History of Kapap and Krav Maga

Krav-Maga («contact combat») has attracted increasing attention, both in Israel and abroad, as a civilian combat discipline, a martial art, and an effective self-defense system used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This paper explores the interactions between the development of Krav-Maga and the history, culture, and heritage of Israel’s Jewish population. Using qualitative research methods, it is demonstrated that the evolution of Krav-Maga is intertwined with ideological shifts and historical events affecting the Jewish people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and with the cultural history and identity of Jewish immigrants to Israel in the mid-20th century. We argue that Krav-Maga meets the criteria set forth in UNESCO’s definition of intangible cultural heritage and should be included on the Representative List of Israel’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.