Krav Maga and the Making of Modern Israel

Krav Maga and the Making of Modern Israel examines the political implications of martial arts through an analysis of Zionism. Grounded in political science, martial arts studies, and hoplology, it presents a critical history of Krav Maga, the processes that have contributed to defining Israeliness, and the idea that limited violence is vital to maintain a cooperative society.

This book examines the profound interplay of martial arts, combative, and self-defense disciplines with nationalism and ethno-religious politics through the analysis of Zionism, the birth of the State of Israel, antisemitism, and the life of the contemporary Jewish Diaspora in the United States. It connects martial arts studies and political science, spearheading the new field of political hoplology. Focusing on the complex formative process of national communities, their growth, resilience, and consequences for the individuals, Krav Maga and the Making of Modern Israel presents the unique case of Krav Maga (literally hand to hand combat), a self-defense system developed between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which is now considered a staple of Israeli culture and a prime self-defense practice. Through its chapters, the book provides strong evidence supporting the idea that physical violence is indeed needed as a unifying experience to allow national communities to emerge and thrive. Furthermore, it examines the growing importance of violence for modern democratic societies and suggests the existence of a “gladiatorial effect,” or the need for a certain level of violence to exist to maintain a harmonious, stable, and cooperative society.

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Is Violence a Necessity for the Modern Nation-State?

1 Lions of God: A Critical History of Krav Maga

2 Jewish Nationalism and the Politics of Self-Defense

3 Once Were Warriors: The American Diaspora, Zionism, and the Warrior Mythology of Ancient Israel

4 Accept Yourself as Your Own Savior: Krav Maga as a Religious Experience

5 Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum: Krav Maga, MMA, and the Gladiatorial Effect

Conclusion: Martial Arts as a Social Vaccine

Appendix: Krav Maga and National Identity Questionnaire

References