Learn the best self-defence system on the planet, in Canada!
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What is the IKMF?
The International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF) is a global organization dedicated to teaching and promoting Krav Maga, the official self-defense system of the Israeli Defense Forces. It provides standardized training, certifications, and programs for civilians, law enforcement, and military units in countries around the world. Founded in 1978 by Imi Lichtenfeld (Sde-Or)—the creator of Krav Maga—the International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF) is the world’s oldest and most established Krav Maga organization. Based in Rishon LeZion, Israel, they've been training students across the globe for over four decades. Beyond the civilian programs, they also train the elite: the Israel Defense Forces and top military units in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Our curriculum is the most advanced and comprehensive Krav Maga program in the world, offering specialized training for civilians, women, children, adaptive/disability needs, law enforcement, military, and VIP/close protection. Each year, IKMF’s global team of instructors gathers to review and refine every technique, ensuring our training evolves with real-world conditions and remains practical, relevant, and effective. Krav Maga was built on the principle: “So That Everyone Can Walk in Peace.” More than 40 years later, IKMF continues to deliver on that vision—empowering people of all ages, genders, and abilities with the skills and confidence to protect themselves in any situation, so they can walk with true peace of mind.
What is
Krav Maga?
Krav Maga (“combat with contact” in Hebrew) is a practical and effective self-defense system developed in Israel, designed to help people of all ages and abilities protect themselves in real-life situations. It focuses on instinctive movements, simple techniques, and quick, decisive action to neutralize threats and ensure personal safety. Krav Maga is not a martial art, but a defensive tactics system which considers multiple attackers, different types of weapons and a variety of environmental conditions.
Why Krav Maga is the
World's Leading
Self-Defence System
🛡 Proven & Effective
Developed on the battlefield and tested worldwide, Krav Maga works against any attack to get you to safety fast.
🎯 Tactical Awareness
Trains your mindset, awareness, and tactical positioning to avoid danger or respond strategically when you can’t.
⏱ Quick to Learn
Gain practical, usable skills in your very first class, with proficiency achievable in hours, not years.
♾ Timeless & Simple
Built on instinctive movements and universal principles, Krav Maga adapts to any situation without complex techniques so they can be effectively used under stress.
🌐 Universal
Designed for all ages, sizes, genders, and physical abilities.
💪 Mental & Physical Strength
Builds the mental strength and resilience to take control in threatening situations, and builds excellent fitness at the same time.
🥋 Experienced Instruction
Learn from instructors who have gone through a rigorous certification process.
🤝 Community & Global Network
Train in a supportive environment and access IKMF schools worldwide.
Programs Offered by the IKMF
Originally developed for the military, Krav Maga has been adapted by the IKMF into a highly effective civilian self-defence system taught worldwide. Accessible to anyone, it’s based on natural responses and reflexes, making it quick to learn and extremely practical—even with just one or two classes a week. Training follows a structured grading system with Practitioner (P) and Graduate (G) levels, progressing through increasingly complex, real-life scenarios and solutions. Many trainees begin casually but develop a lifelong passion, with opportunities to advance into instructor ranks, join the elite Global Instructor Team, or specialize through seminars and workshops. Updated regularly to reflect current threats, IKMF’s civilian program empowers students of all levels to defend themselves in any situation.
IKMF Women’s Krav Maga, including the internationally acclaimed Stay Away program, is designed specifically for women’s physical and psychological needs, teaching effective self-defence skills in a short time. Training covers real-life scenarios such as sexual assault, home invasion, protecting children, and using everyday objects for defence, while also building emotional readiness, confidence, and controlled aggressiveness. With seminars, workshops, and instructor courses offered worldwide—and over 30,000 women trained since 1997—this program equips women of all ages with practical tools to recognize danger, stay calm, counterattack, and eliminate threats, giving them and their families the ultimate gift of safety.
IKMF Kid Krav Maga is a self-defence program designed specifically for children, with techniques adapted to their age, size, and abilities. In a short time, kids learn to recognize and avoid threats like bullying or stranger danger, while building confidence, respect, discipline, and coordination through structured games and activities. As they progress through age-based levels, training shifts toward the adult curriculum, teaching commitment, resilience, and proportional responses to real-life scenarios. Kid Krav Maga empowers children with practical self-defence skills, a sense of achievement, and the knowledge to stay safe while having fun and staying active.
Adaptive Krav Maga is a unique program designed for people with physical or cognitive disabilities, combining elements of self-defence with the empowerment, fitness, and confidence-building benefits of sport. Rather than following a fixed set of techniques, it creates customized training plans for each student—whether they use a wheelchair, walking aid, or have other mobility or cognitive challenges—focusing on their abilities, safety, and personal growth. Taught by specially trained IKMF instructors from around the world, Adaptive Krav Maga helps participants develop new skills, enhance mobility, and discover what they can do, fostering resilience and independence in a supportive, inspiring environment.
VIP Krav Maga is a specialized program that trains security professionals and bodyguards to protect high-profile individuals—such as executives, political leaders, celebrities, and dignitaries—against sophisticated threats, from kidnapping to assassination. Based on Israeli Defense Forces expertise, the training focuses on close protection tactics, rapid threat response, and layered security systems, with Krav Maga as the primary tool for last-line, close-range defense. Graduates earn internationally recognized ranks—Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Shield—and receive elite instruction found only through IKMF. Participation requires specific credentials and recommendations.
Law Enforcement Krav Maga is a specialized program designed for police and security agencies, focusing on controlling and restraining opponents while working within legal and proportional force guidelines. Adaptable to each country’s laws, it trains officers to operate effectively under extreme stress, use their issued tools and weapons efficiently, and apply the right level of force for situations ranging from verbal commands to firearm threats—all in a format that can be learned quickly and applied in the field.
Military Krav Maga was developed by Krav Maga’s founder, Imi Lichtenfeld, to meet the needs of the Israeli Defense Forces—delivering fast, effective training that prepares soldiers for real battlefield challenges. Techniques cover everything from weapon handling and sentry removal to using a rifle as a cold weapon, all designed to be learned quickly and applied under extreme conditions. Built for warriors, Military Krav Maga equips soldiers to protect their nation, its people, and its interests with maximum efficiency in minimal time.
