Finnish Brutality 2022 and what to expect next year

Lars Brüggemann from El Be Tac shares his experiences and thoughts on Finnish Brutality 2022. An exciting story that is worth reading:

The first time I participated in Finnish Brutality was in 2019 – two years after the format was first introduced to the European audience. Originally developed by Karl Kasarda and Ian McCollum from InRangeTV and Forgotten Weapons in 2017, with its birthplace beyond the ocean in North America. It was so successful that the Finns immediately recognized the potential and brought the idea to Europe. The next year, they created their own spin-off and gave it the appropriate name "Finnish Brutality".

The word "brutality" is not there without reason. The challenges this year were so diverse and so different – none was like the other. Kettlebell throwing, spinner shooting, shooting from a moving military truck, and ... a sauna. The organizers don't make a secret of it!

The VIP Team Steps In

The competition took place at the Lopen Ampumarata shooting range. It lasted the entire 3rd and 4th of September, coincidentally a Saturday and Sunday. As the face of El Be Tac, some of my comrades and I were personally invited by the owner of Varusteleka, Jari Laine, to participate in this year's stages. He gave me the opportunity to be part of the VIP team and feel the adrenaline rush that Finnish Brutality imposes on its competitors! It sounds great until you understand the catch – my guys had to complete all 10 stages in a single day during the RO match. And it wouldn't be a memorable competition if I didn't do my best, so two from our crew, Sahin K. and Fabio Schäfer, decided to run in the Recon Division. We had to compete from head to toe in full military gear with about 25 kilograms. After one stage, you have to run 3 kilometers to the next stage - that's 30 kilometers for all stages, all day long. I'm not Usain Bolt or Superman, so honestly, I'm not in a condition to do what they did.

I competed with my AR-15 - our company produces custom-made semi-automatic rifles, allowing me to customize my weapon to my personal needs. For optics, I chose the SIGHTMARK Element Mini Solar. The demands on this little device were brutal. Nevertheless, it worked flawlessly and maintained zero. With all the swirling around and the gravel scratching my rifle, I was afraid my reflex sight could get damaged, which would ultimately slow me down on some stages. To my pleasant surprise, it survived. Not only did the reflex sight survive, but the reticle and solar panel continue to do their job! However, I lost the lens caps. It's not an interesting challenge unless something goes wrong.

Nude Shooting in Gear

One of the most bizarre stages of this year's competition was the sauna. Jari, the mastermind behind Finnish Brutality, knew that this stage would challenge some of the participants. The stage sets a scene where you are a soldier enjoying yourself in a sauna when suddenly the enemy attacks. You have to get out and start shooting targets, without clothes, only with personal gear. The loophole that most wanted to exploit was that we were allowed to wear underwear. Ian McCollum, also known on social media as Forgotten Weapons, chose to shoot like a true warrior without underwear. I tip my hat to him for that!

The day came and went so quickly that I didn't even notice when the sun went down. After completing the stages for that day, I went to have a drink with some of the guys at the camp, chatted for a while, and then called it a day.

The 4th of September, Sunday, started well, but in the afternoon I had the misfortune of getting my plate carrier wrapped around a net in one of the stages. In trying to free myself, I twisted around and suddenly the unthinkable happened - my left kneecap popped out of its joint! When help arrived, concern was the only thing I could see in their faces. "Ambulance, hospital," they shouted in fear. I had to reassure them and explain that this was not the first time something like this has happened to me. After a few minutes, the pain subsided and I was able to continue the last three stages, having to rely on my right leg, which is actually my weaker leg.

Brutality? Endurance!

Now having to run with two weak legs, I made it to the last stage when the situation worsened - I sprained my ankle in one of the trenches. At that moment, I thought to myself, "I traveled all the way to Finland to participate in something extraordinary, I will not give up now because of an injury." That was the only motivation I needed to keep going. With reduced speed, I managed to reach the finish line, but the pain hit me again and I was eventually taken to the medical station for recovery.

The Sunday ended with the award ceremony. The organizers prepared 3 large benches with different prizes, varying in size and price range - there was something for everyone. The prize donated by El Be Tac was a custom rifle with a SIGHTMARK Citadel scope on it. It was won by a Finn in the raffle, who was very surprised at winning. When we presented it to him, he told me that when he saw the announcement of the grand prize, he thought how great it would be for the winner. Never in a million years did he think he could be that person. The smile on his face reminded me why I do what I do, and it also brought me so much joy!

Overall, Finnish Brutality 2022 was everything I expected and even more. Varusteleka doesn't mess around; they create new and more exciting stages every year. You have to have the right mindset to achieve the best time in this competition. You can be the strongest and the best shooter, but we are all human, so mistakes happen, and that's okay. Besides the reality check of your physical fitness and skills, the event has another side - the opportunity to meet people from all over the world who share your interests and lifestyle. Our community grows every year, and the experience is simply phenomenal. I am very excited to see what Finnish Brutality 2023 will bring us. Whatever it may be, we will feel comfortable in it.

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