I recently shared Hollywood star Hilary Swank is a big fan of Krav Maga -- a self-defense fighting technique utilized by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). I recently researched more about the technique. Here is a little history and a few facts on Krav Maga:

• Born in Hungary in 1910 and growing up in Bratislava, Imi Lichtenfeld is the founder of Krav Maga. Lichtenfeld learned self-defense techniques from his father, Samuel, a 30-year Chief Detective Inspector in the Bratislava police department.
• Lichtenfeld developed his fighting principles -- personal integrity, non-violence, good citizenship and humility --while protecting his Jewish community from anti-Semitism in the 1930s. He moved to Palestine in the 1940s and taught a paramilitary Jewish group self-defense techniques, while simultaneously fighting create the independent state of Israel.
• He refined Krav Maga self-defense and hand-to-hand combat techniques while teaching Krav Maga to the IDF during his 20-year military career.
• After Lichtenfeld's retirement from the IDF, he adapted Krav Maga for everyday citizens, teaching hosts of civliians and law enforcement agents how to defend against an aggressive encounter.
• Krav Maga's founder died in 1998, but his legacy lives on via a variety of Krav Maga training programs, including Self-Defense, Fitness, Fighting, Women and Law Enforcement. There's even a youth X-training program of Krav Maga for kids, which includes advancing levels of instruction and even Krav Maga birthday parties.

The Krav Maga National Training Center is located in Los Angeles, and there are several regional centers and individual schools scattered across the United States. If you're intrigued, check and see if Krav Maga is near you.