By Octavio Valle Heras – International Expert – Counter-Terrorism Instructor – Bilbao
Krav Maga today occupies a distinct place within the world of self-defence. Its international development has led to the emergence of different organisations, methodologies and teaching approaches. Among them is the International Krav-Maga Institute (IKMI), an organisation that has developed in Italy and expanded internationally a training system that combines technical work with physical, psychological and educational aspects.
What makes IKMI distinctive is its approach to Krav Maga not merely as a collection of combat techniques, but as a system designed to provide practitioners with the tools needed to deal with situations involving danger, threats or aggression.
Its methodology is based on learning rapid responses, reactive training and simulated scenarios designed to reproduce, as closely as possible, the conditions of a real-life assault.
IKMI – A self-defence system based on reality, reaction and adaptation.
It combines technical, physical and psychological training, with both civilian and professional programmes.
KRAV MAGA: FROM THE STREETS OF BRATISLAVA TO THE WORLD
THE HISTORY AND VISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL KRAV MAGA INSTITUTE
1. The Origins: Imi Lichtenfeld and the Birth of a Survival System
The International Krav Maga Institute cannot be fully understood without first looking at its deepest roots.
Krav Maga originates from the experience of Imre Emerich Lichtenfeld, known as Imi Sde-Or (Budapest, 26 May 1910 – Netanya, 9 January 1998), an Israeli martial artist and military instructor and the founder of the Krav Maga combat and self-defence method.
Raised in Pressburg, present-day Bratislava, the son of a circus acrobat and chief police inspector, Imi became a champion wrestler and boxer.
During the 1930s, Nazi persecution forced him to use his skills to help defend Jewish neighbourhoods. It was through this experience that Imi came to understand that street fighting was very different from sporting competition.
After an adventurous escape to Palestine, in 1944 he took part in the development of what would later become the Israeli armed forces, training several elite units of the Haganah and Palmach.
Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, he became Chief Instructor for Physical Training within the Israel Defense Forces, introducing an effective system that could be learned in a relatively short period of time: Krav Maga.
After retiring from military service in 1964, Imi began adapting Krav Maga as a method of personal defence, extending it to police forces and civilians, men and women of all ages.
In 1978, he founded the I.K.M.A. – the Israeli Krav Maga Association.
From that original foundation, the system continued to evolve into what is now recognised as one of the world’s most pragmatic combat and protection systems: concise, essential and based on instinctive reactions and natural movements.
2. The Birth of IKMI and the Wingate Institute Legacy
Within this historical context, the International Krav Maga Institute (IKMI) was founded in 1999.
Established in France by recognised international experts in Krav Maga, Kapap and operational security techniques, with professional experience in the field, IKMI was created from the outset as an international federation.
Indeed, from its earliest days IKMI was present not only in France but also in Italy.
One of the elements distinguishing IKMI from other organisations is its institutional connection with the Wingate Institute in Israel, where its experts received training.
The Wingate Institute is Israel’s national centre for sports training, closely connected with the development of both military and civilian instructors.
The relationship is not merely formal.
For the first time in Europe, the Wingate Institute selected IKMI to represent it and organise official seminars featuring some of its leading instructors.
This represented an important recognition of IKMI’s technical and educational commitment to the original system.
IKMI’s training philosophy is based on modular courses and workshops designed to allow students to begin applying the techniques they learn from their very first lessons.
Training is provided exclusively by experienced instructors who undergo continuous professional development.
A key principle underlying the development of the IKMI system is the pursuit of precision and speed of movement.
3. A Global Network: From NATO Norfolk to the French Foreign Legion
If Wingate represents the heart of the system, the world has become IKMI’s field of operation.
What was once a small federation has developed into a network operating in more than 23 countries across four continents.
North America and the North Atlantic
In the United States, IKMI is involved in operational training programmes at the NATO base in Norfolk, Virginia, the Alliance’s largest strategic command, where it works alongside international military personnel.
IKMI also has an established presence in Canada, with training centres dedicated to law-enforcement personnel.
Europe
In France, IKMI has delivered hand-to-hand combat training within the renowned French Foreign Legion in Calvi, Corsica – 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment.
In addition to France, the federation has established a presence in Germany, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Luxembourg, Romania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where its growth has been particularly significant in the civilian and law-enforcement sectors.
