defense communities in the Bay Area and beyond.
Where It All Leads
This post is a snapshot—a living, imperfect map of the Krav Maga landscape as we understand it today. If you see something we missed, disagree with how we framed it, or have knowledge to add, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s keep the conversation open, honest, and evolving.
Krav Maga today is a diverse, global phenomenon, shaped by dedicated individuals and pioneering organizations. The evolution from Imi’s foundational techniques has created an array of styles, methodologies, and philosophies. From strict traditionalists to innovative hybrid systems, the global Krav Maga community remains unified by one core value: practical self-defense for real-world threats.
At Forge Krav Maga, we’re proud to be part of this vibrant global tradition—honoring our heritage, embracing innovation, and delivering training that is as effective in a self-defense scenario as it is in building confidence, fitness, and a sense of community.
