Non-violent self-defence training for schoolchildren

To this day, there are globally no self-defence methods taught and used that are specifically designed for the school environment. Although traditional self-defence methods are included in school curricula, usually abroad, but it can take years to master them as an actual skill.

Based on reports from teachers, we explored the dangerous situations they have encountered in their work and for which they would like to see effective, practical solutions.

Based on these problems and situations, we developed effective, safe and easy-to-learn self-defence solutions for them and created the TREVA – Fit For Life program, which now offers a comprehensive solution against violence inside and, of course, outside school. The newly developed, non-violent self-defence system for young people was named TREVA, using the middle letters of the Hungarian word éleTREVAlók (“fit for life”).

During the creation of the TREVA system, the main focus was on the mental preparation of students. The goal is always prevention, the early detection of attacks and the avoidance of attacks so that no one is hurt if possible.

Self-defence training provides students with a basic understanding of an individual’s right to self-defence, the ethics of self-defence, as well as attacker profiles and the underlying motivations of attacker types. By presenting real-life situations to age groups, followed by a joint analysis of the situations and a reflection, we help students prepare mentally.

The focus is, in all cases, on prevention and avoidance, as most students are neither mentally nor physically prepared to deal with a violent situation.

The first priority was to develop a non-violent self-defence method that minimizes the risk of injury. In addition to the defence techniques, young people must of course also learn to use appropriate attack techniques if their use is unavoidable.

We have found that students who master TREVA’s non-violent self-defence methods are much less likely to get into confrontations, can effectively and safely handle conflict situations, and can defend themselves or even their fellow students.