More than Just Training—a Brotherhood.

My journey as an ASP Trainer and what it has meant to me

Part 1

It all started in 2002

In 2002, I was introduced to ASP and its famous expandable baton for the first time. It was during an ASP Basic Course (ABC), my first training course dedicated to the use of this tool. Back then, in Belgium, expandable batons were far from being standard equipment across law enforcement agencies. Their use was restricted to certain units, under strict rules and regulations. A few years later, I attended and successfully completed the ASP Instructor Certification (AIC) course. It's worth mentioning that I attended all these courses on my own time, outside my regular duty hours. Because—as is the case in many countries—when you're a police officer looking to improve your skills or develop specific operational capabilities, you sometimes have to seek out training opportunities that your own agency doesn't provide.

Even back then, one thing stood out to me: I kept seeing the same familiar faces at these courses. Passionate, motivated, dedicated professionals. People who were willing to invest their own time and effort to become better, going far beyond the limited training hours provided by their departments. People who believed that training wasn't just a professional requirement, but a responsibility to themselves, their fellow officers and the communities they had sworn to protect. Those experiences also allowed me to build genuine friendships, some of which have lasted for more than twenty years.

2009, Lisbon—the beginning of an incredible journey

Seven years after my introduction to ASP, and after attending numerous AIC courses, another opportunity came my way. Several Belgian ASP Trainers who had known me for years encouraged me to take the next step: attempt to become an ASP Trainer myself by attending the renowned ASP Trainer Certification (ATC) Course. They agreed to mentor me, believing I had what it took to join their ranks. But they also warned me that this course would not be easy. This wasn't going to be just another training class where you walk away with a certificate to hang on your wall. This was different. Beyond the personal financial investment (ASP covers the full cost of tuition and equipment, but candidates must arrange their own travel), becoming an ASP Trainer required a serious physical, technical, mental and moral commitment. But despite their warnings, I had no idea what I was really getting myself into.

And so, in 2009, I found myself in Lisbon, Portugal, ready to take on the challenge. If memory serves me right, there were fifteen candidates from different parts of the world: Belgium, Hong Kong, Italy, the United States, Canada, Brazil and Great Britain.

Among the already-certified Trainers, even more countries were represented: France, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and others. Different cultures. Different professional backgrounds. Different languages. But one shared passion.

Three days to prove yourself

The next three days were among the most intense of my life. Exercises followed one another at a relentless pace. Physical exhaustion combined with mental fatigue. Sweat, pain, and self-doubt became part of our daily reality. At times, it was no longer just about whether we had the technical skills to succeed. It was about finding the strength to keep going, even when both your body and your mind were telling you to quit.

I will never forget my two assigned mentors for those three days—one American and one Spaniard. They were there for me every moment, encouraging me, coaching me, offering advice and pushing me to give everything I had. But beyond the demanding training and the challenges we faced, something else left a deeper impression on me. The spirit shared by those men in the iconic ASP black shirts. A brotherhood unlike anything I had ever experienced before. This wasn't simply an international group of instructors brought together for a training program. This was a real family. A family whose members shared the same values, the same high standards, and the same unwavering commitment to passing on their knowledge. And as the hours went by, a little voice inside my head kept telling me, "Don't quit. Keep pushing. You can become part of this family too."

The black shirt—more than just a symbol

Then came the moment we had all been waiting for. The final decision. Had I done enough? Was I physically and technically capable of joining this elite international team? Had I demonstrated the personal qualities and mental strength they expected? And above all… had I earned the right to wear that famous black shirt? For me—but not everyone in the course—the answer was “yes.” I had made it. I was now part of the ASP training team. But that day, I didn't just earn another certification. I gained something far more valuable: a family of brothers in arms. professionals from all corners of the world who, in just three days, had welcomed me as one of their own.