“We didn’t even imagine that I would last three rounds. I expected the second one to be the final one, but as the spectators cheered, it didn’t leave me on the ground,” says the commander of the 43rd Parachute Regiment in Chrudim, Petr Matouš, who fought in support of war veterans in the ring with UFC fighter David Dvořák. How long has he been training? Are the Czechs united when it comes to the defense of the country, and why do they have such a reserved approach to the military?
You can watch the entire interview in the introductory video or listen to it in your favorite podcast app. What were its main themes?
00:08-03:41 How much did three rounds in the ring with professional wrestler David Dvořák hurt? How long did lieutenant colonel Matouš train for the match and did he meet his expectations? And how did the idea of pitting soldiers and professional wrestlers against each other come about?
03:41-05:49 How much money was raised at the charity gala? Can the Czech state adequately take care of its war veterans? Will Fighters for veterans become a tradition?
05:49-09:51 Is Matouš’s opponent David Dvořák going to join the active reserves? How is the active reserve army currently doing? How does Matouš perceive the reluctance of Czechs to join the army? And can the situation be improved without the introduction of conscription?
09:51-14:54 Does the commander of the 43rd Parachute Regiment believe that the Czechs would defend their country in the event of a conflict? How does paratroopers prepare for conflict? And what does the work of the elite squad look like in action?
14:54-17:30 What makes the special forces, in which Matouš spent most of his career, different from the paratroopers? Is Matouš shouting at his subordinates? Does it bother him when soldiers are referred to as rubbers or green brains? And is there a place for women in the army?
17:30-19:10 What mission was the most difficult for Matouš? Is he still afraid of anything? And why did he decide to go on a mission to Afghanistan?
19:10-20:52 Why is Matthew’s book called Despite? How many times did Matouš have to break the doctors’ claims that he would have to save himself for the rest of his life after an accident in childhood? And what was the most important thing he learned on the survival course in French Guiana?
