- Home
- Krav Maga Blog
- Krav Instructors
- Train in Israel
- Tour Train Israel
- Krav Shop
- DVD
- Kickboxing
- IKI Near Me
- Seminars
- IKI Membership
- On-Line Training
- Krav Maga Training
- Testimonials
- History Krav Maga
- Instructors Page
- Past Blogs
- Spanish
- Italian
- Certification
- Contact
- Holland Seminar
- Vienna Seminar
- Poland Seminar
- Italy Seminar
- Belt Requirements
Funk Combat Lessons
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
January 6, 2026, Israel
First Sergeant Leonard Alfred Funk Jr. (August 27, 1916 – November 20, 1992)
January 29, 1945, 2:47 pm, Holtzheim, Belgium
An event takes place that if you saw it in a movie you would say, C'mon, even for a Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger or John Claude van Damme movie this is absurd. But it really happened. But first, a little background on an unknown hero name Leonard Alfred Funk, not the coolest name for a hero. But real heros are not "cool", they are real. To make matters even more "cool", he stood a mere 5 ft 5 inches, about 165 meters, weighed 140 pounds, about 64 Kilo, and was a clerk by profession. and yet by the time the war was over he would earn the following awards;
Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart (3)
Croix de guerre w/ palm (Belgium)
Leonard Funk, I believe, is the most highly decorated US paratrooper of World War Two. After the war he worked for many years as a clerk for the VA (Veterans Administration) serving his country in a less glamorous way, helping combat veterans claim their proper benefits to live out their lives in dignity.
He never wrote a book, but his exploits could certainly fill one.
What did he do during the war?
He was meant to be dropped along with his unit behind enemy lines. But the aircraft came under heavy enemy fire, the paratroopers had to be dropped at a height that was very dangerous, 400 feet, (apparently it was too low) and the men became totally scattered. He severely hurt his ankle upon landing and could only walk with great pain. He buried his parachute and looked for other men. Eventually he found 18 scattered men, all from different units, he united them under his command and led them through the German lines to meet up with American troops. But that was only the beginning. They continued to fight and win. They did not lose a single man; Sgt Funk was awarded the Silver Star for this achievement.
A few months later he participated in in the ill-fated Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. During this operation he saved many Allied lives. At one point he noticed a German anti-aircraft gun battery. Not only would many American plans be shot down but the life-saving military equipment they were carrying, vital to the war's success, would be lost. Funk decided to take on the enemy position. His team consisted of only three men. The enemy battery was heavily fortified, with guns criss-crossing the areas around it. In such an attack the attacking party is expected to outnumber the defenders 3 -1, but in this case the defenders were outnumber 20 - 4. And yet they destroyed the position.
Funks humble heroics would continue. And now back to January 29, 1945, 2:47 pm, Holtzheim, Belgium.
Funks' unit as well as others, were clearing Belgian villages and had taken 80 German prisoners. But the American troops were low in numbers, so they left only 4 men to guard the 80 prisoners. Unknown to Funk a German unit came along, overpowered the 4 guards, and freed the 80 German prisoners who retook their arms. Funk returned with a team of 4 and caught completely by surprise. The American soldiers were sitting, now themselves prisoners, with their hands over their heads. The other members of Funk's unit also surrendered. but Funk did not. He stood there with his Thompson submachine gun slung over his shoulder. The German officer shoved a gun into his belly and ordered him to surrender. For some reason, unknown to Funk himself, Funk burst out laughing. The more the German officer shouted, in a language the American did not understand, the more Funk laughed. Sgt, Funk had heard of the massacre at Malmedy, how German troops killed American POW's in cold blood, he had no intention of allowing this to happen. He slowly began to remove his machine gun, as ordered, but it was just a trick, instead he opened fire, killing the German officer immediately. He shouted for the other members of his team to pick up weapons. Within less than a minute 21 German soldiers were dead, 24 injured, the rest surrendered. The American prisoners were freed. For this he won the medal of honor, personally awarded to him by President Truman.
What does the story teach us?
War doesn’t favor the Big, it doesn’t favor the strong, it doesn’t favor the reckless or the fearless. War favors the ones who keep thinking when everyone else has stopped. Ninety men against one, a gun shoved against his stomach. Surrender was not an option, not after Malmedy. He thought of the other men. Sgt Funk never referred to himself as a hero, he simply solved a problem that needed to be solved, to save lives.
What can we take from this, as Krav Maga students?
Training matters, patterns formed in our brains matter, there is no time for hesitation. Survival favors the one who learns to think on his feet, to adapt, to take action when others have become frozen with fear. We need to visualize these violent situations, learn from real cases, become combat ready. Being Big does not matter, being strong does not matter, being reckless or fearless is counterproductive. Experience, understanding, thinking, training, correct training for real life, that is what matters. Refusal to be a victim, that is what matters. These are elements we must incorporate into our training.
Moshe Katz, 7th dan Black Belt, Israeli Krav Maga. Certified by Wingate Institute. Member Black Belt Hall of fame, USA and Europe.
Understand the Israeli Fighting Mentality - Israel a Nation of Warriors by Moshe Katz
What is the cultural background of Krav Maga? What makes it unique? What makes the Israeli military so effective? Why are Israeli security systems used all over the world?
What are the Biblical origins of Krav Maga and who was the first Krav Maga instructor?
What weapons and military strategies did our Biblical ancestors use?
How has Krav Maga developed in Israel and what are its goals?
All that and more in this unique book.
Start Your REAL Training TODAY
Or is someone coming to save you?
IKI Krav Maga online distance training - Leading to ranks and certification.
Tour and Train Israel Experience
Personal Training - If you are interested in personal Krav Maga training please contact us on the form below.
