Krav Maga - The First Generation

Haim Zut was born in April of 1935 to parents of Latvian origin. His youth was spent on a farm in Pardes-Hana, Israel, called Columbia Groves. It was during these early years that he formed a deep and lasting bond with the land, and that he began to develop his enduring respect for animal life, traits that would come to define him. This passion for living things would evolve as he matured-ultimately he would see it as his obligation to share with the younger generations of Israel, especially the underprivileged youth, the sense of pride derived from living a life devoted to hard work and decency.

In 1952, at the age of 18, Haim began his military service. It was here that he first met Imi Sde'Or, the Chief Instructor of Krav Maga for the Israeli Defense Forces. Haim was immediately devoted to Krav Maga, and it was through this devotion that he developed his skills. When he was released from the military in 1955, he had already attained advanced fighting ability. In 1956, Haim returned to the IDF as a reserve soldier, taking part in the Sinai Campaign, a war which involved the joint operation of Israel, France, and Great Britain against Egypt. Following his release from the military, Haim returned to Pardes-Hana, where he worked teaching underprivileged youth agricultural skills. During this time he remained in regular contact with Imi, who continued to serve in the IDF.

At the end of 1963, Imi was released from his own military service. Imi was preparing to give the first civilian instructor course in Krav Maga, and he invited Haim to take part. Haim agreed, and a life long mentorship was born. Haim was one of four students to attend the original instructor course, and following its completion he became Imi's top student. He received his license to teach martial arts from the Wingate Institute in 1963, and began teaching classes. Haim's first class was in offered in Hadera, and from that point on he would train students in Hadera, Pardes-Hana, and Gan Shemu'el. During the early years, Haim donated his time to the rehabilitation of gang members through the study of martial arts. As Imi's student, Haim would also become a co-founder of both the Federation for Krav Maga and Self-Defense, and the Israeli Krav Maga Association.

Haim continued to gain proficiency, not only by advancing in ranks but also by studying for additional teaching licenses from the Wingate Institute. In 1969, Haim was the first Krav Maga instructor ever to attain a secondary license with a higher degree of superiority from the Israeli government. In 1980, Haim took part in an even higher instructor licensing course-he is one of only a few martial arts instructors, and the only Krav Maga instructor, to have the honor of having completed that course. Over the years he would amass an extensive knowledge of martial arts instruction, eventually finishing a course at the Wingate Institute for certification as a martial arts coach, the equivalent of an Olympic-level trainer. No Krav Maga instructor in the world has done so much to further his knowledge of martial arts instruction, physical training, and physiology.

In the late 1980s, about nine years after its inception, power struggles began to become commonplace within the Israeli Krav Maga Association. High ranking instructors began to splinter away, taking their students with them. Among the superior ranks, there was a question of who would become Imi's successor. Imi had the right to choose his heir, but because there were three Dan 5 ranked instructors, there was no hierarchical structure within the association. Finally, in order to remove any question of doubt, Imi conferred the rank of Dan 6 upon Haim Zut, effectively ending the discussion of whom he intended as his successor.

In 1993, Haim left the Israeli Krav Maga Association to create the Association of Krav Maga International-Kapap. He had become frustrated by the internal politics of the organization, and with the blessing of his longtime mentor and friend, Imi Sde'Or, he decided to distance himself from the infighting in order to focus on training his students. Haim's students were already known as the best fighters in Israel, and this decision was made for the benefit of the students and the future of the art.

In 2003, the leading coaches and masters of fighting arts in Israel decided to honor Haim with the rank of Dan 10 because of his contribution and work within the community of martial arts in Israel and in Krav Maga specifically. At the same time, he was inducted into the martial arts Hall of Fame and, in 2006, he was given the title of Grandmaster in recognition of over forty years of teaching. Today, Grandmaster Haim Zut is the highest ranking Krav Maga instructor in the world, and, at the age of 71, he continues to teach Krav Maga and lead the most respected Krav Maga association in Israel. Not only is Haim a Krav Maga Grandmaster, he is also an educator who serves as a model for his students, focusing with special care on those underprivileged children to whom he devotes his time.