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Abir ( Hebrew:אַבִּיר) is a the name of the fighting techniques taught by Yehoshua Sofer in Tel Aviv. Sofer claims to have a family tradition of the fighting techniques, passed down to the Jews of Habban by their ancestors since the time of the 1st Israelite Commonwealth. [1]
Abir 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 א-ב-ר, which means to soar above protectively. [2] Abir is sometimes also called Qesheth [3], since according to Sofer, it is derived from the fighting system of the ancient Hebrews and Israelites, mentioned in the Sefer Ha-Yashar.
Much of Abir's origins are derived from interpretations of various Judaic sources concerning the fighting style of the Hebrews and the Israelites is referred to as either Qesheth or Kele Milchamoh (Implements of War). [4] According to the tradition of the Sofer family, Abir's origins began with the Hebrew patriarch Abraham. The Sefer Ha-Yashar, describes how Abraham's father, Terach, was the warlord of King Nimrod of Babylon. [5] The fighting system of Terach was then passed on to Abraham's descendants, who in time became the 12 Tribes of Israel. These group of techniques were used by the various Hebrew patriarchs and the early Israelites to fight the Emorite army that gathered to fight against Jacob and his sons. [6] Besides the biblical account of Jacob's son Joseph being a viceroy to the Egyptian Pharaoh, the Sefer Ha-Yashar states that Joseph lead several Egyptian military units in battle against the armies of Tarshish. [7] Further, Joseph's son Menashe is recorded to have used an traditional Israelite strike in order to defeat Shimon in hand to hand combat, as well as displayed a form of Israelite test of strength against Yehudah. Both of which, Shimon and Yehudah note these techniques could not have been learned from the Egyptians and were from the "house" of their father Ya'aqov. [8]
The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) as well as other extra biblical sources, details a number of wars that the Israelites fought against the Canaanites, the Philistines, Midyonites, and the Amorites. During a battle with the Amorites, the Israelite Judge Qenaz is recorded to have been a master swordsman defeating a much larger Amorite army with a smaller fighting force. [9] The Israelite military leader Gideon and his army of 300 fighting men. After being assured of victory with a unit of only 300 men, the Sefer Ha-Khatzinunim records the response of Gideon’s army as Swords for Hashem, and for Gideon. [10] It is also stated that during the youth of King David when he was a shephard, he defeated numerous Midyonite soldiers. [11]
Various Rabbinc sources further describe the methods that the ancient Israelites used in warefare, as well as self-defense.
The Talmud records the following discussion concerning how a Jew was to react by being being attacked by a pagan.
These Biblical, Talmudic, and Midrashic stories compose much of the philosophy concerning the origins of the Abir martial system. They are also a major part of the Abir teaching system for learning the techniques, with some techniques being ascribed to Midrashic interpretations of the stories.
There are several legends that place Israelite soldiers settling in Arabia forty-two years before the destruction of the First Temple. It is said that under the prophet Jeremiah some 75,000 Israelites, including priests and Levites, traveled to Yemen. [13] The Jews of Habban in southern Yemen have a legend that they are the descendants of Judeans who settled in the area before the destruction of the Second Temple. These Judeans supposedly belonged to a brigade dispatched by King Herod to assist the Roman legions fighting in the region. [14]
In 1165 to 1173 a historical journey to visit far-flung Jewish communities was undertaken by Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela that crossed and tracked some of the areas that are today in the geographic area of Yemen. Tudela (twelfth century) found an independent Jewish warrior tribe living in the district of Tehama in Yemen. [15]
In 1912 Zionist emissary Shmuel Yavnieli came into contact with Habbani Jews who ransomed him when he was captured and robbed by eight Bedouin in southern Yemen. Yavnieli wrote about the Jews of Habban describing them in the following way.
Unlike the Jews of northern Yemen the Habbani Jews wore a
Jambiyya or curved knife, Matznaph (turban) and Avne`t (sash). It was also common for sultans in
Arabia to use Habbani Jews as soldiers in their armies or as personal guards.
[17] Habbani Jews sometimes served as
mercenaries;
Abdullah I of Jordan, who preferred
Circassian and other non-
Arab bodyguards, had a number of Habbani Jewish guardsmen, including
Sayeed Sofer and his brothers
Salaah and
Saadia.
After 1948 bands of Habbani Jews made their way to Aden, sometimes fighting hostile Arab tribes along the way. From there they were airlifted en masse to Israel as part of Operation Flying Carpet. Due to the rising fears and suspicions of the Arabs that the Jews were leaving in order to help the Zionists to fight against the Arabs in Palestine, the Jews needed to leave Habban in secret.
