CopPsychDoc

I'm hoping to become a Police Officer in the near future. What martial art would be most effective as a cop?? Thanks all.

Mike Brewer

You'll want some Jiujitsu almost no matter what. Cops have to deal with suspects in close range all the time, and they need to be able to restrain rather than knock out most suspects. I would say it's a safe bet that on a given day, your chances of needing to restrain someone and put them in cuffs is far greater as a police officer than just about any other type of engagement.
This should, of course, be supplemented with a well-rounded regimen of more ballistic offense such as boxing (I'd say kickboxing, but that's a hard game to implement with a loaded-up gunelt on. Better to keep your feet planted), knife defense, and of course, lots and lots of firearms training. Your range time is going to likely be limited to one or two times a year by your department, and that's not near enough to spend on what could turn out to be the only life and death encounter you ever run across.
The other advice I'd give is to train with what you're issued. If they give you mace, buy a couple extra cans and play with the stuff. Figure out the range, the effects of wind, and of course, what it does to you. If they give you an ASP or something similar, take some kali classes and learn to use the stick. If they give you a Taser, learn when you can use contact and when you need to stick with the cartridge. Learn when it fails and why. I found that there are times, due to body position or other factors, that you'll only get one barb in the guy with a Taser. Know what that looks like and be able to assess it quickly, then move in for a supplemental contact jolt. I can tell you from experience that a barb stuck in your shoulder and a contact hit to the leg will drop you faster than anything I've ever seen. Point is, learn your gear.
Finally, stay fit. Cops do a ton of admin work. Lots of sitting, lots of reporting. Meanwhile, the guys you arrested last week are pounding weights in the yard, and they'll be out next month stronger than ever. Don't let your conditioning go.

Good luck, and I hope this helps.

Michael Wright

....and maybe have a good think about why you get turned on when grappling men and watching Gladiator movies. Just a thought.

Mike Brewer

He's never going to live that down. What a god-awful intro to the forums.

bodhisattva

Highly praised by Law Enforcement both Nationally and Internationally:

Straight Blast Gym's ISR Matrix

http://www.isrmatrix.org/


I think he'll find them at least as arousing as his whole gladiator fantasy.

__________________

St. Louis MMA Training Club - MMA Boxing / Clinch / Submission Grappling / Wrestling Gym


Portland MMA Training Club: MMA Boxing / Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / Greco Roman Wrestling

bodhisattva

Look .. *I* dont' even make the slightest *gay* reference at all in my workouts. No jokes, no inferences, no nothing. The words don't come out of my mouth.

It's hard enough without saying anything like that to get grown men to put their foreheads together and handfight.

So this guy has to have some idea that what he said would be taken ... oddly.. Right?

__________________

St. Louis MMA Training Club - MMA Boxing / Clinch / Submission Grappling / Wrestling Gym


Portland MMA Training Club: MMA Boxing / Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / Greco Roman Wrestling

Mike Brewer

One would suppose....

warrior_artist

You will need strong standing game as well as excellent ground work. Cops will be fighting suspects in comfortable street clothes. You, on the other hand, will be wearing a ballistic vest, which is not very comfortable. Boots, maybe a jacket in the cold, and the heaviest article of all: your gun-belt with accompanying bat-tools. If it's leather gear you might be looking at around 20lbs of extra weight, not including vest and boots.

Officers I've seen get hurt are those who initally lose the standing fight and transition into a brawl on the ground. Usually by that time, however, there is a polyester pile-up going on and cops out number the suspect at that point.

Until then, the fight is usually going to start with both of you on your feet. You'll know. After being on the street for a while, cops can tell 99% of the time who's going to fight. There's that 1% of psychotic dirtbags that'll be smiling and "Yes, sir" this and "yes, sir" that, just waiting for your guard to drop so they can strike. Which leads to another topic all together, always expect everyone to fight. It's not an if/then mentality, but a when/then.

You'll be standing, the suspect will be standing. Either they'll posture up or just attack. Or it will be when you are placing them under arrest. In most instances, the vast majority, the fight will start while you both are still standing. So, I suggest having a strong standing game.

Now, once the fight starts and you win, you won't be placing handcuffs on him while he's standing. Cops will always end up taking a combative suspect to the ground. There you will need a solid understanding of ground techniques. Because unless you have cleaned his clock (not common) he'll still be struggling on the ground. Your use of force options might change depending on departmental policies, but you should know how to defend once you're on the ground.

A solid ground game is necessary for the times when the suspect you're attempting to arrest is taken to the ground as the result of a foot-pursuit and you have tackled him. The fight is on at that point and it isn't standing. You need to know how to fight well on the ground. Meaning getting control quickly of suspects hands.

Cops have a good saying, control the suspects hands. It's his hands that are going to kill you. Keep his hands under your control at all times.

Paramount to all of this is being in excellent physical shape, having really good endurance. You might have a 1/2 mile foot pursuit and catch the suspect and still have to fight him to restrain him. It might be 30 sec to a 1 min of all out knock down drag out fight before your back-up arrives. Will you still have the steam to win and stay safe? And this might happen half an hour before the end of a 10 hour late swings shift. You'll already be worn out just from the day.

Far too many officers are in good shape out of the academy and then join the NRA (never runs again) Club. Back-up officers have been unable to help a fellow officer in a knock down drag out fight because they were too fat to jump the wall to get into the backyard. Officers often get hurt because they're out of shape and have energy for a short struggle but then tire out and get beat.

As was mentioned in a different post, go to the range often and shoot as much as you're allowed too by your department. Or if that's not enough, go shoot on your own.

Police academies may only last 5 to 6 months. In that time they have to teach you practically everything you need to know to be a cop. It will be your responsibility to make sure you have the additional knowledge to stay safe on the streets once you graduate.

Good luck. The streets of America can always use one more officer.