PoliceLink

Hi. Thanks for the Invite to this group. I prefer MMA.  It is more fitted for Law Enforcement.

TN_Sheriff says ...

I am currently training in ju jitsu here in tennessee and I love it. I have been in two fights so far but lost both of them. Both of my opponents so far have had higher skill level than I but it is no big deal. losing is just part of the game I guess. stay safe.

I love to do the same thing but I just can't find the time to do it. My 12 yr old daughter is doing it and she really enjoys it.  She keeps telling me to join but like I said it's not easy finding the time. Also, I'm a member of the dive rescue team and we dive 5 days a week so that takes alot of my energy away.

To answer the question "Do I prefer mixed martial arts or traditional martials arts?"  I would first have to ask, "For what?"  Being that this is on a law enforcement website, I would have to assume the question is geared towards the use of martial arts in the field of law enforcement.  With that in mind, my answer is traditional martial arts.  Here's why...

First, as a law enforcement officer I do not fight: I use force to reasonably affect a law enforcement goal, such as an arrest.  If my suspect resists I will use that force which is reasonable to gain control.  As one of my academy instructors stated, "If you want to fight me, that's fine, but if you start to win I'll shoot you."  With pepper spray, tazers, and batons why fight?

Second, I see many posters make the statement "MMA is very realistic for today's street environments" or that MMA is better suited for law enforcement.  Well, from my experience with MMA practitioners, I would have to disagree.  The term "Mix Martial Arts" means just that.  It combines two or more martial arts into a fighting style.  Usually it is a combination of kick-boxing for stand up fighting and brazillian ju jitsu for ground fighting.  That is a dangerous combination in any ring or any fight.  However, how does that help me make an arrest?

Brazillian Ju Jitsu is a great form of ground fighting, but it is not realistic for law enforcement use.  The goal of BJJ is to submit your opponent with a joint lock or choke.  For starters, many agencies are forbidding the use of neck restraints.  I know; the sheriff's office I work for forbids it as well as the U.S. Marshals Service, whom I work for part-time.  As far as armbars go, control holds have their place, but rarely in a combative situation.  Also, its quite possible for you to break the persons arm, which in Texas is considered serious bodily injury and therefor is deadly force.

I've worked the jail and streets for a combined total of about 10 years.  I have dealt with a lot of combative individuals and have often used just a couple of techniques I learned from Judo.  One is the advanced foot sweep and the other is the outside leg reap.  I even hip tossed a guy who rushed me, once.  After taking my suspect to the ground I simply back up and choose an appropriate level of force, such as oc or tazer, to finish affecting my arrest.

I also am a firm believer in the saying, "Don't fear the man with many guns.  Fear the man who just has one."  I think by practicing one martial art you'll be better off than being okay at two or three.

Some might say,"Well, what if this happens?"  I have found out a long time ago that we don't live in the world of "what ifs."

Traditional

For LE work I would suggest MMA, not UFC stuff, but exactly what MMA stands for.  I don't think it can be honestly said there is a best disipline of MA, with out showing your ignoance.  MMA is more practical because there is no set stance and you use ground and stand up fighting and defense.  Traditional is good for strengthing both mind and body.  I'm not implying you if go to a MMA class your ready for the street, most classes are based of UFC type fighting.  I aggree Krav Maga and similer combat systems are better for LE.  Those CQ systems take what works in traditiional MA and apply it to the real world, street combat.

collincountylawman says ...

To answer the question "Do I prefer mixed martial arts or traditional martials arts?"  I would first have to ask, "For what?"  Being that this is on a law enforcement website, I would have to assume the question is geared towards the use of martial arts in the field of law enforcement.  With that in mind, my answer is traditional martial arts.  Here's why...

First, as a law enforcement officer I do not fight: I use force to reasonably affect a law enforcement goal, such as an arrest.  If my suspect resists I will use that force which is reasonable to gain control.  As one of my academy instructors stated, "If you want to fight me, that's fine, but if you start to win I'll shoot you."  With pepper spray, tazers, and batons why fight?

Second, I see many posters make the statement "MMA is very realistic for today's street environments" or that MMA is better suited for law enforcement.  Well, from my experience with MMA practitioners, I would have to disagree.  The term "Mix Martial Arts" means just that.  It combines two or more martial arts into a fighting style.  Usually it is a combination of kick-boxing for stand up fighting and brazillian ju jitsu for ground fighting.  That is a dangerous combination in any ring or any fight.  However, how does that help me make an arrest?

Brazillian Ju Jitsu is a great form of ground fighting, but it is not realistic for law enforcement use.  The goal of BJJ is to submit your opponent with a joint lock or choke.  For starters, many agencies are forbidding the use of neck restraints.  I know; the sheriff's office I work for forbids it as well as the U.S. Marshals Service, whom I work for part-time.  As far as armbars go, control holds have their place, but rarely in a combative situation.  Also, its quite possible for you to break the persons arm, which in Texas is considered serious bodily injury and therefor is deadly force.

I've worked the jail and streets for a combined total of about 10 years.  I have dealt with a lot of combative individuals and have often used just a couple of techniques I learned from Judo.  One is the advanced foot sweep and the other is the outside leg reap.  I even hip tossed a guy who rushed me, once.  After taking my suspect to the ground I simply back up and choose an appropriate level of force, such as oc or tazer, to finish affecting my arrest.

I also am a firm believer in the saying, "Don't fear the man with many guns.  Fear the man who just has one."  I think by practicing one martial art you'll be better off than being okay at two or three.

Some might say,"Well, what if this happens?"  I have found out a long time ago that we don't live in the world of "what ifs."

Well spoken brother.  As for MMA in the streets for LEO's? Most departments have banned chokes...so those are out.  You take the mount and begin pummeling him sensless...you get "reviewed" by the police police.  Put him in an armbar and your gun is within his reach...follow through with said armbar and snap his arm and agin you get to see the inside of an IA interview room.

For the record the "style" of MMA as it is currently trained is a mishmash of wrestling, BJJ, Boxing and Muay Thai.  Sort of a jack of all trades and master of none. And unfortunatly a lack of respect and discipline seems to march hand in had.  Just watch an episode of "The Ultimate Fighter"

I've coached MMA'er for a few years now since my fighting days are long behind me.  I've worked a beat and now work n corrections and I can recall 5 techniques that I use well and often. All are within department policy and all have nothing resembling what you see in a cage on TV.  My base styles are Kempo and Boxing plus a good basis in grappling  but I'd never call myself an MMA'er given the modern connotation.  I'm a well rounded traditionalist.

If you are a LEO gettng into wrestling matches  and pretending you're Chuck Liddell on some perep you just tackled you might need to review your de-escalation and force continueum classes again.