Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović to train Croatian police

Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic (Facebook)

MMA legend Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović has signed a voluntary agreement with the Ministry of the Interior and will train Croatian police officers

Mirko, a former member of the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit, and the Minister of the Interior, Davor Božinović, explained the nature of the collaboration today at a press conference.

The agreement is entirely voluntary and involves training Croatian police officers in strength and conditioning, as well as martial arts techniques that are directly applicable to police work, Fight Site reported.

“It feels great to be back here. I was invited to contribute to the training of our special forces – the special and intervention police. Selected officers from the special units in Split, Osijek, Zagreb, and Rijeka will be attending, and I’ll do my best to pass on the knowledge I’ve gathered over more than 30 years,” Mirko said, adding.

“I’ll show them what they need. It won’t be high kicks or jabs – that’s not what they need in that way. They need to learn how to prepare their bodies. In a physical confrontation, the most important weapon you have is your body, and you must turn it into a weapon.

We’ll focus on a few key techniques that have proven effective, those that are most commonly encountered on the streets. That’s what they’ll need.”

After signing the agreement, ‘Cro Cop’ held an introductory training seminar in the martial arts hall. He covered the basics, focusing on the fundamentals of combat, including how to execute basic offensive and defensive moves. He placed particular emphasis on wrestling and grappling, as he explained, “A police officer must incapacitate a person without causing injury.”

While demonstrating essential takedown, throw, and choke techniques, as well as defensive strategies, Mirko highlighted one muscle group as the most crucial – the neck.

“The neck is the most important muscle in a fight! Absolutely the most important. The neck is key,” Filipović stressed, while also advising that officers shouldn’t rely on just one martial art, as anything can happen on the streets.