Commando Krav Maga claims ..... 1. He is a former Israeli Commando 2. He regularly teaches the afore mentioned Commandos (every month). 3. He founded the hand-to-hand system of the Israeli Special Forces. 4. He co founded Krav Maga with legendary founder Imi Lichtenfeld, spending a year 'improving' Imi's Krav Maga system. 5. He improved Krav Maga and his new and improved Krav Maga system is taught and used exclusively by the Israeli Special Forces. 6. Moni is a Counter terror Expert 7. Moni survived an ambush of 1000 Syrian commandos whilst in action. 8. Chief Instructor of Krav Maga 9. Former member of Sayaret Golani 13 (the Gideon Infanrty Brigade, an elite unit) as told to his instructors but not in print! 10 Former Officer (Claims different ranks in different versions) in the IDF 11. Survivor of a behind the lines ambush of his elite military unit by over 1000 syrians. We did some research into Moni Aizik and we found a very different picture emerged. One that Mr Aizik wants kept quiet. So much so that we have recieved 2 letters from his Canadian lawyers threatening to sue us for damages unless we retract this page immediatly. We have pieced together available information from a range of sources from the UK, Australia, Canada and Israel. We have been in touch with former/current associates of Mr Aizik as part of our research and shared some of the our findings here. We have also been in touch with several sources from Israel who are not happy about his claims. What did we find out ? 1. It appears Moni was a physical training Instructor. - NOT a Commando. 2. Moni DOES NOT/ DID Not teach Krav Maga or hand to hand in the IDF in any capacity, anywhere. 3. Moni does not teach Israeli Commandos, his method is not used or recognised by any branch of the IDF. 4. There was no year long project with Imi. Imi retired from the IDF when Moni was 10 years old. 5. Moni has NEVER been a Krav Maga Instructor - at least not with Imi or known Krav Organisation. 6. Until recently, most of the elite units he claims to teach had never heard of him. 7. Moni was not an Officer in the IDF (believed to have left as Sargent) In short the whole Commando Krav Maga story appears to have been made up along with its association with the Special Forces and Krav Maga. In order to be fair and verify our findings we contacted Moni Aiziks lawyers via email. We did this on two seperate occasions to give him the opportunity to respond to these findings. If he does produce evidence to support his assorted and extensive claims we will gladly retract this article. Commando Krav Maga - Misleading claims - Advertising standards Authority Moni Aizik was challenged in the UK by advertising standards Authority on 2 fundamental points. He was asked to provide evidence that he was; 1. A Former Special Forces Commando 2. A Counter Terrorism Expert. Mr Aizik was unable to find his papers and stated, "Commando Krav Maga said documents that related to Moni Aziks military experience and counter terrorism expertise were considered classified by the Israeli military and were not readily available. They said members of highly specialised units were not permitted to specify which unit they had belonged to or the duties they had performed; to do so would break the military code of conduct." Interesting, it does not stop other Israeli figures share their military records openly. It is common practice in Israel. We found numerous cases of famous or well known Israeli public figures who shared their military units including the 'highly speacilised' and counter terror units like Yamam. Former Prime Minister Euhud Barak's career and time with special forces - Sayaret Matkal ( A highly speacilised unit) is advertised along with some of his missions including raid on Entebbe, Operation Isotope. These were highly classified missions involving a man who became Chief of General Staff and the Prime Minister of Israel. They are available for inspection on the net. Its all quite legal and common practice in Israel. See ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehud_Barak#Military_service ) as are a host of other politicians who campaign quite openly on the back of their Military experience including in highly speacilised units. Similar histories can be found for many public figures including Arial Sharon and his time and missions as a Paratrooper see (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Sharon#Mitla_incident) Avi Nadia also made his name working off his association with the Yamam and posted his papers on the net for all to see and other such Itay Gil make no secret of their military service or the elite units they worked with. Moni Aizik who markets his system on his claimed background as a Commando interestingly refuses