15 YEARS OF THE CZECH LOCKPICKERS ASSOCIATION | LOOKING BACK AT OUR HISTORY AND LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE 🔐🎉
This year, we celebrate 15 years of the Czech Lockpickers Association (ACL) on both the Czech and international scene. Since our founding in 2010, we have made great strides in raising awareness about lockpicking as a sport while actively contributing to education and security testing. The pioneer and founder of ACL, Evžen Ivanov, played a key role in establishing the association and laying its solid foundation. Thanks to him, ACL has become a respected organization that brings together lockpicking enthusiasts and security professionals. In this article, we reflect on the key milestones that have shaped us and look ahead to what the future holds.
LockFest: The Largest Locksmith Trade Fair in the Czech Republic
One of the most significant events in our history has been our involvement in LockFest, the largest locksmith trade fair in the Czech Republic, which we have been attending since 2014. Every two years, professionals, lock manufacturers, security specialists, and enthusiasts in physical security gather in Karlovy Vary. ACL plays an active role in LockFest, presenting lockpicking as a sport, organizing training sessions, and hosting competitions for the public. Over the years, our role at LockFest has expanded significantly. We help organize competitions, workshops, and seminars to educate attendees on lockpicking techniques and modern security solutions. Thanks to LockFest, we have established partnerships with leading manufacturers, including ASSA ABLOY, EVVA, dormakaba, and Tokoz.
Czech Lockpicking Championship: An Annual Challenge
Every year, ACL organizes the Czech Lockpicking Championship, where competitors test their skills in four key disciplines:
- Lockpicking cylinder locks, a test of technique and precision in manipulating security lock cores.
- Picking padlocks, requiring the right choice of tools and techniques.
- Freestyle, where participants can use any non-destructive method to open a lock, allowing for creative and innovative approaches.
- Speed Challenge (Bleskovka), where the goal is to open a simple lock as quickly as possible.
In 2019, we hosted the largest championship in ACL history, lasting three days and four nights. The event included seminars, workshops, competitions, and quizzes, attracting a record number of participants. That year, we also introduced impressioning and safe lock picking as competition disciplines, marking a major step forward for the event.
Summer School of Lockpicking and Educational Activities
Since its founding, ACL has been committed to education and the promotion of lockpicking as a sport. In 2018, we organized the Summer School of Lockpicking, which focused on the history of locks, modern opening techniques, and ethical considerations in lockpicking. Additionally, we have conducted lectures and training sessions at universities, such as Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT) and Brno University of Technology (VUT), where we combined lockpicking with cybersecurity topics. Students in IT and security-related fields gained valuable insights into physical security and vulnerabilities in locking systems.
International Collaborations and Prestigious Events
Over the past 15 years, ACL has participated in numerous international events, not only representing our organization but also gaining valuable experience and contacts. We regularly attend Open House Wendt in Germany, where we get hands-on experience with the latest security technologies and professional tools. In 2021, we also traveled to Milipol in Paris, one of the largest security trade fairs in the world, where we had the opportunity to learn about emerging security trends and cutting-edge technologies. Additionally, we have been part of LockCon, an elite international gathering of lockpickers. We attended LockCon in 2019 and 2022, and in 2020, we participated in its online edition due to pandemic restrictions.
Media Coverage: ACL on TV and in Print
ACL has been featured in numerous media outlets, helping to promote lockpicking as a sport and educate the public about security. We have published articles in major publications such as Respekt, Zámkař, and Mladá Fronta DNES, reaching both industry professionals and the general public. Our association has also appeared in TV broadcasts, including Snídaně s Novou, Seznam Ráno na gauči, and TV Seznam, where we discussed lockpicking, security awareness, and vulnerabilities in common locking systems. One of our most notable public activities was removing love locks from the Charles Bridge in Prague, where we were invited to provide a technical solution to this long-standing issue.
Adapting to the Pandemic and Online Lockpicking
The year 2020 presented new challenges, but ACL quickly adapted by moving many of its activities online. We hosted virtual training sessions, online competitions, and discussions, ensuring that lockpicking education continued despite lockdowns. During this period, we also conducted a Lockpickers Census in 2021, a community survey that analyzed the experience, habits, and interests of lockpickers in the Czech Republic and beyond.
What’s Next for ACL?
In 2025, we plan to expand our blog with 100 expert articles covering not only lockpicking techniques but also physical security and the latest trends in security technology. This initiative will allow us to educate both the general public and security professionals in a structured and informative way. We are also preparing for the 2025 Czech Lockpicking Championship, which will introduce new challenges, more international competitors, and enhanced competition formats. We aim to expand the disciplines and attract new talents to the world of lockpicking. Another key goal is continuing our collaboration with lock manufacturers, helping them test new security features and raise awareness about the importance of quality locks. Finally, we plan to broaden our educational outreach, offering training and lectures at more universities and security institutions, ensuring that more people understand security vulnerabilities and lockpicking as a legitimate discipline.
We are proud of what we have achieved over the past 15 years and look forward to another decade of innovation, education, and competitive lockpicking! 🚀 🔐 Here’s to another 15 years of ACL! 🎉