A Reminder of History and the Commitment to Prevent Its Repetition: Krav Maga as a Legacy and Tool
A couple of days ago I read in the New York Times that in recent years there has been a troubling resurgence of neo-Nazism. Neo-Nazi groups in Germany and across Europe have attempted to co-opt martial arts as a training and recruitment tool. They host combat sports festivals that are often promoted as political events, making them harder to ban and allowing for tax exemptions. These events are designed and presented as mainstream combat sports tournaments, but they aim to serve as a gateway to indoctrinate potential recruits with extremist ideologies.
One prominent far-right combat tournament, known as “Kampf der Nibelungen” or “Battle of the Nibelungs,” avoids displaying visibly overt extremist symbols and slogans in its promotional materials. Instead, it focuses on the combat itself.
Experts point out that the underlying message of these combat events is in portraying the perceived threat to white European identity. During the event, some participants openly expressed their intention to use martial arts as a means to protect their white European identity. This extremist approach to martial arts has led to violent incidents, including assaults on law enforcement officers during protests.
Efforts to combat far-right extremism in martial arts include intervention programs within the martial arts community. These programs aim to identify signs of radicalization and prevent individuals from getting involved in extremist environments. There is also a push to use martial arts as a positive influence on young adults by promoting values like respect and emotional control.
A professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and social worker based in Berlin, Samsonidse, has taken a stand against far-right extremism in the sport. He has made it a part of his tournament preparation to ensure that the events he participates in are not organized by such extremists. Samsonidse has been urging other fighters and trainers to do the same, while raising awareness about the efforts of some who wish to exploit the growing MMA scene to advance their ideologies.
In short and simple words- openly radical racists and neo-nazis, are now well trained to fight. They have the will, knowledge, and ability to hurt others in the name of evil. If we don’t learn how to fight back, history is doomed to repeat itself.
Never again, wasn’t a suggestion. It was not meant to be just a tagline.
Established by Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, Mossad was formed on April 1, 1951. Gurion proclaimed Mossad’s primary directive: “For our state, which since its creation has been under siege by its enemies – intelligence constitutes the first line of defense. We must learn well how to recognize what is going on around us.”
The IDF and all other intelligence agencies are working hard, day and night, to ensure the security of the Jewish people in Israel and around the world. This is a part of the legacy that Ben-Gurion left behind. He promised to go after all the Nazis, capture them, and bring them to justice.
We must actively engage in the work necessary to safeguard ourselves. It is not solely about our internal feelings or controlling our personal narratives but also about the image we project and how we carry ourselves in the face of adversity.
This is not just an informative article, but a call to action. It doesn’t matter if you are Jewish, African American, Asian, or Caucasian. We are all targeted by someone. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.
Do something,
Tsahi Shemesh
Founder & CEO
Krav Maga Experts