18/09/2026
Riposa in pace 🙏🏻 Maestro Shaike 🪽
The Krav Maga world has lost this morning one of its main historical figures, Master Shaike Barak, Lt.Col.ret from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Chief Superintendent ret. of the Israeli National Police.
In the IDF, Shaike was head of KM after Imi Sde-Or (Lichtenfeld) KM founder, retired from active service.
Shaike became an officer and reached the position of head of Combat Fitness Department of the IDF (ממ"ח כושר קרבי). After retiring from military service he joined the police and became its head of the Operational Fitness School (בסכ"מ).
Master Barak was one of the 11 founders of the IKMA - Israeli Krav Maga Assn. and for many years was its vice president, no.2 after Imi.
Shaike was a man of peace, very much like Imi. He contributed big part of his life to educate fighters and warriors, teaching KM and combat fitness to civilians, military, and police personnel.
In 1981 Shaike was on of a group of 6 of us who traveled to the USA to demonstrate KM to Jewish communities (the journey was financed by the philanthropist Daniel S. Abraham.)
In the late 1980s Shaike and I opened and run a KM club/gym in Tel Aviv, educating young people and adults. Several trainees from there, later influenced the KM in the IDF, Israel, and abroad.
Shaike is survived by his wonderful wife, Ilana, and two sons.
May he rest in peace 🖖🏼✡️🇮🇱