to show his discharge papers backing up his extensive claims - and there are no military rules preventing him. We checked. Classified missions yes. Units no they can be shared. Moni cant show his papers as they wont back up his story. However we found out who he claimed to have served with ;-) 'Inspection of Mr. Aizik’s military discharge certificate will confirm that he did not serve in the Special Forces, that he has no background or certification in counter terrorism, that he had no contact or responsibility with krav Maga in the IDF at any time during his service, and that he was discharged from service with the rank of Sergeant as opposed to the rank of Lieutenant or Major as he claims in various publications' Lieutenant Yuval Aran, Israeli Defence Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Moni_Aizik) The Advertising Standards Authority found Monis claims Misleading and Untruthful and prevented further paid adverts with claims of him being a former commando or counter terror expert in the UK. "When all this came out, I knew logically I had been lied to about everything and that Moni had no credibility left at all. But he is so charismatic we all wanted to believe him." Former UK Commando Krav Maga Instructor “I was used to Bullshit in the martial arts, but it became increasingly obvious that Moni was a compulsive liar. Stuart Mcgill former UK CKM Director. What do the Israeli's Military say about Moni and his claims? One figure in the Israeli forces went on record officially with the following statement. "Commando Krav Maga has never existed and does not exist in the IDF in any capacity. Not by name and not by form of strategies and tactics. Kapap included, it existed once from the 1930’s to the 1950’s and has never been used in any way in any area of the IDF since. Both of those systems negate what we teach here in the IDF. I’ve contacted Moni in regards to his claims, and he says he’ll call me when he’s in Israel next time to meet cause he would rather explain everything to me in person…so I’m looking forward to that meeting. My last and final point I’m going to make here, for those who are interested in learning the official system of the IDF SF…..that system always has been and till this day is krav Maga…..and nothing else! “ SGT/MJR N Chief Counter-Terror and Krav Maga Instructor Israeli Defence Force, Special Forces Division Counter-Terror and Special Operations School Moni and Avi Nadia complained to the Military about this statement made by SGT./MJR N They complained he was making a public statement as an official quoting his rank and unit. They did not contest the accuracy of its contents in anyway. We have been in touch with Sgt Maj N. He is not allowed to make further comment on Moni Aizik but confirms he did make this statement and stands by it. Moni Aizik on Imi the founder of Krav Maga (Statement from a CKM Instructor) In October 2006 he told me that he was “not impressed” with Imi Lichtenfeld when he trained him. He said that he “bounced up and down a lot” and was quite limited as a Martial Artist. This is especially interesting as the two men never trained together. Statements made to his own Instructors (Statements from various CKM Instructors.) 1. The defence against a downward “ice-pick” style knife stab had changed considerably from the defence that I had learned 1 year previously on my Level 1/2 CKM instructor course. Moni Aizik told me that he had been thinking about this situation on the plane over to the UK and had made up the technique actually on the plane. Later on in the same course I learned that Moni had been talking to other students on the course about the origins of the technique and had told them that he had been developing it Israeli Special Forces people for the previous 6 months. 2. When I first spoke to Moni Aizik about coming down for a seminar (summer in June 2006), I asked him what training he had in Krav Maga. He stated that he had collaberated with Imi Lichtenfeld many years prior and he did some refining of the system. That he was a Chief Instructor in Krav Maga. 3. When asked about his Krav Maga background, he said that the Krav Maga we would be exposed to is the graduate level of Krav Maga. I specifically asked himn if Imi Lichtenfeld gave him his certification test and he said yes that they had worked together to get this certificate. Note I believe Eyal Yanilov (IKMF) introduced Graduate levels after Imi's Death - Is Moni claiming to be an IKMF instructor ? 