Describing the route followed by most Habbanis who participated in the Israeli airlift, Operation Magic Carpet:
According to Rabbi Yoseph Maghori-Kohen:
Yehoshua Sofer is founder of the Abir Warrior Arts Association of Israel. He began to publicly teach his family's tradition of Abir in 2002, initially in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv. Prior to publicly teaching Abir, Sofer began studying various martial arts, such as Tang Soo Do, a Korean version of Karate, under Chuck Norris [20] In the 1970s and 1980s, he worked as a bodyguard and a sparring partner for kickboxers. In 1989, he moved to Israel and became the regional director and sole representative of Kuk Sool Won in Israel. [21] In the past, Sofer has also served as a self-defense instructor for numerous I.D.F. and Israeli governmental agencies. [22] He also became a recording artist of reggae, known by his stage name Nigel Admor, while practicing Orthodox Judaism. [23]
Sofer's Abir martial art form is based on fighting techniques that he learned from his grandfather Nachman Sofer, also known by his Arabic name Brihim bin Hassan Ma`atuf-Doh, who was a Habbani Jew. [24] Members of the Sofer family moved between Jerusalem and Habban in eastern Aden to cities such as Baidha. While in Israel, Nachman Sofer and his youngest son, Ya`aqov Mosha, also known by his Arabic name Awad bin Brihim, left the region for Jamaica following the Chevron ( Hebron) massacres of 1929. From Jamaica the Sofer family moved to the United States and later back to Israel. During this time they continued to privately train in Abir.
Abir is recognized by the Wingate College of Sport Sciences in Netanya, Israel. [25] In August of 2008, the Abir/Qesheth course produced an initial class of 15 certified Abir instructors, trained by the Yehoshua Sofer. [26] Several Israeli rabbis, including Rabbi David Karduri and Rabbi Avraham Yerachamiel Rebinowitz, recognize Abir as an ancient and authentic Jewish tradition. [27]
Abir's movements are based on elements of Judaic principles and symbolic elements. The Abir approach is made up of a combination of the following elements.
Many of these techniques derive from the Biblical 12 Tribes of Israel.
The Hebrew alphabet consists of 22 consonants and five word ending letters bringing them to a total of 27 letters. In Abir, the Hebrew letters, both ancient and modern, are used to assign movements into 7 special categories of choking, locking, throwing, take downs, primary initiated attacks, secondary responsive attacks, and combinations of the first six categories. [38]
This Abir concept maintains that every action of a limb returns toward the torso with greater speed and the least amount of stress. This is done in direct opposition to the same limbs energy employed to launch an attack directed away from the torso. [39]
The Haetz-Lula'ah techniques use full-circle striking with the arms or legs. [40]
Abir also employs 18 choreographed fighting dances that tie together movements associated with the 12 Tribes of Israel. There are 12 weaponless and 6 weaponized forms based on these group of techniques. [41]
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![]() | This is not a Wikipedia article: This is a workpage, a collection of material and work in progress that may or may not be incorporated into an article. It should not necessarily be considered factual or authoritative. |
Abir ( Hebrew:אַבִּיר) is a the name of the fighting techniques taught by Yehoshua Sofer in Tel Aviv. Sofer claims to have a family tradition of the fighting techniques, passed down to the Jews of Habban by their ancestors since the time of the 1st Israelite Commonwealth. [1]
Abir 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 א-ב-ר, which means to soar above protectively. [2] Abir is sometimes also called Qesheth [3], since according to Sofer, it is derived from the fighting system of the ancient Hebrews and Israelites, mentioned in the Sefer Ha-Yashar.
Much of Abir's origins are derived from interpretations of various Judaic sources concerning the fighting style of the Hebrews and the Israelites is referred to as either Qesheth or Kele Milchamoh (Implements of War). [4] According to the tradition of the Sofer family, Abir's origins began with the Hebrew patriarch Abraham. The Sefer Ha-Yashar, describes how Abraham's father, Terach, was the warlord of King Nimrod of Babylon. [5] The fighting system of Terach was then passed on to Abraham's descendants, who in time became the 12 Tribes of Israel. These group of techniques were used by the various Hebrew patriarchs and the early Israelites to fight the Emorite army that gathered to fight against Jacob and his sons. [6] Besides the biblical account of Jacob's son Joseph being a viceroy to the Egyptian Pharaoh, the Sefer Ha-Yashar states that Joseph lead several Egyptian military units in battle against the armies of Tarshish. [7] Further, Joseph's son Menashe is recorded to have used an traditional Israelite strike in order to defeat Shimon in hand to hand combat, as well as displayed a form of Israelite test of strength against Yehudah. Both of which, Shimon and Yehudah note these techniques could not have been learned from the Egyptians and were from the "house" of their father Ya'aqov. [8]
The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) as well as other extra biblical sources, details a number of wars that the Israelites fought against the Canaanites, the Philistines, Midyonites, and the Amorites. During a battle with the Amorites, the Israelite Judge Qenaz is recorded to have been a master swordsman defeating a much larger Amorite army with a smaller fighting force. [9] The Israelite military leader Gideon and his army of 300 fighting men. After being assured of victory with a unit of only 300 men, the Sefer Ha-Khatzinunim records the response of Gideon’s army as Swords for Hashem, and for Gideon. [10] It is also stated that during the youth of King David when he was a shephard, he defeated numerous Midyonite soldiers. [11]
Various Rabbinc sources further describe the methods that the ancient Israelites used in warefare, as well as self-defense.
