Copyright © Bernard Lau 2001. All rights reserved.
 
 

Police defensive tactics are NOT the same as self-defense. The role of defensive tactics in law enforcement and corrections is to assist the officer in performance of arrest and restraint, and to increase the margin of safety for both the officer and the suspect. Defensive tactics charge the officer with protecting others as well as themselves. The definition of "defend" as used here is neither punitive nor passive, but instead "to repel danger or harm while serving and protecting." Meanwhile, self-defense encompasses any and all means of protecting oneself. Self-defense techniques are not meant to apprehend an assailant. Indeed, there is no regard for the safety of the attacker whatsoever. So obviously self-defense and defensive tactics are not synonymous.

Defensive tactics are not martial arts, either. While martial arts provide a technical basis for defensive tactics, they are generally not suitable for use on the street. That said, martial arts training offers many benefits to officers, including fitness, strength and agility, balance and flexibility, stress reduction, recreation, etc. Indeed, the benefits for self-perfection inherent in long-term practice are enormous. Therefore, without denying that martial arts training can benefit officers, it is not necessary.

On the other hand, training in defensive tactics is more than simply issuing officers a nightstick and saying, "Don’t hit anybody in the head." It only takes a few seconds to be issued a tool, but learning to use it is a never-ending process.

Furthermore, you don’t always have the right tool in your hand. It may be on your belt or in your car, and while it just takes a few seconds to get it, that may be more than you have. Therefore another purpose of defensive tactics training is to give you a few seconds. You can use those seconds to get a tool or to plan a better response or simply to breathe and therefore regain mind control.

Finally, once you learn the techniques, you can’t forget to bring them with you, either. Sure, you can lose the skills if you panic, or if you refuse to practice them, but there is no way anyone can take them away from you short of rendering you unconscious.
 
 

The body is slow to learn a new skill, but once it has learned through practice, the skill becomes almost instinctive. Experts claim that it takes between 200 and 800 repetitions to become really proficient at a new physical skill. So, as defensive tactics are a physical skill, don’t stop practicing until you have done your 800 repetitions!

As noted above, there are a couple rules for officers to follow when using defensive tactics. The first is KIS: Keep It Simple. The second is to maintain mental control. During high stress situations, maintaining mental control is not an easy accomplishment: people are angry, crying, or hysterical, and this affects everyone around them. Yet if your mind is out of control, your body will follow suit. Steps that help you maintain mental control include the following.

• Controlling your breathing. The ability to control your breathing relates directly to your ability to correctly assess the situation and to maintain a clear mind. You should be aware of your breathing pattern. If it is fast, slow it down.
• Assessing the situation. Throughout your life, and especially a career in law enforcement, you will be confronted with situations that will test your ability to react properly. Experience plays an important part in how you will react but having a clear mind plays an even more important role. Breathe; avoid panic; and mentally step back and assess the situation. Once you’re in a fight, it’s too late to think, but a little planning beforehand can prevent the fight, or at least mitigate its repercussions.
• Be flexible! You must not depend on just one favorite technique. Instead you must have the ability to react to any situation with an appropriate technique. You must also be able to change techniques when the situation requires. Keep an open mind, react to the situation rather than the plan, and go with the flow. Realistic rehearsals and force-on-force training are useful for developing flexibility.

• Minimum force involves the use of verbal techniques. The object of minimum force is no physical injuries to anyone.
• Intermediate force involves the use of unarmed defensive tactics, or armed techniques involving chemical weapons, batons, stun guns, and similar less-lethal weapons. The object of intermediate force is no permanent or life-threatening injury to anyone.
• Maximum force involves the use of lethal weapons such as firearms and knives. The object of maximum force is death.

Whatever level of force you use, certain techniques can help you. These include distraction, body language, and verbal techniques.

• Distraction. The purpose of distraction is to take the opponent’s mind away from the technique that you propose to use. Distraction can be oral. ("Look, it’s Halley’s Comet!" said a child in a famous TV ad, just as he swiped the other kid’s food.) It can be tactile – pinching prior to escaping a lock or kicking to the groin prior to attempting a wristlock are tactile distractions. Or it can be throwing a flashlight through the window prior to breaking down the door. No matter how it is done, the purpose of distraction is to surprise the subject. Remember, though, that while distraction can work for you, it can also be used against you.
• Body language. Body language is non-verbal communication. There are four parts of body language: facial expressions, gestures, posture, and the space occupied in relation to other people. Observation of these four elements can help you anticipate intent. Be careful, though, as some body language is culturally specific. Also, your own body language sends the same signals to the other person. The bottom-line? Protect yourself and don’t antagonize others.
• Verbal techniques. Command voice, verbal judo, oral control; call them what you will, verbal techniques represent the highest level of control, as a victory without fighting is the supreme accomplishment. To be effective at oral control, you may need to learn street psychology , and you must remember that what is appropriate in one context or environment may be entirely inappropriate in another.

To make this happen, you must act with authority. Even if you don’t feel like you’re in charge, pretend that you are. At the same time, be tactful. Be fair. Listen. Be courteous. And most importantly, control your emotions. Even if the situation escalates to where you need to use force, your ability to communicate effectively is still critical to gaining the subject’s cooperation. If you just inflict pain and give no directions or instructions, then of course the subject will fight back, and most likely, you’ll be accused of brutality, too. So talk to the subject after applying a technique. Tell him what you want him to do. And keep it simple. One step at a time, that’s the key.
 
