History of Kapap

Kapap is a combat system originally from Israel. Kapap is an acronym for Krav panim el panim – translated as “face to face combat”. Kapap (Hebrew: קפא"פ, קפ"פ).

Kapap represents Israeli battle system (face to face combat) and self defense practiced within Jewish community.

History of Kapap

The KAPAP system was developed in the late 1930s, within the Jewish Aliyah camps (ma-ha-not Olim) as a part of preparatory training for the return of Jewish population in the territory of the Middle East.

The period known as the British Mandate of Palestine consequently resulted in the establishment of the state of Israel.

During the British rule there were continuous fights between two hostile ethnic communities- outnumbered Jews and many Arabs. In order to defend itself from the Arabic attacks, the Jewish community created a secret army called Haganah (Defense) and squads of guardians called Notrim and a forerunner of Israeli special units – Nodedot (Wanderers). Kapap was a combat development program for their recruits. So Kapap became related to the Israeli special units.

The members of special units participated in the Second World War, and were recruited into the first official Israel army units Palmah (acronym for Plugot Mathac), translated as forlorn hope. Palmah members had training in Krav panim el panim (Kapap), that used to comprise the following segments: jujutsu, wrestling, boxing, commando techniques developed in the UK by William Ewart Fairbairn: stick fighting, knife fighting, use of firearms, means of communications, courses of enemy languages, upgrading physical endurance, work with explosives, first aid, survival in nature etc. Kapap was a mixture of combat and other military skills needed in war conditions

Main Kapap contributors

Gershon Kopler: judo and jujutsu instructor who established the self-defense concept as part of the Kapap training in the Palmach and Haganah.

Yitzhak Sade: Palmach’s commander who adopted the Kapap

training into the regiment. Sade is also one of the founders

of Israeli army in the period of establishment of the state of Israel.

Maishel Horovitz: Palmach’s official Kapap Instructor,

was in charge of development of the short stick fight

tactics at the Palmach.

Moshe Finkel: Palmach’s fitness training officer.

Yehuda Marcus:

Palmach’s physical training judo and jujitsu

Chief Instructor, who replaced Gershon Kopler.

Kapap training

The Kapap method was and still is based on principles and not techniques. Regular and natural body position, positioning compared to rivals.

The Kapap training consists of striking methods, defense and offense with stick, knife and firearms. During the British Mandate Kapap adopted the La Kan skill. The skill La Kan originated from France. The skill is based on work with stick or walking stick, which in 18^th and 19^th century used to be a fashion accessory for gentlemen.

Outnumbered Jewish population efficiently used stick for self-defense against Arab population.

In Kapap the stick training is stressed (short ones and long ones till 1m). Haganah members used shorter stick because they proved to be more efficient in combat.

Upon establishment of Israeli Defense Forces the old term Kapap was abandoned and Krav Maga term was adopted. The term Kapap was more used in historical elaboration until 2000 when the term Kapap was restored.

Modern Kapap

Modern Kapap has evolved as a martial art at the end of 90s of the 20th century by work and effort of: Lieutenant Colonel Chaim Pe'er, Major Avi Nardia, Surgeant Uri Kafa and Surgeant Albert Timen.

Lt. Col.Chaim Pe'er Major Avi Nardia

At the end of 2000 a group of people decided to restore the term Kapap-Krav panim el panim and founded the International Kapap Federation, a non-profit organization with the seat in Israel.

Major Avi Nardia in 2001 moved to the USA and started unique development of Kapap defense system (Kapap Combatives).

Modern Kapap training

Kapap training consists of self-defense, face to face combat, stick and knife fighting, practical shooting, fitness and specialized skills.

Modern Kapap is a hybrid martial art and a bridge between other martial arts which use the principles and techniques of various arts that are most efficient in self-defense and combat.

During the training safety of students is taken care of. Throughout the training process various situational trainings are taught with the objective to prepare for the real fighting situation. Kapap constantly evolves due to permanent change of security threats.

Kapap Combatives training students are taught to be open minded, to easily assess actual usage of techniques and fighting principles in real situations, to understand the principle “one mind, any weapon”.

Kapap ranking

In Kapap there is no ranking system unlike other traditional martial arts where students are ranked with belts of different colours. Kapap uses ranking system according to levels.