Mastering the Worst-Case Scenario: Advanced Close-Quarter Tactics in Poland (September 2025)
In September 2025, my pursuit of continuous growth brought me back to the European Security Academy (ESA) in Poland for a highly specialized Knife Fighting Seminar. The course was led by Jan Nycek, the renowned Head of the Sajn Tactical Combat System. Sharing the mats with an incredible roster of international professionals - including Polish military personnel, security operators from Ghana, and BJJ Black Belts from Brazil and the UAE - was both a humbling and deeply inspiring experience.
One might ask: Why would a trauma-sensitive resilience coach delve into the brutal reality of knife fighting?
Knife threats are universally recognized as some of the most terrifying and volatile situations imaginable. Traditional civilian Krav Maga primarily focuses on empty-handed survival. However, to truly understand violence, you have to look at all its facets - including scenarios where you might actually have access to a tool, whether for home defense or in a professional security capacity.
My objective here is not to pass these highly specialized tactical skills on to my everyday corporate clients. Instead, my goal is absolute personal mastery. I aim to become a leading expert in Close Quarter Combat within the global Krav Maga Israel network. To be the ultimate, unshakeable guide for my clients in Berlin, I must close every single gap in my own knowledge, no matter how dark or uncomfortable the subject matter is, and regardless of where that knowledge comes from.
This seminar successfully bridged a crucial gap in my tactical understanding. I built a profound connection with Jan Nycek and his elite coaching team, and I fully intend to return to complete an official instructor certification in the Sajn system. The deep mutual respect earned in these high-stakes environments is something I cherish immensely, perfectly captured by the farewell message I received from one of the Polish instructors as I left:
"Trzymaj się tygrysie jesteśmy w kontakcie jak coś zawsze możesz liczyć na pomoc."
(Take care, tiger. We will stay in touch, and if you ever need anything, you can always count on my help.)
