Our story
More than two decades of judo in Haifa — from a youth team to the Olympic Games.
- Over 30 years ago
Alexander Kratysh founds the club
Alexander Kratysh, a former USSR judo vice-champion, founds the club — and still coaches there today.
- 2001
29 medals at the Israeli championship
The youth team of the Sport LeTzafon association, coached by Lazar Kaplun, Alexander Kratysh and Oleg Brik, wins 29 medals, 6 of them gold. Haifa mayor Amram Mitzna hosts the athletes.
- 2012
A club graduate at the Olympics
Tommy Arshansky represents Israel in judo at the London Olympics; a year later he wins European Championships bronze.
- 2012
Solidarity camp for kids from the south
In November, during the fighting in Gaza, the association hosts 85 young judoka aged 4–15 from Ashdod and Ashkelon for three days of training, a tournament and trips.
- 2013
Cups at the Israeli team championship
At the Israeli U15 team championship in Tel Aviv the club wins two cups — gold and bronze — as the only team from the north.
- 2014
J-Sport camp at Kfar Galim
About a hundred kids from Israel, Ukraine and Russia spend 12 days of judo and wrestling at the association's international camp. Since 2011 more than 500 children have attended J-Sport camps.
- 2015
Israeli team champions
At the Israel Judo Association's 50th-anniversary festival in Eilat, Unifight's U15 team become Israeli champions and the U17 team take silver.
- 2016
Ilana Kratysh at Rio
A club graduate who started judo at five with her father represents Israel in wrestling at the Rio Olympics.
- 2022
Northern Championship in Nesher
About 450 competitors, from age 4 to adults, at the Nesher sports hall. The same year: 2nd place and the most medals at the Israeli U23 Championship.
- 2023
Israel's first sumo medal
Ilana Kratysh wins silver at the European Sumo Championships in Krotoszyn, Poland. With her father she revives Israel's sumo association.
- 2024
European Championship medals
Bronze for our cadet at the European Cadet Championships in Sofia, and bronze for Gal Kloda at the Junior European Championships in Tallinn.
- 2024
Israeli Sumo Championship in Haifa
Ilana Kratysh directs the Israeli Sumo Championship at the Leo Baeck sports center: about 200 athletes, the first such event in Israel in some 15 years.
- 2025
A Grand Slam medal and No. 1 in Israel
Adelina Novitzki wins bronze at Grand Slam Tbilisi, and the club finishes first at the Israeli Cadet Championship with 12 medals.
- 2026
Today
Maccabiah medals, dozens of kids and teens on national podiums — and the road goes on.
About the association
- Name
- Unifight Haifa, a registered non-profit (amuta)
- Registration no.
- 580472751
- Chair
- Ilana Kratysh
- Head of the judo school
- Alexander Kratysh
- Disciplines
- judo, wrestling, sambo
- Our names
- In 2013 press reports the team appears as "Olimpix", and in 2015 as "Unifight". The club's Facebook page carries both names together.