The federation is also present in Israel, where it maintains direct contact with the source of Krav Maga.
Overseas Territories and the Mediterranean
IKMI’s French-speaking origins have also taken the organisation to Réunion Island and Martinique, which have become important points for its development in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean regions.
Africa and Asia
One of IKMI’s most important areas of expansion is Africa.
Cameroon, Madagascar, Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire are now active centres with national instructors trained directly by IKMI experts.
In Asia, IKMI’s presence in China represents an important cultural bridge, bringing a modern and professional Krav Maga approach into contact with centuries-old martial traditions.
Across these countries – and in many others including Israel, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United States, Spain and Romania – IKMI has developed an international network that has continued to expand over the years.
More recently, new territories in Africa and Asia have joined the federation.
The programmes range from civilian Krav Maga to specialised training including:
- Operational Techniques for security professionals
- Kapap Lotar for military personnel
- Technical Knife
- Technical Baton
- Women’s Krav Maga
- Third-Party Protection
- and other specialised disciplines.
4. The President: Master Antonio Monsellato
At the head of this international organisation is Master Antonio Monsellato.
Monsellato is President of IKMI – International Krav Maga Institute – and an international Krav Maga expert.
As reported by the national press during the Summer Camp in Lido d’Abruzzo, he is the International President of IKMI, founder of the Institute 27 years ago and a pioneer in spreading the discipline across numerous countries, both within and outside Europe.
Master Monsellato has built his career around a combination of technical rigour and educational methodology.
He initially completed his instructor training in France and subsequently continued his training in Israel in 2010 at the Wingate Institute, working with some of the leading military authorities in the discipline.
Under his presidency, IKMI has maintained a non-negotiable principle:
An instructor is not someone who sells ranks, but an educator.
For many years, IKMI has therefore promoted dedicated courses for all its instructors in order to ensure continuous professional development.
Alongside Master Monsellato, many other experts have contributed to the organisation’s growth, including:
Francesco Furchì, Massimo Panerai, Matteo Moreo, Octavio Valle Heras, Vincenzo Fiore, Olivier Decoster, Peter Taubert, Sasha Tomanic, Jean-François Deletre, Jean Emmanuel-Emile, Nunes Helder, Kouacou Bah Alex, Stéphane Abenelang Nti, Fréderic Hamel, Paolo Giordano, Jenny Brideau, Gilda Giorgini, Katrin Taddeo and many others whose names would be too numerous to list here.
5. The Future: Continuing Expansion
IKMI is not a finished project, but an organisation that continues to evolve.
Its development strategy for 2026–2027 follows three main directions:
1. Academic standardisation
IKMI is developing training modules covering combat psychology and applied biomechanics.
2. Sector-specific specialisation
The Women’s Krav Maga sections continue to grow, supported by high-level national representatives, together with programmes for civilian professionals operating in high-risk environments, including healthcare, private security and pepper-spray training.
At the same time, IKMI maintains a clear distinction between civilian preparation and military operational training.
3. New geographical frontiers
Following its consolidation in West Africa, IKMI aims to establish new training centres in Senegal and Ghana and to strengthen its presence in Asia through the development of a permanent training centre at the Shaolin Tagou School in Dengfeng, Henan Province, one of the largest martial arts schools in China.
At a time when many martial arts have evolved into sports, IKMI continues to emphasise its origins:
A system born in the street, forged through conflict and refined through structured training.
As Imi used to say, the purpose is not to make us more aggressive, but to enable us to return home safely.
International Krav Maga Institute: balance, professionalism and effectiveness.
The distinctive feature of IKMI lies in its view of Krav Maga not simply as a collection of combat techniques, but as a system designed to provide practitioners with tools for dealing with situations involving danger, threats or aggression.
Its methodology is based on developing rapid responses, reactive training and simulations intended to reproduce, as closely as possible, the conditions of a real assault.
This approach is particularly relevant in the field of self-defence.
A real-life situation does not take place on a tatami with perfectly predictable distances and movements, nor does it allow the defender to decide in advance which technique to use.
For this reason, one of the greatest challenges in training is transforming technical knowledge into an effective response under stress.
IKMI’s training model is organised around regular courses together with specialised modules and seminars.
This structure allows students to progressively develop fundamental skills and then explore specific areas of application in greater depth.
The organisa