Yamam – Israel’s National Counter Terror Unit • Interview with Itay Gil from the Yamam unit
In this interview, Itay Gil, a former YAMAM operator and combat instructor, discusses his experience in Israel’s National Counter-Terrorism Unit, his background in martial arts and Krav Maga, and how real operational experience influenced his approach to self-defense and close-quarters combat.
Gil previously served in the IDF and later in YAMAM, the Israel Police’s elite national counter-terrorism unit. He is also the founder of Protect Krav Maga (PKM), a system influenced by Israeli close-quarters combat and his operational and instructional experience.
- What is the Yamam unit?
- How did Itay Gil join YAMAM?
- How did you get into martial arts?
- When did you see Krav Maga for the first time?
- Tell. Me about The instructors’ course in the army under Eli Avikzar
- What happens when a soldier ends up fighting on the ground?
- What is more damaging: taking a punch or being thrown onto the ground?
- His views on Krav Maga organizations such as KAMI, KMG and IKMF
- The differences between civilian and military Krav Maga
- Should modern police officers train in BJJ, Krav Maga, or both?
- When did he begin questioning some traditional Krav Maga techniques?
The interview explores an important question behind modern Krav Maga: How should a self-defense system evolve when traditional techniques are tested against resistance, pressure and real-world violence?
