Bottrop. SVV Bottrop’s self-defense training involves training for real conflicts. What makes the FIST system different from martial arts.
Twelve-year-old Leonie is walking through a narrow alley in the dark. Out of nowhere she is attacked by a man. With a practiced movement of her hand she can fend off the first attack, and with a second movement she brings the man to the ground. She leaves the alley resolutely, there is no sign of fear on her face.
This situation did not happen in real life, but is a simulated scenario in SVV Bottrop’s self-defense training. Coach Thomas Kistner calls these scenarios “situational elements,” which can also happen in everyday life in one way or another. They are part of the “Free Individual Self-Defense Training”, or FIST for short
Self-defense in Bottrop: conflict avoidance as the goal
The self-defense strategies contain elements from martial arts such as judo, karate or Ai-Kido. When it comes to execution, however, it’s not about perfect technique, but about the effectiveness of the strategies.
“This is what sets us apart from classic martial arts. “Everyone can use what they think is right in the dangerous situation,” says Kistner. In concrete terms, this means: scratching, biting or pulling your hair is also allowed. “However, everything must be proportionate and take place in the area of self-defense,” continued Kistner. The ultimate goal is always to avoid confrontations. “We practice a lot in situations and also work with communication and behavior analysis to avoid conflicts.”
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Defense in everyday dangerous situations
In order to recreate possible dangerous situations during training as realistically as possible, Kistner and his coaching colleagues, for example, build narrow alleys of gymnastics benches and use the hallways and changing rooms of the gym. There, the trainers focus on elements of surprise and “attack” the students in moments where they don’t expect it. “In a real dangerous situation you can’t prepare yourself,” explains Kistner.
“In principle, everyone can contribute to the training with their experiences from their own everyday life and make suggestions on how to deal with a situation,” says the 37-year-old self-defense trainer.
In total, the athletes take twelve grades in exams, up to level nine as students, then as masters.
Photo: Thomas Gödde / FUNKE Photo Services
SVV Bottrop: Self-defense for everyone
At SVV Bottrop, all age groups are represented, from children aged eight to pensioners. According to Kistner, a lot of emphasis is placed on prevention in training, especially with children. “If you look at it realistically, children have no chance against adults in a fight. We therefore discuss with them possible scenarios that can arise in everyday life,” explains Kistner. “These can be conflicts in the schoolyard or situations in which children are harassed by adults.”
Twelve-year-old Leonie gets a lot out of the self-defense training, she says. “I just feel more confident when I’m out on the street.” She’s never had to use the techniques she learned. Nevertheless, she will continue to practice dangerous situations regularly in training.
SVV Bottrop training takes place every Thursday and Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the sports halls of the Janusz Korczak Comprehensive School. Anyone interested can come along in sportswear without registering and complete a trial training session. More information on:
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2023-11-20 17:08:59
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