NCJ Number
62808
Journal
Trooper Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 40-43,98-99
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
INTERVIEWS WITH TWO ILLINOIS STATE TROOPERS PROFICIENT IN MARTIAL ARTS PRESENT THE ADVANTAGES OF SUCH TRAINING FOR POLICE.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ARE GIVEN EXCELLENT ACADEMY TRAINING IN UNARMED SELF-DEFENSE, PROFICIENCY IN THE MARTIAL ARTS REQUIRES EXTENSIVE AND REGULAR TRAINING AND PRACTICE. CONSEQUENTLY, SOME OFFICERS STUDY THE MARTIAL ARTS ON THEIR OWN TIME. TWO OF THE MORE EFFECTIVE COMBATIVE MARTIAL ARTS ARE KARATE AND JIU-JITSU. EACH CAN BE USED IN TYPICAL OFFICER-COMBATIVE SITUATIONS. THE CHOICE OF WHICH ART TO PURSUE IS THUS PERSONAL PREFERENCE. OFFICERS SKILLED IN MARTIAL ARTS BELEIVE THEY HAVE A MENTAL AWARENESS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT CAN PREVENT OR THWART SERIOUS INJURY TO AN OFFICER OR AN OPPONENT AND GIVE THEM THE PHYSICAL ABILITY TO REPEL AN ATTACK. THE MANNER AND MOVEMENTS OF AN OFFICER TRAINED IN THE MARTIAL ARTS CAN COMMUNICATE TO A POTENTIAL ASSAILANT THAT THE OFFICER CAN HANDLE ANY ATTEMPT TO SUBDUE HIM/HER. THE INTERVIEWED OFFICERS RECOMMEND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW BASIC UNARMED SELF-DEFENSE SKILLS SUITED TO THE PHYSICAL MAKEUP AND PERSONAL PREFERENCE OF EACH OFFICER, RATHER THAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXTENSIVE REPERTOIRE OF MANEUVERS. THE FUNDAMENTAL MARTIAL ART SKILLS BEST SUITED TO A PARTICULAR OFFICER CAN BE DETERMINED FROM INTRODUCTORY LESSONS IN A NUMBER OF THE MARTIAL ARTS. (RCB)