About
Watch Itzhaki's full story
Kfir Itzhaki is an international speaker, therapist, author, Bachelor of Laws, mediator and founder of a worldwide organization in the field of Krav Maga and psychology teachings, "INSTINCT - Integrated Israeli Combatives." As part of his position in the organization, Itzhaki travels to several different countries each year, with hundreds of adults, children, police officers, security guards and military personnel studying at the organization's branches around the world.
Itzhaki has 30 years of experience in Krav Maga and martial arts. In the past Itzhaki was also a professional fighter and competitor in various martial arts, such as Muai Thai and Karate. He is a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Karate, and won the Israeli Karate Championship. Later on in his career and due to the expansion and global influence of INSTINCT organization under his leadership, he was awarded an honorary 1st Dan Black Belt in taekwondo, from the biggest Taekwondo association in Mexico, for his contribution to the development of martial arts and self-defense worldwide.
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Prior to his recruitment to the IDF, Itzhaki was on the verge of losing his eyesight due to severe complication during an eye surgery. During his military service, which included an extended service, Itzhaki, ranked Master Sergeant, served as a combat operator and head of the close-quarter combat instruction department in Duvdevan, IDF's elite undercover counter-terrorism unit. Duvdevan unit specializes in urban counter-terrorism warfare, with the specialty of disguising as Arabs in order to execute arrests and targeted killings of terrorists in the most hostile Arab regions in Israel. The unit is also known to have highly trained members in both human and mechanical counter-surveillance. Unlike other special forces, the unit can operate independently in more than one place at a time.
During his training in Duvdevan, Itzhaki lost his short-term memory due to a training accident. After finishing the training, he represented the unit at the IDF Karate Championship, where he won the gold medal. Itzhaki graduated with the highest ranking from both the IDF's Krav Maga instructors course and the senior Krav Maga instructors course, and was chosen as an honors instructor in both.
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As a civilian, Itzhaki was awarded two civilian medals of heroism and bravery for saving a girl from a rape and for neutralizing a knife-wielding terrorist using his bare hands in another incident. This terror attack, which Itzhaki was not initially involved in, is considered one of the most severe stabbing attacks during the "Knife Intifada." The Knife Intifada was a wave of Arab attacks from autumn 2015 through the first half of 2016, primarily targeting civilians and often employing improvised weapons like knives and other sharp objects. Itzhaki was injured during this terror attack. Despite his injury and the dramatic change in his life, he chose to complete his law degree and continue leading the organization he founded.
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Itzhaki's actions and contributions to the state of Israel have gained international recognition and resonance in many media channels worldwide. In addition to the civilian medals of heroism and bravery granted by the state of Israel, he was awarded the prestigious "Guardian of Israel" ("Magen Israel") award by the global "StandWithUs" organization. The award ceremony in Los Angeles was attended by thousands, including ambassadors, parliament members, senior IDF and US military officials, and former high-ranking members of the Israeli and American security systems.