The Kung Fu Odyssey of Sifu Sapir Tal, the ‘Israeli Bruce Lee’

From seven-year-old judo student to widespread recognition as the ‘Israeli Bruce Lee,’ Sifu Sapir Tal’s ascension to the summit of kung fu has been a fascinating journey.

Sapir is a recognized kung fu sifu (master); he has rarified status as a ‘formal disciple’ of one the art’s foremost practitioners; and has his own kung fu academy in Petah Tikva. Sapir is also the creator of the Spikey, a hand-held self-defense tool utilized by individuals and law enforcement the world over.

Having recently turned 59, Sapir’s martial arts odyssey began over half a century ago when, at age seven, his parents enrolled him in the dojo of 12-time Israel national judo champion Yona Melnik.

“My parents just pushed me into something I’d like to do,” Sapir explains. “It was fun as a seven- year-old. I went to Yona’s dojo two, three times a week until I was in 8th grade.”

A Life-Changing Revelation

Following 8th grade, his family moved to Pittsburgh, where his father had a job offer, and lived there for four years. Sapir went to a yeshiva for 9th grade, but confesses, “It was too much for me.” He switched to public high school, intermittently pursuing his interest in martial arts, including Thai boxing.

Along the way, Sapir had a revelation. “I realized I wanted to go for traditional martial arts, as opposed to ‘sport’ martial arts. I liked Steven Seagal, and I liked Bruce Lee even more. Bruce Lee was my hero.”

He began studying kung fu, which, he says, “was enjoyable, because there were no rules like in Thai boxing or mixed martial arts. It led me to understand this is what I wanted. I liked the ceremonial aspect of kung fu, the concept, philosophy and the fighting itself. I didn’t just want trophies – I wanted to know the martial arts.”

He continues: “Kung fu was developed over the course of 2,000 years, from warrior to warrior. Judo and wrestling, on the other hand, are made for sport, even entertainment, whereas with kung fu, everything in your body becomes a weapon. I would have an advantage in a real-life situation over someone who does it for sport, because I have trained in lethal techniques.”

In 1984, Sapir’s training was put on hold when he returned to Israel to fulfill his IDF service. He was assigned duty as a combat engineer in South Lebanon. “Basically, the demolition squad goes first and checks roads for explosives.” Asked if it was nerve-racking he responds, “Your heart beats fast, but eventually you get used to it. You always have to be prepared.”

A Serendipitous Encounter

Sapir’s experiences in the IDF, as well as in street fighting, ingrained in him the belief that he must study an exceedingly effective and practical fighting system. Upon completing his army service, a serendipitous encounter sealed his destiny.

He had come to Atlanta, where a job as a locksmith awaited. One day, Sapir saw a clothing and merchandise store, and, upon going deeper inside, saw fighting poles and uniforms. He discovered a school at the back of the store, which, it turned out, was taught by Grand Master Henry Poo Yee, a foremost expert in the art of Southern Mantis Kung Fu.

Sapir training with Grand Master Henry Poo Yee

“The school was invitation only,” Sapir relates. “You don’t just walk in.” When Yee asked why Sapir wanted to learn kung fu, he responded, “I like Bruce Lee and Chinese culture.” Allowed to come back, “I started seeing things I’d never seen before. I was hooked.”

Although Sapir and his wife returned to Israel to raise their four children, he continued to visit Yee annually. Ultimately, Yee granted his star pupil permission to start his own academy, which opened in 1998 in Petah Tikva. When he published an ad announcing the academy, a journalist dubbed Sapir the ‘Israeli Bruce Lee,’ a distinction by which he is known to this day.

Sapir says his school’s philosophy, which is “to do away with the overly commercial or Western type of sports club attitude,” has remained unchanged. He adds that throughout more than a quarter century, thousands of Israeli and foreign students have trained at his academy.

Inventing the Spikey

When a 15-year-old female student of his was attacked, Sapir realized a new means of self-defense was needed. This gave birth to the Spikey – so-named because it has spikes and fits on a keychain – which took two years to develop. “I did extensive research, including reading police reports on the interrogation of rapists to understand how to foil attacks.”

Sapir developed the Spikey, which he calls a self-defense “game changer”

Unveiled in 2008, the Spikey enables individuals to quickly disable attackers, and law enforcement to rapidly subdue suspects. He describes the plastic and fiberglass Spikey as “a game-changer. A woman’s punch will be stronger than mine, even though I have had 30 years of training.” Although it has spikes, “it’s not meant to pierce the skin but rather to inflict intense pain.” He has conducted international seminars and also published a book on the Spikey.

“I Help People Make Themselves Better”

In 2014, in recognition of his mastery of Southern Mantis Kung Fu, attained over three decades under the tutelage of Grand Master Henry Poo Yee, Sapir was honored as a formal disciple of his sifu. “It’s a title very few individuals have earned, and a big honor,” he says proudly. Four years later, Yee passed away at age 79. Reflecting on the circumstances leading him to Yee all those years ago, Sapir says, “Life works in mysterious ways.”

Training students at his academy in Petah Tikva

Sifu Sapir Tal has now been a practitioner of the martial arts for over five decades. He is world-renowned, and has been an instructor to diverse groups of pupils, including military, law enforcement and correctional personnel; schools and organizations; and individuals.

When he embarked on his life-changing path 52 years ago, Sapir could never have imagined where it would lead him. The gratification it has given Sapir is immense: “Through the work that I do, I help people make themselves better. I see how they come in and how they leave, and I know I’m doing really good things. They get a lot more out of it than I can really express. It becomes like a family.”

(Photos courtesy of Sifu Sapir Tal)