Batou_2007

Hello, everyone.

Obviously, I'm new here. I've always been interested in martial arts and self-defense, but have never really made the time or effort to involve myself; I'm looking to change that.

I work in law enforcement, so I need to know how to protect myself, but due to having always avoided fights in my youth I find myself lacking experience in that vein.

Here, I hope to find advice and encouragement as to what form(s) I should pursue.

the tick

Welcome. Well, you could start picking fights now. If your lucky they won't hit back. Beeing in lawenforcement and all.

Batou_2007

Well, I'm not lucky, so I'll pass. ;-)

Where do I go for guidance on choosing a style and locating/choosing a school?

the tick

The martial arts forums are a good place to start. I don't know what your preferences are on style. If like muy-thai you obviously should check the muy-thai forum. If you prefer boxing the boxing forum etc.....
Good luck.

Batou_2007

Well, I would prefer Jeet Kune Do, but I don't think we really have any good schools for that here in Dallas.

There's also the consideration that being in law enforcement (correctional environment) striking techniques are frowned upon (at least by the public) even if they're sometimes necessary, so grapples, holds, and traps would better serve me.

I need guidance on choosing an appropriate systemfor my situation, before I even picked a forum to start posting in.

the tick

Look at the Japanese martial arts forum and the MMA forums. Throws, armlocks etc....

wsdddoa012

Well I know from working in corrections, that many law enforcement self defense programs emphasize on takedowns, locks and holds more so then strikes, mainly because strikes are discouraged, although sometimes I feel necessary. I'd recommend anything that teaches takedowns, locks and holds, such as hapkido, judo, jujitsu, possibly jeet kune do and maybe even gettinga hold of a local defensive tactics instructor and taking it up with him/her.


Experience is saying all this FYI

__________________
Mike
Senior Chief Instructor

TKD Student

Hi, there!
Just one question... You claim that you're a police officer, but have lack of self-defense moves? Doesn't the Police Academy teach you how to fight?
Here in Sweden our cops knows Krav Maga. Just a question ^^

About me then :P
I'm a 17 years old male that lives in Skellefteå, Sweden. I have always loved martial arts. What made me start... I followed my older brother to a Taekwondo training once, and then I thought it was so cool so I wanted to try too. And I did. Now I have been doing Taekwondo for 5½ years, and I have no plans to stop. I love TKD. Beside TKD I also study Polish on my freetime. I have relatives there, but I can't speak that language too good.
Right now I am in High School, and studying Law for 3 years. After that, I plan to go to the Police Academy ( I have always dreamt of becoming a police officer), and then I would like to work in one of our bigger cities, hopefully Stockholm. I also spend much time with friends, playing computer games on the internet and spend lots of time with my awesome girlfriend

Jace

If you go to mma.tv you will find a link on the left side of the page that says "Find A School". Try it out. The forums are also a great place to look and ask questions, especially if you are unsure of what art to try.

I would go for an art that includes techniques designed to control your opponents (joint locks, take downs, etc) over one that is more heavily focused in striking. You could try something like BJJ or Judo.

Batou_2007

Actually, what I said was "I work in law enforcement". I'm a Detention Officer for the Dallas County Sheriff.

And our academies don't teach us how to "fight"- they teach basic defensive tactics and maneuvers. There's generally no ongoing training in that area, at least not in the agencies I've worked for. The officer is on his own.Man I wish they'd train us in Krav Maga! Taxpayers would never go for it, though. "You're teaching them police brutality!!" or some foolishness like that.

TKD Student

Alright, my bad.
Here they do teach the police officers how to grapple, punch, throw, etc... but media is the same here. When the police reacts - then they surely have done something wrong. ("Could they have done something else to solve the problem?")
If the police do NOT react then they're lazy, they're cowards, etc...
And if a police officer hits back with the stick... then it's police brutality.

A family even tried to sue the Swedish Police Service because an officer shot a mentally sick person with a dagger. That person was shot in front of his parents (they called the police, and now they want to sue them for killing their son). And media made it look like it was the police who was not doing the right thing. That officer had only been on patrol for 4 - 6 months, and it's very rare that a Swedish police officer has to fire his weapon.

Anywy... here they learn Krav Maga, as I said. They learn how to combine Krav Maga with their nightsticks and stuff. Very effective.
But personally I would use Taekwondo in a fighting situation... it's like reflex after these years of training ^^

__________________
I'm not stupid, I just have bad luck when I'm thinking.

the tick

Well, they should rather teach you something more sensible then eew 'fighting'. Something like knitting. From what I hear it has great therapeutic value. Or maybe painting. That way you can act out your natural enforcer agression in a creative way without anyone getting hurt.