18/08/2026
Gidon System Krav Maga is a direct continuation of Imi Lichtenfeld’s Krav Maga and its natural evolution.
A Legacy of Strength, Inspiration, and Gratitude 🥋
A Historic Moment at the National Institute for Excellence in Sport – The Wingate Institute
In this rare and historic video, we travel back in time to an extraordinary, emotional, and inspiring moment at the Wingate Institute — a special event that brought together more than 300 students and instructors of the Israeli Krav Maga Association.
The event was held in celebration of the birthday of Imi Lichtenfeld, the founder and creator of Krav Maga, and was initiated by his student and successor within the Israeli Krav Maga Association — Grandmaster Haim Gidon, Head of the System and developer of Gidon System Krav Maga.
The participants in this event — instructors and students alike — were all active members of the Israeli Krav Maga Association, including senior instructors. All were students of Grandmaster Haim Gidon, Head of the System and successor to Imi Lichtenfeld.
This moment powerfully reflects the generational chain of Israeli Krav Maga: from its founder, Imi Lichtenfeld, through his student and successor, Grandmaster Haim Gidon, and onward to the hundreds of instructors and students who continue to learn, train, teach, and pass this knowledge on to the next generation.
Gidon System Krav Maga is a direct continuation of Imi Lichtenfeld’s Krav Maga — and its natural evolution.
It preserves the original foundations, principles, and spirit upon which Imi built Krav Maga, while continuing to develop in accordance with accumulated experience, evolving training methods, and the changing realities of the world around us.
Because a true self-defense system cannot remain frozen in time.
Reality changes.
Threats change.
Experience continues to grow.
And therefore, the techniques, training methods, and ways of teaching must also continue to evolve and improve, while remaining faithful to the principles upon which the system was founded.
To me, this is the true meaning of continuity:
Not to erase the past — but to build upon it.
Not to change the roots — but to allow them to keep growing.
To preserve the path — while allowing it to evolve.
In the video before you, you can see a short demonstration of fighting and self-defense techniques taught within Gidon System Krav Maga, performed by senior instructors of the Association — all students of Grandmaster Haim Gidon.
Beyond the professional aspect, this event represents something far greater to me.
It represents gratitude.
A teacher bringing his students together to honor, appreciate, and thank the man from whom it all began.
To see more than 300 students and instructors, representing different generations of Krav Maga, standing together in one place — this is not simply an image of an organization or a fighting system.
It is an image of a living legacy.
True Pride in Belonging
To see generations come together, to feel the mutual respect and the unique energy in the room, reminds us of the powerful tradition to which we belong.
On one side — Imi Lichtenfeld, the man who created Krav Maga and laid its foundations.
Beside him — Grandmaster Haim Gidon, his student and successor, who continued to develop the system in accordance with its principles and the changing realities of real-world self-defense.
And around them — hundreds of instructors and students continuing the path.
The Roots of Success
There is a lesson here that goes far beyond Krav Maga.
To go far, we must know where we came from.
We must remember those who paved the way for us.
Respect our teachers.
Appreciate the knowledge we have received.
And remember that even as we continue to evolve, we stand upon the foundations built by the generations before us.
A Legacy That Continues to Resonate
Krav Maga is far more than a collection of fighting techniques.
It is a philosophy of inner strength, confidence, responsibility, discipline, gratitude, continuous learning, and the ability to adapt to a changing reality.
It is a legacy passed from generation to generation — from teacher to student, from instructor to instructor — continuing to evolve without losing its identity or the principles upon which it was founded.
And when the roots are strong, we can move forward with confidence.
To continue learning.
To continue exploring.
To continue improving.
And to continue developing Krav Maga so that it remains what it was always intended to be — a living, practical, and relevant system for protecting life.
Gidon System — a direct continuation of Imi Lichtenfeld’s Krav Maga and its natural evolution.
Honor the source.
Preserve the principles.
Continue to evolve.
It is an immense honor and privilege to be part of this extraordinary legacy.
With the deepest respect, gratitude, and appreciation. 🥋
Israeli Krav Maga Association Gidon System -Grand Master Haim Gidon".
