A Basic Combat Judo Course Part 3 by Mark Tripp

Combatives 3 - Selection Of Techniques
From: MTripp
Date: 26-Apr-00

We now get to a very important point in understanding combatives. In another post someone brought up the level of force issue. I want to deal with that here...

There are three types of combative training;

    Police/Security/Correction Officer
    Military
    Civilian

The first two are specialized subjects we will get to. But right now I want to deal with the last one.

Level of force is something that trained officers mess up all the time. It also operates under the idea that you have force options (hand, stick, spray, gun, etc) to draw from. This is not always the case with civilians. Also it assumes you have back up there or on the way; this is almost NEVER the case with civilians.

Clearly the ONLY way to train civilians is to avoid and evade problems at all costs. BUT, if that fails then they are going to fight with brutal kill or be killed combative techniques.

It is NOT your job to get your drunken Uncle George out of the party. "Come along holds" are nothing more than standing submission holds and people who resist WILL get broken bones. This is why LAPD banned body holds years ago (and one of the many factors that led to the Rodney King problem).

It IS your job to avoid and evade problems. To that end we have created the 4 rules. These are not the four suggestions or the four it would be nice if you did this. If you are going to carry PPD's and train in real combatives; then you WILL follow the four rules or sooner or later you WILL go to jail or be sued. The choice is yours.

The four rules:
    I will not drink to excess and I will avoid ALL persons and places where people will be  drinking to excess.

    Note: Watch the “Cops” TV show sometime and notice how many people are drunk       out of their mind and in trouble.
    

    I will not use illegal drugs and I will avoid ALL persons and places where people are using them or they are to be found.

   Note: We just had a murder up here because one druggie told a druggie buddy that his     grandparents had money and no guns in the house. Druggie #2 went there and               beat everyone to death with a hammer.

    I will avoid ALL illicit sexual contact of ANY nature.

    Note: I am not just talking about strip clubs (that is covered in #1). I mean leave other peoples wives, husbands, girlfriends, ALONE. Stay away from hookers (both 1 and 2 are always around hookers).

    Stay out of the danger zone

Note: This means buckle your seat belt; eat right; don't speed; mind your own business; etc. In other words, do what is SAFE not what is DANGEROUS.

Now; READ THEM AGAIN! Now, one more time.

OK, ask yourself this. How much stuff on Cops would be avoided if people followed the 4 rules?

More importantly; following the 4 rules means you do NOT have to worry about level of force! That is the freedom it gives you!

Think about it; if someone lays hands on me; and I follow the four rules; what could it be other than a violent personal assault? It won't be a drunk in a bar (rule 1) or a jealous husband (rule 3). You can react with violent force as quickly as you can because you do not have to think about the situation.

"The wise man is sorry before rather than after. The man who is sorry before builds his life. The man who is sorry after spends all his time repairing it."