Black Belt Magazine

Avi Nardia

Avi Nardia
(Photo by Rick Hustead)

Maj. Avi Nardia is a Black Belt contributor and the head instructor of the Kapap Academy. Nardia, who is now in the Israeli Reserves, spent seven years in Japan studying kendo, iaido, judo, jujutsu and kyudo. When he returned to Israel in 1992, Nardia established the Israeli Kendo Federation and taught kapap techniques at the universities of Tel Aviv and Bar Ilan. Because of these courses, the Israeli Police invited him to lead the hand-to-hand combat department of the YAMAM unit.

Over the years, Nardia has gained experience and certification as a fencing, jujutsu, kendo, Thai boxing, fitness, rappelling, diving, boxing, Krav Maga, lotar, defensive-tactics, shooting and kapap instructor. He is also a range safety officer for the National Rifle Association and a certified coach and personal trainer. In 2000, Nardia began promoting kapap internationally through the Kapap Academy. Since then, he has taught courses on kapap, Krav Maga, lotar, tactical shooting, defensive shooting, high-risk entry, VIP protection, aircraft/bus/train interdiction, command-post procedures and intelligence gathering.

In 2008, Nardia co-wrote his first book, Kapap Combat Concepts: Martial Arts of the Israeli Special Forces, which encapsulates the art's core principles.

For more information about Nardia, visit www.kapapacademy.com.
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