3rd International Grappling Competition

The international competition in grappling was held on Wednesday 11 December in the sports hall of "Ante Starčević" Primary School in Lepoglava, organised by the Training Centre, in cooperation with the Lepoglava Penitentiary and the Central Office for the Prison System

Zvonimir Penić, Director General of the Prison System and Probation Directorate of the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, officially opened the competition and Marijan Škvarić, Mayor of Lepoglava, gave an introductory address.

“These competitions are not only a way to promote a healthy lifestyle, but a part of our joint efforts to continue developing and improving the homeland security system”, said Director General Penić.

Grappling, a fighting technique that combines wrestling, jiu-jitsu, judo, sambo and other martial arts without striking, is one of the activities of officers of the judicial police, police, army and military police. The aim of such events is to contribute to improving the physical fitness of officers in the homeland security system, to disseminate knowledge about martial arts, to develop qualities such as perseverance, endurance and dedication to the goal, which are essential to the officers’ daily work, as well as to motivate officers and improve cooperation at different levels.

In addition to Croatian judicial police, police, army and military police officers, officers from the penal systems and judicial police of Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in the competition. 

Moreover, an interdepartmental situational tactical exercise was conducted on this occasion by members of the Military Police Regiment - ATVP and members of the judicial police of the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, demonstrating their high level of readiness and professionalism.

In the amateur category, the Zagreb Prison team won the first place, a Hungarian team of competitors secured the second place, while the Honor Guard Battalion team won the third place.

In the advanced category, a Hungarian team was the winner, the second place was the team of the Correctional Institute of Mostar won the second, and the Glina Penitentiary team the third place.

The competition confirmed a high level of physical fitness, knowledge of martial arts and professionalism of homeland security officers.

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