The Talmud records the following discussion concerning how a Jew was to react by being being attacked by a pagan.
These Biblical, Talmudic, and Midrashic stories compose much of the philosophy concerning the origins of the Abir martial system. They are also a major part of the Abir teaching system for learning the techniques, with some techniques being ascribed to Midrashic interpretations of the stories.
There are several legends that place Israelite soldiers settling in Arabia forty-two years before the destruction of the First Temple. It is said that under the prophet Jeremiah some 75,000 Israelites, including priests and Levites, traveled to Yemen. [13] The Jews of Habban in southern Yemen have a legend that they are the descendants of Judeans who settled in the area before the destruction of the Second Temple. These Judeans supposedly belonged to a brigade dispatched by King Herod to assist the Roman legions fighting in the region. [14]
In 1165 to 1173 a historical journey to visit far-flung Jewish communities was undertaken by Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela that crossed and tracked some of the areas that are today in the geographic area of Yemen. Tudela (twelfth century) found an independent Jewish warrior tribe living in the district of Tehama in Yemen. [15]
In 1912 Zionist emissary Shmuel Yavnieli came into contact with Habbani Jews who ransomed him when he was captured and robbed by eight Bedouin in southern Yemen. Yavnieli wrote about the Jews of Habban describing them in the following way.
Unlike the Jews of northern Yemen the Habbani Jews wore a
Jambiyya or curved knife, Matznaph (turban) and Avne`t (sash). It was also common for sultans in
Arabia to use Habbani Jews as soldiers in their armies or as personal guards.
[17] Habbani Jews sometimes served as
mercenaries;
Abdullah I of Jordan, who preferred
Circassian and other non-
Arab bodyguards, had a number of Habbani Jewish guardsmen, including
Sayeed Sofer and his brothers
Salaah and
Saadia.
After 1948 bands of Habbani Jews made their way to Aden, sometimes fighting hostile Arab tribes along the way. From there they were airlifted en masse to Israel as part of Operation Flying Carpet. Due to the rising fears and suspicions of the Arabs that the Jews were leaving in order to help the Zionists to fight against the Arabs in Palestine, the Jews needed to leave Habban in secret.
Describing the route followed by most Habbanis who participated in the Israeli airlift, Operation Magic Carpet:
According to Rabbi Yoseph Maghori-Kohen:
Yehoshua Sofer is founder of the Abir Warrior Arts Association of Israel. He began to publicly teach his family's tradition of Abir in 2002, initially in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv. Prior to publicly teaching Abir, Sofer began studying various martial arts, such as Tang Soo Do, a Korean version of Karate, under Chuck Norris [20] In the 1970s and 1980s, he worked as a bodyguard and a sparring partner for kickboxers. In 1989, he moved to Israel and became the regional director and sole representative of Kuk Sool Won in Israel. [21] In the past, Sofer has also served as a self-defense instructor for numerous I.D.F. and Israeli governmental agencies. [22] He also became a recording artist of reggae, known by his stage name Nigel Admor, while practicing Orthodox Judaism. [23]
Sofer's Abir martial art form is based on fighting techniques that he learned from his grandfather Nachman Sofer, also known by his Arabic name Brihim bin Hassan Ma`atuf-Doh, who was a Habbani Jew. [24] Members of the Sofer family moved between Jerusalem and Habban in eastern Aden to cities such as Baidha. While in Israel, Nachman Sofer and his youngest son, Ya`aqov Mosha, also known by his Arabic name Awad bin Brihim, left the region for Jamaica following the Chevron ( Hebron) massacres of 1929. From Jamaica the Sofer family moved to the United States and later back to Israel. During this time they continued to privately train in Abir.
Abir is recognized by the Wingate College of Sport Sciences in Netanya, Israel. [25] In August of 2008, the Abir/Qesheth course produced an initial class of 15 certified Abir instructors, trained by the Yehoshua Sofer. [26] Several Israeli rabbis, including Rabbi David Karduri and Rabbi Avraham Yerachamiel Rebinowitz, recognize Abir as an ancient and authentic Jewish tradition. [27]
Abir's movements are based on elements of Judaic principles and symbolic elements. The Abir approach is made up of a combination of the following elements.
Many of these techniques derive from the Biblical 12 Tribes of Israel.
The Hebrew alphabet consists of 22 consonants and five word ending letters bringing them to a total of 27 letters. In Abir, the Hebrew letters, both ancient and modern, are used to assign movements into 7 special categories of choking, locking, throwing, take downs, primary initiated attacks, secondary responsive attacks, and combinations of the first six categories. [38]
This Abir concept maintains that every action of a limb returns toward the torso with greater speed and the least amount of stress. This is done in direct opposition to the same limbs energy employed to launch an attack directed away from the torso. [39]
The Haetz-Lula'ah techniques use full-circle striking with the arms or legs. [40]
Abir also employs 18 choreographed fighting dances that tie together movements associated with the 12 Tribes of Israel. There are 12 weaponless and 6 weaponized forms based on these group of techniques. [41]
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