IBSSA International Training Seminar in Belgium - 16th – 18th May 2008

IBSSA Belgium with the leadership of Mr. Krisztian ZERKOWITZ – Country Representative of IBSSA for Belgium and Urban Close Combat International – one of the official training centres of IBSSA organized their first International event during the weekend of the 17^th and 18^th of May.

The goal of the weekend was to unite professionals from all over the world in order to join a hard, soul breaking close combat training that would prepare the members for ‘real-life’ combat in all situation. The architects of this event, Master Instructor Didier COPPENS (Master Teacher of Self Defence and Martial Arts) and CPO Krisztian ZERKOWITZ did just that; managing to unite 30 participants from 10 different countries (Armenia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia) during the weekend, when people were tested, driven to their physical and psychological limits to make them realize the realities of real life combat and the importance of their job even if they work in private security, law enforcement or military.

International instructors, such as Detective Mike CSOKE – Regional Representative of IBSSA for Canada, Eric DUYSHAVER and Dorian BEERENS from the Belgian Army, introduced the students to topics such as: Hand to Hand Combat, baton, knife, weapon retention, weapon disarming, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Anti-carjacking and many more with the help of the following Instructors of IBSSA and UCCS:

Mr. Samuel GAUTIER (France) – Assistant Instructor of VIP Protection
Mr. Jurgen PERSOONS (Belgium) – Assistant Instructor of Self Defence
Mr. Eddie ARAPETJAN (Armenia)
Mr. Ben de RAEVE (Belgium)
Mr. Davy LOETE (Belgium)
Mr. Maarten BOGAERTS (Belgium)

The event took place in an international setting, where the lectures and trainings were held in English. Wherever this caused problems, IBSSA members were ready to help, interpret in 5 different languages and use worldwide sign language.

The training was tough, very tough….

Master teacher Didier COPPENS started out with the basics of the UCCS system, boxing and kicking techniques, the basics of a good fight. All this was supported by ‘iron’ discipline, extremely tough physical exercises and coaching from the UCCS crew. Because “Those who TRAIN HARD, FIGHT EASY”.

During the weekend basics of the UCCS system were discovered by the students defensive techniques as well as offensive techniques. IBSSA and UCCS instructor Jurgen PERSOONS introduced the participants to MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Because “Those who stand, will fall down”. With the instructions of Jurgen falling down became an advantage. The 2 hours of MMA training showed how. Exhausting, but rewarding.

Defence for extreme violence was taught by the fantastic IBSSA master teacher Mike CSOKE. Gun Disarmament and Weapon Retention followed by some devastating techniques with the baton, or better known in the martial arts as ‘stick’. Even the ‘Redman’ suite was taken out in order to introduce students to the difficulty of attacking a madman without any sensation of pain.

Training continued until about 2200h, exhausting the students to the maximum not only physically, but also mentally. Two instructors, Dorian BEERENS and Eric DUYSHAVER teaching Tactical Combat Casualty Care, showed the results of knife attacks. Shockingly making clear to the attendants how dangerous knives are, and how important it is to train correctly. On Sunday, these theoretical techniques were made visible with practical exercises on using a tourniquet, the Israeli Pressure Bandage etc. Stress levels were raised again using exhaustion on the students taking them to their limits and far beyond …

Initiations in Anti Car Jacking modules and protection details were taught by IBSSA Instructor Krisztian ZERKOWITZ. Showing the reality, making people think. As instructor Mike CSOKE put so clearly self-defence is not enough, it takes a whole line of events before you get to defend yourself, and those events should be steered by the good guys …. Us.

IBSSA Belgium believes in the importance of the international character of training. Experiences from different backgrounds, social economic situations and legislation allow to share vital information and reality based experience between the students. As Urban Close Combat stands for ‘fighting with intelligence, intelligent use of force but understanding that ‘first to come, means first to fight’’ we train hard. No surprises in reality if you train for it, the right way.

The whole weekend was concluded with an exam, tough as nails, people loosing the ability to stand, loosing the ability to breathe, but so proud of their achievements, that the official IBSSA certificate that was provided, became a golden medal.

UCCS provides the opportunity to all IBSSA members worldwide to come and train the Close Combat techniques at the ‘local’ gym, or UCCS can send you an expert team of instructors to train at your club, team, unit etc.

More information is available through the International website of the association: www.jkd.be or at the IBSSA HQ.
Please contact us for details.

25th May 2008

IBSSA Belgium