Department of Physical Education and Combat Sports

Department of Physical Education and Combat Sports

The physical training of prospective law enforcement professionals is of paramount importance at the Faculty of Law Enforcement (FLE) of the National University of Public Service (NUPS) as was in its predecessor institution, the Police College.

Since as early as the 1970s, the teaching of physical coercion has been part of the curriculum in addition to the physical conditioning of students. In the beginning, officer candidates mastered the techniques of combat sports that were introduced in Hungary during that period. In the 1980s, Police Colonel Dr László Sebestyén already distinguished combat sports from self-defence sports in his epoch-making work Protect yourself. After the turn of the millennium, physical coercion, which evolved from the special nature of law enforcement, became distinguished from the systems of combat sports and self-defence training. In András Kelemen's work Methodological bases of the use of physical coercion and the physical confrontation of the police officer, physical coercion is already viewed as part of the required professional knowledge and skills.

The evolution of physical training was determined by the requirements set out in the regulations of the Ministry of Interior. The textbook Healthy lifestyle. Developing sports skills by Éva Kissné Ferencz, József Somlai, and Erika Tóthné Kósa provided students with not only the mandatory learning materials but also indispensable information for leading a healthy way of life. Every spring, from the beginning of the 2000s, we organise a conference entitled ‘Sport, health, lifestyle’ where the university’s student and staff community can obtain information and gain knowledge about how to develop a health-conscious lifestyle. From the beginning of the 1990s, the Department held regular trainings for the sports professionals at the Ministry of Interior, and it developed a physical admission system in cooperation with the University of Physical Education.

The Department prides itself in its ongoing scientific activities. The most significant research has been the study on football hooliganism, as a result of which a PhD dissertation entitled The fight of law enforcement forces against football hooliganism in Hungary was written by Dr Tamás Freyer, current Head of Department.

The Department prides itself in its traditions. The Physical Education Group, which started to operate in 1972, was led by Lieutenant Colonel János Jószai, followed by Major Zsigmond Kázmér. The unit, which has been operating as a department since 1989, was headed by Colonel Dr László Sebestyén until 1996. Since 1997, Dr Tamás Freyer has been the Head of Department. Dr Freyer holds a degree in physical education, physiotherapy, and judo training (third dan), and is a member of the presidential board of the Hungarian University-College Sports Association.

Contact Information

Department of Physical Education and Combat Sports

Postal address: 1441 Bp. Pf. 60. (P.O. Box)

Office: 1083 Budapest, Üllői út 82., University of Public Service Sports Centre, Room Nr. 109.

Phone: +36 1 432-9000 / 1907

E-mail: rtk_testnevelesi_es_kuzdosportok_tanszek@uni-nke.hu

Head of Department: Dr Tamás Freyer, Associate Professor, Chief Police Adviser

Secretariat: Enikő Baricz