Yehoshua Sofer

Abir Template:Hebrew was the name of the fighting technique of Israelite warriors. Today, Yehoshua Sofer claims to still practice and teach a modern recreation of this martial art,. Sofer's claims of Abir being a "traditional" Jewish martial art remains a point of controversy with some as to whether this is authentic claim. Sofer is best known in the martial arts world as a master of Kuk Sool Won, a Korean martial art.

Origin of the Name and System

Abir Template:Hebrew is a Hebrew word meaning powerful, a warlord, palace guard, protector of royalty, warrior, bodyguard, or a defender. It is derived from the three letter Hebrew root Template:Hebrew, which means to soar above protectively. Biblical references for the word include the following sections of the Tanakh Genesis 49:24, Psalms 76:6, and Psalms 68:31.

While complete records with exact details of a martial art of actual moves and system of fighting forms are not extent in Judaic historical accounts, the biblical account testifies to fighting and combat strategies used by the ancient Israelites as well as legendary accounts of Israelite combatants.

For example, in the Sefer HaYasher 56:9 among the last words of Jacob to his son Judah:

Only teach thy sons the bow and all weapons of war, in order that they may fight the battles of their brother who will rule over his enemies.

There are also accounts from Jewish communities such as the Habbani Jews and the Daghestani Jews who were known for their fighting prowess. It is believed that any fighting techniques would most likely have been similar to the Egyptian wrestling as well as grappling and weoponized fighting styles used in the Middle East for centuries.

The Creator of the Modern Abir: Yehoshua Sofer

According to the official Abir web-site, Grandmaster Yehoshua Sofer is known and discussed in higher circles of the martial arts, military, law enforcement, and intelligence communities in Israel and elsewhere in the world with much respect. He holds 7th Degree black belts in Korean Kuk Sool Won, Hapkido and a 6th Degree black belt in TukGong Musool (designed for elite military and intelligence agents in S.Korea) and has a very wide range of diverse expertise in various aspects of "cold" combat that few come close to matching.

The web-site further states about Sofer:

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of his background is his knowledge of Native Israelite Warrior Arts secretly kept alive in bits and pieces by some of the world's most hidden ancient Jewish communities. These techniques were those used by his Israelite ancestors and this is documented in The Torah.

It would simply not be fair to compare other people to him because he has 42 years in martial arts training although he is just 45 years old. His physical skill is not overshadowed by his experience and knowledge. But his ability to take people with little or no combat background and transform them into formidable fighting proponents in a very short time frame is what perhaps separates him from all others.

He has several world leaders' personal protection/security personnel under his instruction and guidance from the President of Moldova to the Prime-Minister of Israel. He often oversees high profile events from behind the scenes. Sofer is a Hasidic Jew which is another factor that makes him totally unique in his field. He simply does not look like a martial artist capable of neutralizing people twice his size instantly with pain compliance techniques.

It is further stated that Yehoshua Sofer's Grandfather Nachman Sofer played with him from the age of three indoctrinating him with games based on the elder mans' old Hevron/Hejaz Abir. This training included the use of Shootnah, Karkour, Paziza, heavkuth, kunfoon, Keshet, Herev Rahav (Middle Eastern Broad Sword), slingshot, javelin, nabuta, maagal and the maaraf. Nachman Sofer Nachman is said to have acquired wrestling and Korean ‘Jujitsu’ while serving in an infantry/horseman's unit of the Russian Army after being accosted while on a pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. He was held against his own free will for five years until his escape. These were the skills he sought to pass on in secret as tradition dictated until a proper time in the future.

Yehoshua Sofer's Abir Concept

The Abir martial art form is based on the idea that at one time ancient Israel had a martial art form or forms, which was both hand to hand and also weoponized. As with any other fighting style these techniques were both borrowed and learned from the various cultures that the ancient Israelites came into contact with as well as created using their own religious and cultural symbols. The theory then is that the spiritual motivation of the fightning style was based on Biblical principles just as some martial arts are centered around Buhhdist principles. It is believed that while most Jewish communities did not continue to train in this group of fightning techniques that some exotic Jewish communities in Arabia and in parts of Asia were able to maintain elements of the techniques, which for some became elements of Jewish dance.

According to the Abir web-site:

The Twelve Tribes Principles and The Ten Emanations (These are very esoteric and intricate educational tools to understand the nature of combined movement and force in an application of the other principles directed into specific points of energy, mass or “targets” as well as the use of telepathy and hypnosis to direct or disable one's adversary)

This science as described in great depth in sources found throughout The Holy Torah are taught to “performers” of Abir, who regardless of their background in Jewish study and Torah Life, commitment/observance (or the lack of these) can begin training in this dance form that houses a deadly form…or formless system of self defense that is as effective today as it was in defeating the ancient military forces of Median, Ai, Eglon, Lah’ish, Canaanim, Khittim, Amorim, Prizim, Yebusim and Girgashim.

An Abir can be viewed as one who defends the palace that houses the Neshama (the soul), the Ruah (spirit), and the Gouf (physical body) within a circumference that is called one's Dalled (four) Amoth (designated spaces used as measurements) as commanded by G-d to defend; because inside a true Abir is housed a living Torah, for through it's study the Abir seeks to internalize it's wisdom, to become holy, pure, and to exemplify the very virtues that indeed describe the Abir of Israel that comprises the initials of this ancient Hebrew word (Aleph, Bet, Yod, Resh).

