PW 03 2017

Defensive Tactics

training weekend

Rob Stenhouse

I am just back from another excellent Defensive Tactics training weekend at COPS International held in

Uddavella Sweden. Hosted by the Swedish IPA Defensive Tactics Group and arranged by their lead Instructor

Slavo Gozdzic. I have run two of these events myself and can appreciate the time and effort that goes into its

organisation. It really is exhausting, so I would like to thank Slavo on behalf of all the participants.

e were picked up at the airport

and taken to our accommodation,

a small lodge hut in a beautiful area near to a lake. From there we

were transported to and from the training venues. On the Saturday

night we all got together for a few drinks and a BBQ. My Polish colleagues were

able to ply me with some of their outstandingly strong Vodka. I’m fairly sure

they said 50% proof! I can’t remember (obviously!)

I had the honour of forming part of the training team alongside Slavo, Keith

Sinclair and Richard Dean. The training sessions were suitably hard and

yet remained good humoured and relaxed. Topics included: instinctive

point shooting, combat slapping system (known as Explosive Self Defence

Systems - ESDS), ground fighting, defence to a pistol, realistic knife defence

and switching on and off violence. I unashamedly say that you are missing

out on a real treat if you don’t attend any of these courses. They are

invaluable both in improving knowledge and gaining experience.

We had participants from UK, Sweden, Poland, Belgium and Russia. As an

old hand at these events I know quite a lot of people but was fortunate to

meet some new people who I can now call my friends. It was great to see

those who were new to the group meeting new people and experiencing the

very different for of training we undergo. As most people will say, ‘wow, we

just don’t train like this at home, every police officer should experience it’.

Over the coming weeks we will post some videos of the training so you can

see for yourself. Visit our Facebook and twitter pages to view them.

POLICE WORLD

Vol 62 No. 3, 2017

Professional Development