Professor Itay Leibovich

1990–2003 — the beginning, in Shai-Hun

Itay began his martial arts journey at the age of nine, under Roy Feige in the Shai-Hun system. Over the years of training, Itay started helping Roy run the sessions, and at 17 he completed an instructors' course at the coaching school at Wingate. At 18 he was examined by the founder of the Shai-Hun system, Roy's father "Onshi" Shlomo Feige, and was awarded his black belt (1st dan). Before enlisting in the IDF, Itay competed in the Israeli Shai-Hun championship and took first place. After serving as a combat soldier, he flew to the United States to coach the Shai-Hun system. On returning to Israel he resumed regular training under Roy and his father Shlomo.

 

2003–2006 — London and Japanese ju jutsu

In 2003 Itay moved to London to study for his BA in Psychology and International Relations. In London, with the blessing of his coach Roy, he began training in Japanese ju jutsu and progressed to purple belt in under a year and a half. During his time in London he won the British Ju Jutsu Championship four times, was a member of the ground-fighting team that took first place in the London league, and won the university MVP trophy two years running, awarded to the outstanding athlete of the year. During semester breaks he returned to Israel to train under Roy and in private lessons with Shlomo, and passed his examination for 2nd dan.


 

2007–2009 — entering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA

In 2006 Itay returned to Israel, arriving just as the Second Lebanon War began, and was in the first wave called up for reserve duty. In early 2007 he decided he wanted to compete in MMA and started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 2008 he began his master's degree and received his blue belt. Itay made his professional MMA debut at Desert Combat 7 and won in the first round by choke. Through 2009 he entered every Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition held in Israel and won first place in all of them, and also passed his examination for 3rd dan in Shai-Hun. At the end of 2009 he took part in the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors' course run under Wingate College.

 

2010 — Brazil and founding the academy

In the summer of 2010 Itay flew to Brazil to train at the club's headquarters, Gracie Humaita — the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in the world — and had the opportunity to train with the legendary Rickson Gracie. During his stay in Brazil he competed in the prestigious IBJJF Rio International Open and took second place. On returning to Israel he was awarded his purple belt, and during 2011 he took part in the first MMA instructors' course run under Wingate College.

After returning home, in September 2010 Itay opened the Israeli Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA in Tel Aviv, and has run it as head coach ever since.

 

2016–today — black belt and the title of Professor

In 2016 Itay was awarded his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, in the presence of Master Royler Gracie.
In 2017 he was given the title "Professor" — Portuguese for teacher.
On 22 April 2017, after a seven-year break from active competition, Itay took a comeback fight in order to show his students that what he teaches them in training genuinely works. He won by technical knockout in the first round, using the Gracie Jiu Jitsu principles he teaches.

Today Itay runs the academy network, is regarded as one of the most senior fighters and coaches in Israel, and coordinates the instructors' course at the Levinsky-Wingate Academic College.