1940 - Departure From Europe

By the late 1930s, Adolph Hitler's Nazi Germany had turned Europe into a battle field and made it a dangerous place for Jews. Imi's fights to protect his family and neighbors rapidly became unpopular with the local authorities, and he was forced to leave his homeland in 1940.

After several years of travel, Imi arrived in Israel, which was then called Palestine. He joined the Haganah, a paramilitary organization of the Jewish community and fought to create the independent state of Israel. During this time, he began teaching soldiers basic self defense techniques.

1948 - State Of Israel Is Formed

The fledgling Israeli government asked Imi to develop an effective system of self defense and fighting, which later became the Krav Maga system. The Haganah was eventually incorporated into the Israeli Defense Force, and Imi became the Chief instructor for the military school for Physical Training and Krav Maga.