1 Reasonable Force Before we look at specific martial arts, we should first review and understand the underlying justifications for using physical force. As law enforcement officers, we have a positive duty to use force when necessary to discharge our duty. Whether we use verbal commands, professional presence, control holds, pepper spray, personal weapons, or firearms is influenced by many factors. Which force option we choose depends on the particular circumstances of each situation, including our level of on-the-job experience, size and weight, physical ability, and personal confidence. In some cases, verbal commands and professional presence are enough to control a violent or assaultive suspect. In other cases, we may not even have time to give verbal commands to the suspect, for example, if a suspect attacks as soon as we arrive on the scene. In 1989 it was established that any evaluation of a police officer’s decision to use force must recognize that we are often forced to make split-second decisions in situations that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly changing. We need to base our critical decisions about the use of force on a similar “reasonable officer standard”—to be determined by the facts and circumstances of the overall situation confronting us. These facts and circumstances include whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to us or others, the severity of the crime at hand, whether the suspect is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight, and whether the circumstances are tense and rapidly evolving. The size, height, and weight of the suspect in relation to us can also determine the amount of force that can be “reasonably” used. In the past, many law enforcement agencies used a “Force Continuum,” or “Use of Force Barometer,” which required an officer to carry out a series of gradual steps before he or she could advance to different levels of force. In the unpredictable world faced by law enforcement, however, a calm and passive situation can change into a life-threatening one in an instant. We need a guide that enables us to move from one force option to another immediately—without following a slow progression of procedures. Today, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department uses a “Situational Use of Force Options Chart” as a guide to help its deputies make the right decisions when utilizing force on duty. Many other police agencies use a similar “Use of Force Barometer” or “Use of Force Options Chart.” In the force option chart, we can see that an officer’s actions depend on legal constraints that include departmental policy as well as state, federal, and case law. The situations that we may encounter in the field can be assigned to one of four different categories: the individuals we confront may be cooperative, resistive, assaultive, or life threatening. The force options that we can use depend on which of these categories an individual’s behavior falls into. If the individual is cooperative, we can use our professional presence, nonverbal cues, or verbal commands; or we can control, search, or handcuff the individual. If the individual is resistive, we can use a control hold, a firm grip, a defensive tactic, intermediate weapons control techniques, or pepper spray. If the individual is assaultive, we have the option to use personal weapons (any natural body part, i.e., hands, feet, knees, elbows, etc.), carotid restraint, less lethal weapons, impact weapons, or a K-9. In the last category, where the individual’s actions are life threatening or could cause great bodily injury, we have the option to use a firearm or strike a vital area with an impact weapon. Remember that the force options chart is only a guide to the use of force on duty. This particular chart may agree with your department’s policy—many departments use different categories or call for different responses—but all officers should understand this concept: always ask yourself—before using force—whether your use of force will be considered objectively reasonable given the overall circumstances. Treat every situation where you may have to use force as if you were being videotaped for the nightly news. (Remember the Rodney King incident!) Most of the martial arts techniques demonstrated in this book would be used to deal with an individual who is assaultive or is threatening your life or trying to cause you great bodily injury. Before using them, however, you should evaluate whether the force required is objectively reasonable given the specific circumstances. 2 Basic Rules for Self-Defense In order to defend yourself successfully from physical attacks, you must first prepare yourself psychologically. The best martial arts training, physical ability, or reflexes in the world won’t help you if you’re not ready to use them when suddenly confronted with an aggressive assault. Physical assaults can never be taken too lightly—many officers have been injured or killed because they didn’t respond quickly enough to an assault. In order to be properly prepared you must: ■ Be alert and ready to respond to an assault. You must first be alert to the potential for an assault in any given law enforcement situation. One way to stay prepared is through the constant mental rehearsal of “what-if” scenarios. You must also know that you are ready to do anything reasonable to stop the assault. (As mentioned earlier, the key word here is reasonable. If all it takes is a palm heel strike to the assailant’s chest to stop the assault, then that is all that should be used. If the assailant continues to fight, multiple strikes or a takedown may be more appropriate.) ■ Be confident. You must have confidence in yourself, and in your physical and mental ability to overcome an assailant. The best way to build this self-confidence is through actual physical training in defensive tactics skills on a weekly basis. ■ Develop and use an effective “command voice.” In many cases, the use of a loud, deep, and confident command voice will stop an assault almost as soon as it’s started. I have used this approach many times with excellent results and without having to resort to physical force. One study shows that yelling at an assailant has a definite psychological effect—and could even prevent an attack. Many martial arts systems teach a kiai or “spirit shout” as a way of both deterring an attacker and giving the defender strength, power, and confidence. (This is why many warriors scream when going into battle.) ■ Be unafraid. Officers can get hurt, injured, or killed because they are afraid of the assailant, the situation, or of getting hurt. When dealing with an aggressive assailant, you must not be afraid; you must use proper tactics and take a positive proactive approach to subduing the assailant. You have many tools—besides your pure physical ability—at your disposal to help you deal with a physical encounter (baton, pepper spray, handcuffs, radio, sap, gloves, bulletproof vest, etc.). ■ Fight to win. Once you are engaged in a fight, the primary focus in your mind must be to fight to win. Your focus should be on conclusively defeating the attacker. Winning the fight is the best way to make sure that you can go home safely at the end of your shift. Giving up, or expecting your attacker to give up, could literally cause death. Following these five basic rules will help you defend yourself in almost any situation. You should also: ■ React