 

• Space. What distances are involved?
• Time. Is a response required instantly, or can it be postponed until backup arrives? If instantly, is the attack itself to be fast or slow – both can work.
• Line of attack. Is the primary threat overhead, lateral, in front, behind? And where are the secondary dangers?
• Posture or stance. Physical, mental, and spiritual work together to provide a stance. Physically, it is best to stand diagonally to an opponent, with the weapon back, so it can be protected. Mentally, you need to be alert for movement around you, aware of your physical surroundings, and thinking about their limitations and advantages. Spiritually, you need to maintain a calm, professional attitude. The reason is that you will react more appropriately if calm than if you are emotional or angry.

• Avoid the attack. The first rule is to avoid getting hit. If that’s impossible, then try to avoid being hit hard. How? Get off the line of attack.
• Breathe. It’s amazing how often we forget to do this.
• Take control of the momentum – go with it! How? Take the offensive. Even if you must temporarily defend or retreat, think about how to get back on the offensive. An offensive mindset is essential.
• Use distraction. Pinch, punch, pull hair, butt heads, stomp feet. Remember – these are distractions, not finishing moves.
• Apply a technique. Sample techniques include finger locks and wrist turns.
• Talk to the subject. Tell him what you want him to do in plain language.

All of the following are intended as distractions rather than strikes, and are to be used to make an opening for some other technique. These techniques must not be relied upon for pain compliance or used for punishment.

• Pinching. Only pinch a small amount of skin, don’t be greedy! Good targets include the triceps, inner thigh, lower back, and pectorals.
• Strikes. Use an open hand to the face or to other vulnerable areas such as the spine or diaphragm. Use a fist against a soft area such as the stomach. Use feet only against the legs, never above the belt.
• Hair. Hair grabs can be useful for initiating takedowns. Try to grip with the palm rather than the fingers, rather as if holding a basketball. Be careful about causing rotary injuries to the neck, and don’t be surprised if you discover all you’re holding is a hairpiece or wig.
• Fingers. The outer two fingers are weak, and especially vulnerable to being bent or twisted. Two fingers gives the best grip and are less likely to break than one.
• Head. While you should avoid striking the face and head, remember that the body goes where the head goes. So if the suspect’s head is pushed or pulled backwards, then his balance is disrupted and takedown by other means becomes simpler.
• Feet. Step on the suspect’s foot. This can also help with control during restraint or break balance.

• Be professional and treat everyone with respect.
• Have an open mind. Breathe. Stay mentally calm.
• Watch fellow officers, and learn from their mistakes.
• Pay attention to body language. Read the suspect or interview subject, and be aware of your own.
• Pay attention to foot placement, both yours and the suspect’s.
• There is a safety zone between you and the suspect. It varies depending on individual. What’s yours?
• Be aware of the physical surroundings. This includes the people.
• Be decisive – don’t equivocate or bluff.
• Action is faster than reaction, so have a plan. Keep it simple.
• Your strength is in front of you. So is the suspect’s.
• Advantage is on the weak side of the suspect. Generally, this is his left if he’s right-handed, and his right if he’s left-handed.
• Inflict pain for compliance, not for punishment.
• Don’t expect pain to work on everyone.
• Talk to a suspect. If possible, get him to cooperate without force. If force is necessary, then after applying a technique, tell him in very simple terms what you want him to do.
• No matter what your size, think of yourself as big.
• Use your big against their small. For example, even a small hand is larger than a big finger.

For a biographical article about Bernie Lau, see "Seattle Aikijujutsu Pioneer Bernie Lau" at the Journal of Combative Sport.

If interested in organizing a seminar with Bernie Lau, contact Neil Yamamoto at neil@yamamoto.net

Lau also has the following professionally produced videos available for purchase.

• Dynamic Techniques of Aikijujutsu. Starts out with police responding to a disturbance call, then plunges the viewer into an armed robbery involving a sawed-off shotgun. The viewer then enters a Shinto-style dojo and the instructional portion of the video begins. Covers finger locks, wrist and elbow locks, entering throws, escapes, and knife defenses.
• Aikijujutsu Complete I. Covers locks, strikes, pressure points, nerve centers, projection throws, 26" baton, telescopic baton, iron fan, and 4’ staff.
• Aikijujutsu Complete II. Describes techniques needed to obtain rankings between white (novice) and black (intermediate) belts.
• Aikijujutsu Hiden. Features Fredrick J. Lovret.
• Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. Rare historical footage filmed in 1943 that shows senior students of Seishiro "Henry" Okazaki performing 148 Danzan Ryu techniques in normal and slow speed.
• Advanced Aikijujutsu. Features Wally Jay demonstrating Small Circle Jujitsu, James DeMile showing how to do Bruce Lee’s one and three inch punches, and Bernie Lau describing the theory and concepts of aikijutsu. Also includes footage of Morihei Ueshiba and Koichi Tohei.
• Explosive Aikijujutsu. Street survival techniques for men and women. Features Bernie Lau, Roy Goldberg, Miguel Ibarra, Diane Hughes, and Mike Belzer.
• Police Weaponless Defense. Footage from the previous tapes compiled into a specialized video. Includes hair control techniques, takedowns, finger locks, pistol and knife defenses, and fear control.

To order, send check or money order to: