PMCI July 2015 | Page 5

PMCI: Who do you see as your target customer for your courses? Government forces (Military, Police), bodyguard, and security companies, PMC’s, as well as civilians in need or have an interest in self defence. I often get contacted by schools or companies, to provide self-defense courses, anti-bullying programs or team building courses for them. I enjoy working with both professionals, and civilians. KEMPO ARNIS PMCI: What exactly do you specialize in? Beside my lifetime study of martial arts I majored in sociology in university, and I specialize in combat stress and the physiology of combat. Understanding the adrenaline shock or “Body, Alarm, Reaction” which plays a crucial role in my training for the professionals. I either teach empty hands, knife or baton, where the psychological and physiological aspects need to be addressed. Responsible teaching means teaching candidates how to take rational, cognitive decisions while experiencing an increase in heartbeat, faster breathing, tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, distorted visual clarity, slow motion effect, temporary paralysis, dissociation and intrusive thoughts. Depending on the group, candidates learn 5 goals as a response to any combat scenario they are experiencing: 1. tactical escape, 2. methods of control/restraint, 3. incapacitation, 4. termination, 5. transition to firearms, bladed or blunt weapons which can lead to firearms tactics with the same goals. Once candidates learn all the techniques and responses, they need to be able to perform the required goals under extreme stress. This conditions them to take demanding decisions on autopilot under the extreme stress of combat. As for my personal preference, I love teaching knife fighting, which has always been my passion. TRAINING: me to also work with the Slovenian police force and the special security and protection bureau. For the past 12 years I have taught regular courses mostly to the Slovenian special operations unit as well as Officer and NCO schools. I have also taught many seminars in Italy, Malta, Germany, Hungary, UK and Israel. PMCI: I know that you have access to excellent training facilities that you make use of worldwide; can you tell me more about them and what you do there? I teach anywhere. I have taught in professionally equipped martial arts gyms, as well as on concrete floors behind barracks, in the woods, and in snow at -25° C. I always adapt to the needs and possibilities of each group. Many times training is done outside, using full combat gear to see how they can perform what they learned in a real life environment. PMCI: You also provide training to the military; what does this entail? Yes, most of my experience comes from training the military. My main goal towards a soldier is to give him the tools to save his or her life when it is endangered. To get him or her home safely is the single most important goal in my mind when teaching people risking their lives in war zones or on the streets every day. Teaching them the correct skills is a huge responsibility I take very seriously. PMCI: Do you train just military and police personnel or civilians too? I have martial arts schools in Slovenia as well as other EU countries, where we teach civilians traditional martial arts with a modern and realistic aspect to them. Some would call us a MMA or sort of Modern Combat School but I prefer the traditional name, Kempo pmcimagazine.com