4. Moni Aizik stated to me that he was the driving force behind Krav Maga in Israel and was a Black Belt in Krav Maga and Judo. I found out later that Aizik never trained in Krav Maga a day in his life. 5. In that time I trained he said he was a Major with a Special Forces Unit in the IDF called Sayeret Golani 13. He said while he was in the unit they were sent behind the lines of a Syrian force 1000 strong. In that battle he told me he was wounded and that all but 4 others and himself were killed. His wounds consisted of a piece of shrapnel in his eyes. A source contacted us saying there is no Sayaret Golani 13. There is a Golano 13 which is a regular Infantry Batallion - not a commando or Special Unit. Mr Aizik may have served there pror to working a Fitness Instructor. The source also informed us Mr Aizik was definatley not in Sayaret Golani during the Yom Kippur war as they had spoken with Officers who had served then. 6. In our first meeting Moni told me and my colleague xxx xxxx that he flew to Israel once per month to teach elite Israeli Special Forces. We believe Moni visits Israel to see his mum ! Alas perhaps she is in the Yamam ! 7. I met him at Heathrow airport, his having arrived from Israel. I asked him who he’d been training in Israel – he answered “Yamam” a Special Unit of the Israeli Police Force. I asked him how it went; he said it went well then talked about how he was a little uncomfortable with their right wing and vehemently anti-Arab views. We understand that the Yamam have had no dealings with Moni Aizik. 8. In our course held in 200x he briefed the students extensively about the history of Commando Krav Maga and they were asked questions about it as part of their test. This included Aizik being asked to devise a new self defence system for the IDF after the 1973 Yom Kippur War in partnership with Imi Lichtenfeld. Imi retired when Moni was 10. 9. In our UK courses he talked continually about how his handgun defences had taken 20 years to develop within the IDF and how he had played a part in that development. Until recently the Israeli Defence forces had never heard of him or his system. 10. Moni stated that one of the Special Forces tests that he’d undergone was to stay underwater for 12 hours breathing through a long straw and occasionally that salt would be pushed down the straw by the Instructors; he explained that the only way to counter this was to swallow the salt. ? Our sources say there is no such test. As a diver I would add that this would be highly unlikley given the diameter of the pipe and likleyhood of inhaling the salt. But I have seen the pictures on his website... Interestingly some of Moni's images were lifted directly off a website about Israeli special forces called, isayaret.com You will also notice many pictures of Moni in one (now removed) he can be clearly seen wearing a white undershirt. We have been informed this was the uniform of a non-combatant such as worn by a trainer, cook, clerk, and physical fitness instructor. Combat troops are not allowed to wear white. Not a single military source has come out on Moni's behalf from the military he claims to have taught. This in its self is remarkable. Not one single person. . However several have emailed us privately stating that none of Moni's claims are untrue. But it was on Human Weapon, it must be true We were informed the Human weapon team chose Moni Aizik as they saw/read his extensive claims on his websites. They did not verify them. They saw his marketing and agreed to feature Moni. You will note that Moni is the only person to teach on the episode with no students, or school and selected an isolated location away from from the public. For the person claiming to teach the special forces he had no soldiers, no acces to any military base/equipment Ran Nakash on the other hand (who does actually teach the Israeli Military) was featured on the fight quest documentry. ( Its featured on our site.) He had access to soldiers, a military base and military instructors and equipment. But he survived an ambush by over 1000 Syrians We looked into this. There is no such battle documented in any account of the war by anybody on either side. Nothing. So we spoke with a current Israeli Military insider about it. He told us there that the IDF had no history of such an event. More so, if anything so significant had happened it would be made a case study to learn from for the future. There is no such case study. Chief Instructor of Krav Maga ? We can find no evidence that Moni was ever a Krav Maga Instructor Moni states he was asked to help Imi revamp the Krav Maga system as Moni he had the combat experience Imi lacked. Moni forgot to mention Imi was a soldier in WWII seeing action across the Middle East with the Chezk legion attached to the British Army. This was on top of his life experiences in Middle Europe and the Nazi gang violence Imi endured on the streets. Extreme voilence where Jews could be beaten stabbed or shot with impunity, This is the