Israelis teach martial arts to Chinese

Former elite IDF soldiers, Israeli security guards hold self defense training courses for employees of Chinese companies stationed in high-risk areas around the world
Boaz Arad
BEIJING – A group of former combat IDF soldiers, Krav Maga and martial arts experts are giving security training courses to employees of major Chinese companies operating in danger zones around the world, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported on Monday. 

Many Chinese governmental companies have been operating outside the communist state in recent years in laying foundations, paving roads and setting up factories and mines. Most of the work is being done in developing countries in Africa, South America, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Hundreds of thousands of Chinese employees are estimated to be dispatched overseas every year and are usually not trained to handle dangerous situations they may find themselves in.

Every month Chinese employees find themselves victims of armed robbery and abductions during their work overseas. Most cases end with capitulation to the kidnappers but some have also resulted in death.

For over two years an Israeli company comprised of ex-soldiers, former security guards and self defense experts has been operating in China teaching the Chinese how to handle dangerous situations.

Alpha Angel is an Israeli-Chinese partnership run by Adi Talmor, formely of the Paratroopers Brigade in the IDF who has worked as a security guard in Israeli embassies around the world and in various El Al branches overseas. He has been residing in Beijing for the past seven years. His Chinese partner is a businessman who has many contacts with the Chinese army and police. The company employs eight instructors.

As part of training, Chinese employees learn about Islam, terrorist organizations' operation methods, self defense techniques and ways to handle various high-risk situations.

"Most of these men are chubby clerks used to sitting around the office and smoking cigarettes all day," Talmor says. "Our goal is to prep them to what may happen to them when they're stationed in dangerous hell holes."

Chinese authorities baffled

Meanwhile, Chinese authorities are at a loss of what to make of the Israeli training techniques. During an escape exercise held in a remote location instructors dug out a camouflaged position and raised the suspicion of local police. A large police force arrived at the site after receiving reports of "white men burying Chinese people in the ground." It took numerous telephone calls for the police to understand what was going on.

"Our potential clients know that Israelis are the best in the business but still constantly ask for proof. We've recently been approached by one of the Chinese police's special units which asked us to send one of our instructors to check whether he's better than their instructor.

"They wanted him to fight the other instructor one-on-one like on the Kung-fu films," Talmor related. "If he wins, they'll take him to do their training. They make decisions here in an entirely different way than we are familiar."