18
IPA
Defence
TacticsGroup
BranchesOut
RobStenhouseandKeithSinclair, from the
Defence TacticsGroup, travelled toKlaipeda,
Lithuania to teach self-defenceand shooting
techniquesat theLietuvosPolicijosMokykla
(Lithuanianpolice school).
Theaimof the visit was tomake contactswithin
the Lithuanianpolice self-defence training
community andencourage the formationof
another branchof theDefence TacticsGroup.
The visit was organisedby ViliusMotiejaitis, from
thepolice school inKaunas, andRomualdas
Rulevicius, from thepolice school inKlaipeda.
On the first dayRobandKeithmet Dainius
Smatavicius, theheadof thepolice school, and
explained theaims of theGroupand the course.
Self-defenceappears tobe givenahigher priority
in Lithuania in comparison to theUKand the
school is equippedwith twoexcellent self-
defence training rooms.
Bob spent amorning teaching theExplosiveSelf-
DefenceSystem (ESDS), whichwasdeveloped for
policeofficersby SlawoGozdzik, an IPAmember
fromSweden - a system that relies onopen-
handed strikes to subdueanattacker.
Keithalso taught part of theSportikoprogramme
using grapplingdrills toaccustom trainees to
aggressionand close-quarter attacks. Training
involveda lot of roughand tumblewhich the
trainees took to very quickly. Healso focusedon
knife-awareness anddefenceusing scenariowork
to show the reality of knifeattacks. Again, training
was realistic and challengingat times.
The final training sessions targetedpoint-
shooting. The Lithuanianpolice currently use
a two-handed competitionbased shooting
technique. Rob taught amorepractical one-
handed close range survivalmethodof shooting.
All the trainingprogrammes presentedwere
basedona common themeof realism.
Keith said,
“Someof the trainingmethods and
exercisepresentedby ushadnot been seenby
theLithuanian trainees andwere the subject of
muchdiscussion.”
RobandKeithmetMr Smatavicius to thankhim
for the chance to trainat the school and later
said that they consider the visit tohavebeena
resounding success.
Keithadded,
“Thehospitality shownby the
Lithuanianswas impeccable. Thepolice school
not only provided top-class accommodationbut
also covered the cost of allmeals.”
POLICEWORLD
Vol 59No. 3, 2014
IPANews
RobStenhouseandKeithSinclair with the trainees
ThamesValley
Get Hooked
“Dirty head”, “Rousing”, Skimming” and “Cooling”
– thesewords conjureup visionsof anunderworld!
But ThamesValley branchmemberswere soon to
learn the inner secrets of beer fermentationat the
HookNortonBrewery inOxfordshire.
Sixteenmembers, including two guests from
Australia, embarkedon the tour. After witnessing
the fermentationprocess andwhere the liquor is
barrelledweendedupmeeting ‘Nelson’ and ‘Major’ -
twoShirehorses. Theywereabout topull awaywitha
delivery of beer onadray.
We thenhad theopportunity to sample themany
beers that wereproducedon site - with lovely old
names like ‘Lion’, ‘Hooky’ and ‘DoubleStout’.
Having completed the tour wehadanexcellent lunch
in thenearby Sunpublichouse in thehigh street.
Thanks toPaulineand JohnOsborne for organising
the visit.
MikeVince
, ThamesValley Secretary
Wine
&
Wisdom
Thingsarehottingup in the race
betweenDevonbranchandCornwall
branchquiz teams.
Despite thedistance involvedmembers
from the twobranches got together and
musteredasmuchbrainpower as they
could for theevent organisedbyMarilyn
McQueen.Marilyn tried to givemembers
somethinga littledifferent witha ‘Wine&
Wisdom’ quiz evening.
GrahamBulford, DevonbranchSecretary,
said,
“Oneof the teams fromDevon is
makingahabit of winning - in fact for
the last three times! Cornwall branch is
determined to stop the rot. ACornishman in
theDevonbranch team swopped teams and
tried tohelp change things - but tonoavail.
Wearenot quiz regulars, andnothing could
prevent agreat atmosphereanda lively
evening.With chocolates shared round from
thedrawprizesweall left witha smileand
fondmemories.”
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