Sofer's approach is based on combining the following elements.

• Judaic principles found in the Torah
• Historical references to wars and warriors in the Tanakh
• Ancient Hebrew letters as methods of categorizing the techniques.
• Philophsical principles and movements based on symbols surrounding the 12 Tribes of Israel.
• Jewish communities who are known to have had a figting style (Habbani Jews and Daghestani)
• Jewish dances from various exotic of ancient communities.

Abir Techniques and Principles

Yehoshua Sofer's Abir techniques profess a number of styles and techniques, many of which are based on elements of Judaic principles and symbolic elements. These elements have been combined into a group of systems that Sofer feel are unique to Abir.

Recoil Principle

It maintains that every return action of a limb returns as if propelled by the laws of gravity toward the torso with greater speed and virtually no stress in direct opposition to the same limbs stressful energy employed to launch an attack directed away from the torso. Recoil attacks are therefore the preferred choice of attack since they are stealth weapons which strike the indefensible anterior zone at the opponent’s hind or blindside while positioned directly in front of them face to face.

The Haetz-Lula’ah (Arrow-loop)

Full- circle/never-lock striking with the arms or legs This is a totally unique method of striking. Use of the arm/leg as the striking surface is not limited to a specific area of the hand/foot but actually employs any surface from the fingers/toes to the elbow/knee at any angle along its circumference.

A strike can be initiated at point zero with the fingers pressing into the opponents liver only to curl in thus striking in deeper with the back hand and pressing consistently deeper as it flows into a driving lateral elbow strike across the gallbladder and pericardium to the spleen points in one circular scooping motion. Conversely, this attack which was executed with the right arm directed right to left could have equally been initiated at point zero with the elbow at the opponent’s kidney or liver culminating with the fingers in a left to right motion. Limbs stick to the never-lock principle to avoid joint damage due to hyperextension. The Arrow when launched as a frontal attack is actually vertical or horizontal and travels in a broad or narrow circle as opposed to the classical front kick which snaps between two stopping motions and moves in a short half circle if we look at it from the side view. The classical front kick and the side kick, whether snapping or thrusting, come to two full stops along the way to their completion and endanger the knee joint by exposing it to hyperextension when the leg is locked straight at the end of its trajectory. Another danger is encountered when such techniques are aimed at higher target zones as the body is placed in a very compromising balancing act that exposes the groin to counterattack, and the lower back to severe injury when and if impact is made. When contact with its target is missed there is even more danger of tearing the muscles ligaments or tendons.

With The Arrow, the leg never fully extends or hyper extends since it is never theoretically straightened. From the very initiation of each wipping circular motion, The Arrow never stops. On the contrary, it continues to build momentum and speed and can strike its target with virtually any part of the leg from the knee down to the toes depending only on the distance from the opponent and whether contact is made on the more vertical, horizontal or lateral phase of its circular axis. The ball of the foot, instep, inner or outer blades of the feet, ankle, shins or knee are all satisfactory striking surfaces as are the back, sides, and bottom of the heel when striking at various angles, to the sides or to the rear. The leg need not be stretched out since care is taken not to straighten the leg and full power is only achieved when the Arrow is launched with total relaxation. In fact, the act of releasing this deadly weapon tends to relax the limbs while strengthening them and gaining flexibility and mobility of the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints with each additional execution. Ruakh Khayuth or Life -spirit pumped into the limb directed by Rahtson (guiding will) is all that is needed to launch this deadly weapon in an instant with maximum power.

Three, the Seven Categories of Alphabetical Attacks

The Hebrew Alphabet consists of 22 consonants and five word ending letters bringing them to a total of 27 letters in all that are assigned 7 special categories.

They are;

• Choking
• Locking
• Throwing
• Take downs
• Primary initiated attacks or
• Secondary responsive attacks and
• a natural flowing blend consisting of any two of these six categories or any one or more combined with another letter

This gives us a unique and familiar way to quickly assimilate complex dynamic martial arts combat techniques using these most familiar visual memory tools that give us 189 techniques. These 189 techniques are then learnt in conjunction with an additional 176 techniques that are designed to solve the most commonly encountered types of attacks with effective counters to various applications of those same seven categories performed on us .This gives us 365 techniques in all. This number coincides with the number of bones on the human skeleton and the number of days of a year. This is very significant and is the number of techniques required to achieve Smikha (the ABIR® Instructor level)

Smikha level

The Musmakh (Instructor) refines his skills by learning an additional 248 techniques corresponding to the number of organs within the human body. This gives us the total of 613 (Taryag) techniques that correspond to the 613 positive and negative precepts that Jews must observe and keep in accordance with Jewish Law as required of us by The Creator in the Torah

18 Khai Rikudim

These are the 18 choreographed fighting dances that tie together the 12 tribes movement and fighting attributes (12 weaponless and 6 weapons forms) necessary to master Abir's 613 techniques. These 613 can be built upon to incorporate thousands more and are a mere guide to the keys behind achieving a balanced harmonious life steeped in holiness and purity with an integrated mastery of ones spiritual and physical matter (or khomer) embodying the virtues that make up the initials of an Abir.