I am believer that each of the Martial Arts has things to teach, and there is not one perfect art that covers everything. My father pushed me into the Traditional Shotokan Karate as a child, and I have been studying since. I am a firm believer that it is a life long study, and that each of the Martial Arts has lessons to be learned.
When I got into Law Enforcement three decades ago, there really wasn't much defensive tactics training. We were issued a baton, and told to hit people across the knee. We did get some training in the Kubaton, and a few baton & arm bar techniques from the Defensive Tactics Institute (Kubota & Peters stuff). We were also issued flat saps, sap gloves, riot sticks & helmets, and gas masks for disturbances (riots) where CS gas was deployed. Taser International and pepper sprays didn't exist yet. What I found being a young LEO, is that some of this stuff worked well, and some didn't, so I went in search of learning more. I went through several different types of defensive tactics instructor schools, which also led me into studying some Aikido and Judo.
I am honored to occasionally get to train with a local LEO, who has his own Aikido/Judo Dojo, who teaches these Arts in traditional form, then will also teaches these into what he calls Police Application, which is where he focuses on using techniques to take people to the ground and end up in cuffing positions.
The Shotokan Karate has taught me about solid foundations, power generation, center of gravity, reading distances, fighting in close, etc. When I apply the Shotokan foundation and power generation principles to the Aikido, I find that I am able to generate greater pressure when doing locks & holds, take downs, throws, etc. In three decades of being an LEO, I have used the power generation in control holds & takedowns, used some kicks to take out doors, used some blocks and strikes (both empty hand and baton), used some throw and done some ground fighting (I prefer to be on my feet, as being on the ground fighting with a badguy where mobility is limited is a dangerous place to be imho).
CY6
Greg Sullivan "Sully"
SLR15 Rifles
TheDefensiveEdge.com
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