gritty, ugly background from which Krav Maga evolved. This is a million miles from the glossy Black Belt Magazine, Walter Mitty history with Moni in the starring role. So why this article. I write this as an individual and do not claim to represent the IKMF in any way. Krav Maga is a great system. An honest system. A tough no nonsense system. It can be used by anybody. Its strength is that it is simple, realistic and proven. Its founder Imi tried to perpetuate some noble ideals. It seems abhorrent that Moni Aizik should come along after the death of the founder (Imi) and simply claim credit for Imi's lifetime of work. To claim that the founders system was old discredited system and Moni’s was somehow the successor, the better system, the system used in the Israeli Forces. It's very wrong, immoral maybe ? Moni tried to re write history. To make history reflect on him as an innovator, founder and war hero. Someone even tried to rewrite the Wikipedia Krav Maga page one several occassions. CKM has a huge publicity machine, a huge budget utilising viral marketing techniques on on the net, on internet forums, on youtube and in print. The contrast between Moni and Imi could not be greater. Imi was honest, principled and interested in ordinary people. Although a great fighter he was greatly concerned that anybody should be able to defend him or herself. Even years after his death he is fondly spoken of and remembered with respect. I have no financial incentive to write this article. On the contrary it will lead to hassle and more legal threats. I run a large, successfull school, I dont train Krav Maga Instructors and Commando Krav is not a competitor of mine. I have no motive other than I am fed up with his outrageous claims and criticising Krav Maga. I felt it was time somebody stood up and challenged this stream of Bullsh*t free flowing from Moni and his ego. To Commando Krav Maga Instructors I wish you well and am honestly sorry to have to write this article. I am not interested in bashing other systems, or writing articles to say my system is better than yours. Its Moni Aizik, his misrepresentation of history and attempted association with Krav Maga I have issue with. But guys, come on be honest. How much credibility can you expect from a 3 or 5 day course ? I understand that a class action being pursued in states by some individual who wants his money back. I also understand the Better Busines Bureaux in Canada has taken an interest in his business dealings. Here in the UK the Advertising Standards Authority have taken issue with his claims and my guess is that Trading Standards may become involved depending on his future claims. Consumer protection here in the UK is rigorous. If you paid for a course with Moni, and he cant prove his extensive claims (the burden is on him to prove his claims) you could be well advised to speak to a solictor about the return of your money. Most Commando Krav Maga Instructors are toning down their claims. Others are leaving. However, some C.K.M Instructors knowingly perpetuate Moni’s dishonest statements for their own financial or emotional benefit. I have a problem with this as they are misleading the general public and as guilty as Moni is. If you really want to teach Krav Maga, approach a genuine krav Maga organisation. Pass selection and do your time build your skills. It wont be done in a weekend but it will be real.The main international organisations are the IKMF, IKMA, FEKM and KMWW (in no particular order). I would recommend the IKMF they certainly are the main organisation in the UK, there are other organisations. There is the IKMA (mainly Israel I believe), the FEKM ( mainly France I think but also other countries in Europe) and the American organisation KMWW which i believe has a presence in Belgium as well. They all offer real Krav Maga and a good standard of Instructor training. Commando Krav Maga in a nutshell Commando Krav Maga was created by Judo Instructor Moni Aizik. CKM is a civilian system that attempts to associate its self with both Krav Maga and the Israeli Military. Not quite as sexy as the story Moni tells is it..... Best Wishes. Paul Grey Legal statement This article represents our honestly held opinions. After researching Mr Aiziks extensive public claims we believe Mr Aizik has been dishonest and mislead people for his own emotional and financial gain. Further more we believe our article reflects a reasonable and fair account of the reality around his claims. Our sources are varied and researched and are prepared to make formal legal statements if needed. We believe it is in the pubIc Interest to share what is a reasonable and fair account of Mr Aizik and his claims. Paul Grey ASA Judgment article on Commando Krav Maga is here |
