"Listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will be wise." - Proverbs 19:20
We all know that complacency kills. However, many of us fall victim to the been there, done that mentality when it comes to defensive tactics, firearms training and officer survival.
It's easy to rationalize that since we've made it this far in our law enforcement careers without being seriously injured, we will continue to work shift after shift without incident. Ironically, accepting that any shift might be our last is they key to maintaining the tactical edge and ultimately ensuring our safety.
I've been teaching defensive tactics since 2001 and teaching martial arts since my late teens. While I'm confident in my abilities, I'm constantly reminded that luck as much as any other factor has enabled me to make it through twelve years as a police officer relatively unscathed. In fact, there were times that luck was the primary reason that my name was not etched on a law enforcement memorial.
As a firearms and defensive tactics instructor, I occasionally encounter officers who seem content with the minimal training they received in the basic police academy. These are the officers who dislike firearms and defensive tactics training (it's still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that there are officers who are disinterested in learning techniques and tactics that could be the key to their very survival).
These officers would rather take extended breaks and get out of training early than sweat and endure the mild to moderate discomfort associated with realistic and practical training designed to ensure their success during a critical incident.
It's important to remember that even the most difficult training day is likely to be far less challenging than a real critical incident. Although it might be raining at the range or it might be hot in the gym, the bottom line is that no one is really trying to kill you in training! And you can take comfort in knowing that you will be home sleeping in your bed at the end of the day.
Too many officers don't want to train unless they are on the clock. In these difficult economic times, many agencies are unable to provide anything other than the bare minimum training to their officers. The bare minimum is not enough! Remember that you are responsible for ensuring that you are prepared for a life or death encounter. If, God forbid, you are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty, it is you and your loved ones who will suffer most.
In training, some officers seem to think that having the correct leg forward or grabbing with the appropriate hand to apply a control hold is sufficient. Although they have nothing more than a cursory knowledge of the technique, they are ready to move on to the next technique and then to the next break. What these officers don't realize is that there is a huge difference between having a general knowledge of a particular technique and having a thorough understanding of what makes that technique work. After all, even a monkey can mimic a technique. What officers should strive for is to gain an understanding of the underlying principles that make a technique work. Then the officer can determine under what circumstances the technique should be employed.
The next time you're on the range or on the mat, don't just go through the motions like a robot. Instead, try to gain a little better understanding of the fundamental concepts and techniques that many officers assume they don't need to re-visit.
I have dozens of books, videos, and DVDs in my personal library pertaining to self-defense, shooting, and defensive tactics (all purchased on my own dime). I've read and re-read every book and watched most of the videos and DVDs more times than I care to admit. In addition, I read at least half a dozen magazines related to tactics on a regular basis. If I purchase a magazine, book, or instructional DVD and take from it even one valid technique, tactic, or concept, I consider it money well spent.
No one has all the answers and no technique is infallible. That's why it's in your best interest to learn as much as you can and train regularly to find what works for you based on your unique capabilities and limitations. Keep an open mind and accept that fact that you don't know it all.
I recently taught a defensive tactics course that was attended by a 28-year law enforcement veteran who was an expert in Aikido-based defensive tactics. This gentleman was employed by Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) as a defensive tactics trainer and was responsible for setting the defensive tactics curriculum for the entire state. Despite his extensive knowledge base, he participated in the course along with several other student-instructors.
After the course, I received an email from this gentleman thanking me for the training that my company provided. He mentioned that some of the techniques that were taught would be added to his state's basic recruit defensive tactics curriculum. Obviously this is a man who loves learning and was not content with the vast amount of knowledge that he already possessed. I should mention that I learned at least as much from this "student" as he did from me.
As law enforcement officers, we have a duty to protect and serve. We are expected to perform exceptionally well under extremely challenging circumstances when lives hang in the balance. Don't be content with what you already know. Keep an open mind and never stop learning. Be a student of the game.
Always have a plan B. Never give up!
