Oct 24 Dennis Jones Teaches The Czech Police

This interview took place in March 2003

Steve Rowe talks to Shi Kon Martial Artist and Doorman Dennis Jones…

After the Shi Kon Medway International Summer School last year where Dennis met and taught members of the Czech Police force, he was invited along with myself, to teach the Czech Police Self Defence Instructors in Jablonec in the North Western area of the Czech Republic.

I’ve been teaching in Czech from the beginning of the “Velvet Revolution” that brought an end to four decades of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia.

Czech and Slovakia then amicably split with Czech forming a Republic.

Karate had been banned during the main part of the Communist rule, with Shotokan being introduced towards the end under the auspices of Ochi Sensei in Germany.

When I visited soon after the revolution, the Security Forces, (Police, Special Services and Presidential Bodyguards) readily took to the Shi Kon syllabus and I introduced Wado Ryu Karate, Yang Tai Chi, Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Jodo and Aikido, bringing over many of my Instructors in the process.

Shi Kon Czech Republic has grown to become the largest group in Czech, with several thousand members headed by Ondra Musil 6^th Dan who in turn has progressed from a Police Self Defence Instructor to a Colonel in the Police force heading the Regional Murder Squad.

Our Annual International Summer Course in the Czech mountains at Jizerka is now a huge event with around 160 people from different nationalities all training in Karate, Aikido and Tai Chi.

The Czechs enjoyed Dennis’s practical approach and thought that the Police would benefit from his practical experience in Confrontation Management.

Jablonec is the home town of Ondra Musil and is in the mountains (about a 2 hour drive from Prague Airport).  We arrived late on the Thursday night with nothing to do but sleep until 9am the following day when we were to train the Police.

It was freezing cold, the snow was late this year and wouldn’t hit the mountains until the following day, but you could feel it in the air.  The Dojo was packed so I took the “warm up” and the first hour of training on the principles of the wedge, spirals, balls and circles, presenting methods of control and entry options through an offender’s stance, guard and technique.

The Czech Police all seem to do some kind of Martial Arts as well as their Police training so they can usually relate my ideas to their own Art, we get some “interesting” variations, but they all seem to have the enthusiasm and practical experience to make them work!

Dennis then took over and covered his methods of striking. He taught the group how to cover distance, how to use the feet, timing and how to ‘send’ the energy into and through an offender.  When he demonstrated on a heavy punchbag and the Policemen tried to recreate his power they began to realise the skills involved!  They tripped over their own feet, mis-stepped and their techniques skidded off the bag.  Dennis then put the bag on the floor and taught how to disable an offender without being taken to the floor by them.

He went on to teach the skills for manoeuvring around an offender, methods of “switching” step and “skipping” to produce power for striking and how to take them to arresting techniques, choking and/or strangling.

Having an off the record chat with some of Dennis’s friends, they have witnessed him knocking out many people of all sizes with these strikes, often with an open handed “slap”.  The Police thoroughly enjoyed the training and immediately invited him back as soon as possible.

We then ran a weekend course for around 90 Shi Kon students in Tai Chi and Karate with Dennis taking some of the Karate sessions sharing his unique insight into the practicality of his movements.

The snow fell on Saturday evening and quickly became deep; it made the lovely mountain town look like a scene from a Christmas card.  The journey back was a nightmare with our flight being delayed 19 hours!

I thought I’d ask Dennis for his views on the trip and training:

SR  How did you enjoy training the Czech Police?

DJ  It was very interesting!  A good range of body types and characters, the older guys were obviously “hardened” ex-military and it showed.  It was apparent from the beginning that they were all “up for it” and it made them a joy to teach!  They reminded me of training in Karate 30 years ago, groups of strong guys enjoying a hard training session.

Although we spoke different languages, they all understood the universal language of violence, it doesn’t matter what country you’re in, people have a tendency to do the same things when violence arises, these guys have seen their fair share of it and could relate to the points that I was making.  Because of this tendency we could share knowledge and enjoy the day.

SR  How did you enjoy the Shi Kon course.

DJ  There was so many people!  It was bitterly cold, but every building we used was so warm!  I was impressed at how keen they all were; and their ability to cross the language barrier and absorb the Shi Kon system.  You would expect a lower standard from a country that doesn’t see you as often as the students at the Honbu Dojo, but their standard was really good!  The atmosphere was really friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed training in your sessions.

The new Shi Kon Czech full time Honbu Dojo in Jablonec is superb!  Most Martial Arts Instructors would give their eye teeth for that place!  I love the way that it replicates the Honbu Dojo here in England yet keeps it’s own distinct atmosphere 

SR  How did you find teaching through a translator?

DJ  I followed your directions, I kept it simple, slow and didn’t use any English slang terms..  and it seemed to work okay (apart from when I forgot), all credit to Ondra for his translation work!

SR  What did you think of the country?

DJ  A beautiful country where it appears that criminals are still outside of normal society, as opposed to the UK, where they seem to be an accepted part of it.  The restaurants were family oriented and no time did I see local yobs hanging around that are so prevalent over here.

Ondra Musil is a good man and a very important part of the Shi Kon Organisation, he’s loyal to you Steve, because he understands that the system is deep rooted and founded on traditional principles that encompass all areas of life and the Martial Arts.  I thoroughly enjoyed his company and am grateful to have been given the opportunity to share the time with him and his people.

All in all I had a great time, and want to thank yourself and Ondra for inviting me over.

SR  It was great fun, and we’ll be doing it again soon!

Steve Rowe

Steve Rowe is a highly successful Martial Arts instructor - an International Neigong, Qigong and Tai Chi Teacher and an 8th Dan Karate with many other senior dan grades in other martial disciplines.

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