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martial arts

Kazakh jiujitsu fighter Aldiyar Serik, left, illegally kicks his Israeli rival Omri Haviv during the finals of the Adult Men's Under 29kg No Gi category at the Jiujitsu World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, November 7, 2025. (Screen capture: X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
November 8, 2025, 10:16 am
Israel’s Omri Haviv wins jiu-jitsu gold as Kazakh rival disqualified for illegal kick
Aldiyar Serik refuses to shake the Israeli fighter’s hand after the bout; Haviv advanced to World Championship final after Kuwaiti opponent backed out of fighting an Israeli
By ToI Staff
A Guardian Self Defense Krav Maga class in the basement of a Manhattan synagogue, May 21, 2024. (Luke Tress/ JTA)
July 8, 2024, 5:13 pm
NY Jews unnerved by antisemitism and unruly protests take to krav maga for self-defense
Enrollment at classes for the Israeli martial art has soared as a growing fear of violence post-Oct. 7 pushes students to train and seek community with others similarly threatened
By Luke Tress
Shaked Nisimian celebrates winning the uner-21 MMA world championship, February 16, 2023. (Screenshot/Twitter; Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
February 17, 2023, 1:15 pm
Israeli teen beats reigning world champion to claim under-21 MMA title
In Serbia, Shaked Nisimian, 19, becomes first Israeli to win gold at an MMA international tournament — despite only training in the sport for several months
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: Pro-Israel supporters chant slogans during a rally in support of Israel outside the Federal Building in Los Angeles, May 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file)
May 26, 2021, 8:59 pm
Martial artists volunteer to escort LA Jews to Shabbat services
Jiujitsu practitioner says he and some of his buddies at the gym wanted to accompany Jewish residents of the area following antisemitic attacks during Gaza war
By Ron Kampeas
Natan Levy proudly shows an Israeli flag before his matches. (Amy Kaplan/ via JTA)
January 10, 2021, 4:13 am
Israeli MMA fighter defies odds and prejudice at Ultimate Fighting Championship
French-born Israeli Natan Levy joins a small but growing number of Jewish athletes on the world stage, seeking to prove that Jews can throw a punch and be mensches, too
By Elie Bleier
Kickboxing champ Obed Hrangchal won national medals in India in several martial arts before moving to Israel. (Courtesy of Shavei Israel/via JTA)
September 23, 2020, 4:18 pm
Indian kickboxing champ moving to Israel, plans to represent his new home
Obed Hrangchal, 26, who won national martial arts medals in India, is a religiously observant member of the Bnei Menashe Jewish community
By Marcy Oster
Bruce Lee with Chuck Norris in 'Way of the Dragon.' (Courtesy Matthew Polly)
August 4, 2018, 1:27 am
Mixed martial artist: Uncovering Bruce Lee’s hidden Jewish ancestry
In a new book by scholar Matthew Polly, research shows the American-born action film star was a polyglot with diverse ethnic backgrounds
By Rich Tenorio
Danny Hakim
June 11, 2018, 3:50 pm
Danny Hakim
A fighting chance for refugee children
Here’s how Afghan children in Greece got a lesson in tolerance and perseverance from an Australian Israeli
Two young students practicing martial arts techniques during the Budo for Peace Seminar, February 13, 2018 (Urvashi Verma/Times of Israel)
March 4, 2018, 1:33 pm
Middle East martial arts masters hit the mat for amity
With talk of deflecting violence, not spreading it, a gathering of leading global athletes convenes in Israel in a show of respect
By Urvashi Verma
A female soldier faces off against ultra-Orthodox protesters in Jerusalem in October 2017 (Courtesy)
October 20, 2017, 11:45 pm
Female soldier unleashes martial arts on angry Jerusalem mob
Finding herself surrounded by ultra-Orthodox protesters, combat trooper follows her training — and fights
By Itamar Sharon
Krav Maga students practicing in Saint Mande, March 23, 2017. (Cnaan Liphshiz/JTA)
April 2, 2017, 12:34 am
Israeli martial art Krav Maga is trending in Paris
Over the past decade, thousands of French Jews — and some non-Jews, too — have learned to fight amid a wave of intimidation and violence on the streets
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Egypt's Islam El Shehaby, blue, declines to shake hands with Israel's Or Sasson, white, after losing during the men's over 100-kg judo competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
August 13, 2016, 9:55 am
Etiquette of judo integral to Japanese martial art
Egyptian judoka’s snub of Israel’s Or Sasson a start contrast to tradition of showing respect to rivals, honoring sport, and acting modestly
By AP
Danny Hakim
May 25, 2016, 3:41 pm
Danny Hakim
Jews and Arabs fighting the good fight
His unique martial arts program brings conflicted groups together to build trust, learn values and foster peace
Illustrative: People take part in a MMA (Mixed Martials Arts) training session, on May 2, 2016 in Paris. (Francois Guillot/AFP)
May 19, 2016, 11:19 am
Seeking to kick jihadi threat, French warily eye martial arts clubs
Officials see clubs for judo, kickboxing and other sports as fertile ground for terror recruiters, places for attackers to hone skills
By Francoise Chaptal
Mordechai Genut, founder of Frum Karate, instructing some beginners’ students. (Courtesy of Mordechai Genut)
March 18, 2016, 9:30 am
These Orthodox Jews use karate to defend the faith
‘We don’t encourage fighting’: Martial arts master cuts out the bowing, reinterprets old traditions, tailors them to Hasidic kids in Brooklyn
By Lucy Cohen Blatter
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