KRAV MAGA HAIM ZUT
Grand Master Haim Zut
Haim Zut was born in April of 1935 to parents of Latvian origin…
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 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.
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. Grandmaster.
Haim Zut was the highest ranking Krav Maga instructor in the world.
Not only Haim was a Krav Maga Grandmaster, he was also an educator who serves as a model for his students, focusing with special care on those underprivileged children to whom he devoted his time.
Haim passed away at the age of 85 on May 12, 2020.
