Attacks by aggressive people are on the rise, police statistics show. The number of violent attacks that police officers have had to deal with has risen significantly in recent times. At the same time, interest in martial arts has increased dramatically this year. Some of the new entrants to the courses have witnessed fights and are now keen to learn self-defense.
Alcohol, drugs, or low self-esteem. These are often the factors that prevent aggressors from committing crimes. Usually, they take it out on the weak. Last year, police officers had to deal with over 170 cases of intentional bodily harm in the Pilsen region alone. “From the beginning of this year until the end of September, we have recorded 150 cases in police statistics,” said Ivana Jelínková, spokesperson for thePlzeň Region Police.
Assaults are on the rise, and it is no wonder that people feel the need to protect themselves. To get out of a dangerous situation and to be able to defend themselves and their loved ones. This was the motivation for Martin Lorenc that led him to martial arts. “I’ve always been a skinny kid, everyone laughed at me, but I don’t mind, I can defend myself,” he said in an interview.
The most significant interest among combat sports is kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). “Crime has gone up in Plzeň, there are a lot of foreigners and a lot of other nationalities here, and the interest has increased,” reported one of the owners of a Plzeň boxing club. The lessons are attended by children, students, and middle-aged people. There are also a lot of girls who want to learn basic self-defense.
“Judges, teachers, doctors. It’s quite a nice surprise that even such people are interested in learning martial arts and defending themselves, ” said coach Jan Kalaš.