Training Safety Considerations for Police Wrestling Exercises

Over the past several years, the law enforcement community has struggled to teach officers combative techniques to take control of combative and non-compliant subjects. The reasons for this are many, as programs based on Jiu-Jitsu offer advantages that many other programs do not.

Jiu-Jitsu is all about leverage and technique, so size, strength, and natural athleticism become less important in the successful application of techniques. Additionally, Jiu-jitsu teaches control through superior positioning and intelligent weight distribution. The result is that a subject can be effectively controlled while minimizing the risk of injury.

With the rise of Jiu-Jitsu and other grappling-based defensive tactics programs, students are at increased risk of injury or death. Every time an officer is seriously injured or killed during training, whether on the range, during a simulation or during a defensive tactics session, tragedy is felt throughout the community during years.

I have been teaching Jiu-Jitsu to the civilian and law enforcement communities for nearly two decades, in addition to visiting academies and schools across the United States. In both environments, success relies primarily on the level of safety in which skills are taught and practiced. I’ve learned that the most successful programs have one thing in common: they promote an exemplary safety culture. This article will focus on the most critical aspects of creating that culture in your agency.

It starts from the beginning

Similar to safety briefings prior to range sessions, defensive tactics instructors should begin each lesson with a safety discussion prior to training. These briefings have several purposes, the most important being to set the tone and priority for the class. Many students will respect the fact that this is done and will be more likely to help create a safe environment.

Trainers should ensure that students have no weapons on them and identify where the classroom first aid kit and AED are located. Additionally, they should check for pre-existing injuries and scan the workout area for any safety issues, such as tears in mats, wet spots, or hard corners or pillars that could cause an injury.

Trainers play an active role

When demonstrating techniques, instructors should emphasize safety considerations with the same emphasis as they cover the technical aspects of the movement. Instructors should be knowledgeable enough to demonstrate the techniques gently while explaining the safest way to apply the movement. They should encourage students to communicate cooperatively during the practical application of moving.

Thus, many students believe that during technical practice, they should provide resistance to “test” the ability of their partners to act. At this stage, the need to provide resistance is rarely necessary. The resistance should come after the student has completed enough repetitions to apply the movement correctly without too much cognitive thinking.

Too many trainers stand together and talk while students practice. Instead, trainers must be willing and able to step in and work with students to achieve competency. It can also set an example for students by being a safe, committed and practical training partner.

Develop partnerships

Grappling lessons require training partners. Trainers need to understand this and develop strategies to maximize partner effectiveness while promoting the safest environment possible.

For example, when students pair up for exercises, if instructors notice a substantial difference in height or age, or if the partners themselves do not work well together for any reason, this should be recognized and adjusted accordingly. result. Also, while the traditional approach is to match partners in pairs, there are many occasions when groups of three students are more advantageous. Using this method, two students can practice while one student can be assigned as the security guard.

Additionally, having three groups of students has several benefits, including more efficient use of mat space, making safety a shared responsibility, and allowing visual learners to see techniques more often while practicing.

Resistance exercises require special attention

One of the most risky parts of any grappling training session is the dynamic or resistance part. With this in mind, trainers should do everything possible to maximize safety without compromising exercise effectiveness.

Trainers must be “bad guys” in which skill is tested with resistance. This can be difficult if multiple students have limited instructors, but it’s ideal when possible. Instructors generally have a better grasp of the technique and purpose of the exercise. When two students do dynamic exercises together, the risk of injury increases exponentially. This is one of the main reasons why, in the world of civilian Jiu-Jitsu, the highest number of injuries occur when two inexperienced students (white belts) face off.

Additionally, resistance exercises should be designed with a specific goal in mind. Too often, resistance exercises become nothing more than uncontrolled combat events. While there is some value to this training, setting a particular exercise goal is safer and more productive. For example, the officer must escape from the mounted position, return to the standing position, and deploy an appropriate tool. Or the officer must safely manage the punches from a position on the ground for a designated duration until reinforcements arrive. By setting goals, the officer can test their skills under pressure with less chance of the exercise turning into an uncontrolled cage fight.

Debriefing and Review

It is especially important to ask students’ opinions. Not only will this give trainers an idea of ​​what students took away from the session, but some of the best ideas come from student suggestions. By reviewing each session, trainers can usually identify the exercises or parts of the class that carry the greatest risk. The best instructors are constantly refining their courses based on their previous experience.

It’s fair to say that not all injuries can be avoided when training grappling or defensive tactics. However, it is also fair to say that several tactics and strategies have proven effective in creating and fostering a safe training environment. When instructors create a culture of safety and invite their students to actively participate in that culture, the risk of injury is reduced exponentially. This culture is a victory for all of us. Train hard and be careful!

NEXT: 9 Ways to Improve Subject Control Training