"In the calmness lies the strength"

What is it like when danger is approaching us directly? When stress becomes so high that nothing works anymore… Former Jagdkommandosoldat Markus Schimpl has investigated this challenge with his book “Handlungsfähig in Extremsituationen”. We wanted to know from him how one can prepare for such situations.

SPARTANAT: Markus, what was your personal freeze moment? What did you learn from it?

Markus Schimpl: I have never had a freeze moment - maybe I should knock on wood now -, but I have certainly had countless extreme situations to deal with, such as a knife attack, where I was able to save two people and myself by reacting quickly. Then an emergency situation during a parachute jump, where through my swift, mentally trained actions I saved my own life. Hairy situations in crisis and war zones also come into play… Many people I have met have experienced this "freeze moment," where nothing works anymore. I was probably always mentally and physically well prepared. I assume that my time at the commando also enabled me to simply remain capable of acting in extreme situations. The training with the special forces, my own and others' experiences, taught me that mental and, ideally, physical preparation in the form of situational training is the key to being able to act.

So, what does stress resistance mean?

Being resilient to stressors that come from outside and/or from within - stress is usually self-imposed.

Why is it so important?

To live healthier and remain capable of acting in extreme situations and to protect oneself. Or as the saying goes: In calmness lies strength.

Why is it so important in military/police contexts to deal with this topic?

Naturally, one is more likely to be confronted with extreme situations in this line of work. But I am convinced that it is important in general to address this issue in order to face potential dangers and lead a healthier lifestyle.

What techniques can we acquire? Is there a magic trick?

I believe that everyone must find their own individual technique. In my book “Handlungsfähig in Extremsituationen”, you will find enough examples and inspirations for this.

What do we learn from your book?

Diverse perspectives on this topic, scientific and practical insights, and a focus on the naturally present instincts.

MARKUS SCHIMPL, former Jagdkommando instructor, security professional, and author with operational experience on six continents. He tries to make his experiences visible in his training and books in order to be able to face and master potential dangers to life and limb, and ideally to recognize and avoid them in advance.

“Handlungsfähig in Extremsituationen” (Graz 2024, 164 pages) is available at the SPARTANAT SHOP. It costs 25 euros.