The late Haviv Galisko was born and raised in Jerusalem. He was a member of the “Hagana”, one of the defenders and road openers of the city of Jerusalem. A soldier in the Moriah regiment, he fought and was wounded twice during the “Kattamon” and the “St. Simon” monastery battles. He was one of the first
KAPAP instructors in the “Hagana”.
Haviv learned the secrets of the art of defense from a British sergeant, as well as from his brother Moshe who served as a brigade soldier and fought in Greece, Italy and Libya. Moshe died during the inroad to Jerusalem.
Haviv Galisko was a KAPAP trainer for the “Hagana”, later on for the IDF until he was wounded discharged, and went on training KAPAP at the YMCA in Jerusalem.
He eventually moved to Be’er Sheva where he continued to teach his firstborn, Moshe-Hai Galisko, who was taking Judo and Karate lessons at the same time.
In 1972, he helped his son Moshe open the first KAPAP and Karate Training Club.
Between the years 1979 and 1981, KAPAP was being taught in the city of Yamit in the Gazza Strip.
From 1987 till the day he passed away (2005), Haviv helped his son run the center for martial arts in Israel and the world, with everything that has to do with old and modern KAPAP trainings according to his world-view
Haviv, the teacher, used to say “fighting methods on the streets have changed”, this is why KAPAP has to be adapted to what the field dictates. It has to be adapted to fighting against martial arts that “immigrated” to Israel such as various types of karate, Thai boxing, jujitsu, Sambo wrestling, Arnis, Kali and more. He incessantly kept on pushing towards learning and improving fighting with various firearms and against them.
Haviv Galisko used to tell his son and successor: “always remember who is standing behind you.” He gave this sentence a few interpretations which KAPAP people in our organization follow to this day.
