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From system to pedagogy: towards a nonlinear pedagogy of self-defense training in the police and the civilian domain

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Abstract

Within public and academic spheres, the question of how civilians and police officers can effectively deal with violent assaults is discussed above all as a question of the “right self-defense system.” In the current paper, we advocate for a change from questions of system to questions of pedagogy. Based on the paradigm of nonlinear pedagogy and the underlying theories of complex dynamic systems, we present a model of representative learning design, whose analytical and practical use is presented. We conclude with a discussion of the role of nonlinear pedagogy for the professionalization of self-defense training in the civilian and law enforcement domains.

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Notes

  1. “System” refers to self-descriptions of the providers here: Wing Tsun, Krav Maga, and others describe themselves as self-defense systems. This understanding is to be distinguished from the systemic understanding of nonlinear pedagogy introduced later.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Pedagogy and Philosophy, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Swen Körner & Mario S. Staller

  2. Tactical Decision Making Research Group, Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Swen Körner & Mario S. Staller

  3. Carnegie Faculty, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK

    Mario S. Staller

  4. Institute for Professional Conflict Management, Wiesbaden, Germany

    Mario S. Staller

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  1. Swen Körner
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  2. Mario S. Staller
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Correspondence to Swen Körner.

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Körner, S., Staller, M.S. From system to pedagogy: towards a nonlinear pedagogy of self-defense training in the police and the civilian domain. Secur J 31, 645–659 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41284-017-0122-1

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