The self defense system of krav maga was developed in Eastern Europe to defend the Jewish Community from attacks by Nazi gangs. It was started by Imi Lichtenfeld, the Jewish son of a boxer and wrestler. In the 1940s, Lichtenfeld moved to the Land of Israel and began teaching his fighting system to the Jewish militias. Krav Maga quickly became an official part of Israel's army training. It is a combination of various martial arts and is designed to be learned quickly by groups of all abilities. It means "close combat" or "contact combat" in Hebrew one against many attackers fighting at a disadvantage and using objects around you as weapons. It is popular for women's self defense classes and police anti-riot units. Today, krav maga has spread from Israel to all parts of the world. This Jewish History Moment has been brought to you by Israel National Radio. For more free downloadable podcasts on news, music, politics and more, visit http://www.IsraelNationalRadio.com.