THE HISTORY OF KAPAP
When World War II brought British forces once again into global conflict, the need for a reliable supply of oil was deemed paramount. However, the flow was threatened by German troops advancing eastward in North Africa as well as by many local tribes. Reluctant at first, the British turned once again to Jewish fighters and formed the first official Israeli Special Forces unit on May 14, 1941. It was known as Pal’ mach,
a Hebrew acronym for Plugot Machatz, which means “strike platoon”.
The training that the Pal’ mach commandos received was called kapap, an acronym for krav Panim l’panim, or “face-to-face combat.” Kapap was not one system, but a mixture
of rigorous physical conditioning, firearms and explosives training, radio
communications, survival training, and first aid and foreign-language courses.
The empty hand combat training was a combination of Western fighting systems such
as boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling and standard British military knife and baton training. At the time, there was no single word or term used for the self-defence techniques in the program; kapap was an all-inclusive name. Later on the Kapap was train to the Israeli Defence forces as official system and later on changed names as different and modern name. But KAPAP will stay the original Israeli martial art system.
Avi Nadia’s father's pictures album training in KAPAP in the "Old Days”
It was primarily considered a practical skill set that was acquired during the training period of the Palmach fighter. The main focus was to upgrade the Physical endurance, elevate and strengthen the spirit, developing a defensive and offensive skill set when needed. It included physical training and endurance, cold weapon practical usage, Boxing and jujutsu, and knife and stick fighting.
The Walking Stick Method of Self-Defence (La canne) was already part of the KAPAP syllabus; it was adopted from the British forces in India and was still taught as an answer to the threat of the Arab locals who were equipped with the 'Nabut' (1 meter long stick).
The most emphasized part of training was the use of sticks (short and long). The short stick method became most popular by use, due to the adaptation of the young generation of recruits. Among the sticks used in the KAPAP fighting, the short stick was most commonly used and therefore practiced. It was favored due to its concealability in the sleeve until the actual fight began on the streets.
Main Contributors
Gershon Kopler: Judo and jujutsu Instructor who organized and established the self-defense concept as part of the KAPAP training in the Palmach and Haganah.
Yehuda Marcus: Palmach's physical training judo and jujitsu chief Instructor who replaced Gershon Kopler after his death.
Moshe Finkel: Palmach's fitness training officer, integrated the different typologies of the art into the training regime.
Maishel Horovitz: Palmach's official KAPAP Instructor, was in charge of the development of the short stick fight tactics at the Palmach and made it famous to the term KAPAP.
Menashe Harel: Contributed to the development of the short stick fighting system and was the only instructor for the use of the sling.
Meir Rabinovitz: Knife fighting.
Itzhak Stibel: Boxing.
Training
The KAPAP system was based on principles and not techniques.
KAPAP Training included:
Proper body posture
Relative positioning
Striking shapes
Striking methods
Stick/baton defense
Stick/Baton Attack
Modern Day / Renewed System
KAPAP as a term was officially abandoned by the military due to ongoing change in its infrastructure and common terminology to fit the modern day, Since the '40s and up until the year 2000 the term KAPAP was limited in use and usually described the historical term from the early days of the Jewish Underground movements Palmach and Haganah.
At the end of year 2000 a group of people headed by Lt. Colonel (Res) Chaim Peer and Major (Res) Avi Nardia decided NOT to use the generic words Krav Maga as hand to hand and to renew the use of the term KAPAP / Krav Panim El Panim and established the International KAPAP Federation, a NPO organization in Israel. Avi Nardia moved to the USA in 2001 and started the unique development of the KAPAP Combatives system.
The KAPAP Federation is based in Israel, with Avi Nardia KAPAP Combatives serving as its sole representative in the United States and outside of Israel.
What you should know about modern KAPAP COMBATIVES UK
Headed by:
Lt. Col. Chaim Peer
Major (Res) Avi Nardia
KAPAP UK is run by:
Sam Markey, KAPAP Level 4
KAPAP COMBATIVES UK is also a complete KAPAP training centre, and is a part of the International KAPAP Federation under Lt. Col. Chaim Peer.
Kapap UK
property of Kapap Academy Europe , and any unauthorised reproduction is
contrary to the provisions of the Copyrights, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
No portion of this website may be reproduced without written
permission
Copyright © 2003-2011
l Home l kapap Historyl Kapap Classes l l
l licensed Schools Instructors l
l Kapap Media l Kapap Comments l
l Contact Kapap l