Hand-to-hand fighting is occasionally a part of police work and something to plan for. If you think a few street scraps are sufficient training, think again. There can be a deadly difference, both in terms of mind-set and tactics, in a fight between two people who disagree and one between a criminal who has chosen to engage a sworn law enforcement officer in an effort to escape, seriously injure him/her or even kill.
Yes, there are a myriad of force options available today that do not involve hand-to-hand combat. But there are bad days - days when officers DO end up in knock-down, drag-out battle royales where those advanced force options are available ONLY if you can fight your way to them. Here are 10 things to keep in mind that can help you win:
1) Be decisive and get the first-move advantage if possible
If you sense that a fight is inevitable, don’t wait to be the first one hit. Watch for initial body language that indicates you are about to be attacked and make your move decisively. A first move advantage can help you get and stay on top of the fight right from the start.
2) Rehearse
You’re aware that fighting is sometimes a necessary part of the job, but do you actually rehearse a mental plan for it? Be prepared by thinking through a fight (practicing when/then thinking) just as you would other tactical scenarios. Where would you hit first? What would you do after you land your first blow? What would you do if you get hit and lose your balance or become momentarily dazed? What would you do if your fight goes to the ground, as many do?
3) Ask yourself a crucial question: Am I winning?
If your answer is yes, by how much? Are you close to gaining full control and ending the struggle or are you barely hanging in there? Is he tiring? Are you tiring? Is he getting madder and more energized while you’re fading? If you’re losing the fight, you need to be thinking about strategic disengagement, not foolish determination to keep up.
4) Monitor the severity of the fight and be prepared to do whatever it takes to survive.
There are two key things to remember in a fight. First, your job and your life don’t depend on you fighting fair. They depend on you fighting to win. Second, there’s a big difference between fighting for control and fighting to survive. If the fight switches from a control issue, meaning progressive movement towards an arrest, to a survival issue, ANYTHING GOES. When your life hangs in the balance, it’s crucial for you to think unconventionally and use ANYTHING you can to defend yourself. Slamming a door in the face, stabbing a pen into the hand, neck or eye, throwing someone down the stairs, pounding a phone against the bridge of the nose, biting, kicking, scratching - whatever it takes to survive is what you need to do. Be ready for that and be prepared to kick into survival mode the second you feel it’s necessary.
5) Do you have the fighting spirit to keep fighting even if you’re shot, cut or hit?
Shock and panic can be deadly enemies in a fight. Be sure you are prepared to suffer injury and continue fighting. Stories of officers surviving against tremendous odds, even in the worst situations with the most horrific injuries, abound. Unfortunately, there are also stories of officers who died after being overcome by the shock of suffering comparatively minor injuries. Always hone and feed your survival mind-set. It can be one of your most powerful allies.
6) When you hit: HIT! HARD!
Every blow you throw should be issued with the idea that it will end the fight. Period. Something else to keep in mind is appearance. If you can end a fight with one well-placed, power-packed blow, you avoid the need for repeated and prolonged striking which, quite frankly, doesn’t look good.
7) Never spar with anyone.
Do not fall prey to participating in a half-serious punching match. Poking and jabbing are not going to end a fight. Full blows delivered in a calculated fashion and designed to deliver the impact necessary to end a threat is what you need to be issuing. If someone swings at you, it’s serious. Just because they may choose to take a half-hearted swing or two or throw a few jabs at first doesn’t mean you’re not going to experience worse soon. Most likely they’re feeling you out to see how you’re going to react and testing your readiness and ability to engage. The longer the fight lasts, the more likely you are to tire, the more likely someone else may jump in against you and the more likely someone will get seriously hurt. Sparring prolongs a fight.
8) Hit to create dysfunction.
Educate yourself on body points that, when attacked, will cause dysfunction in your opponent and restrict - better yet completely eliminate - his ability to continue fighting. This includes strikes to motor points: the lower abdominal area, the legs, etc. I teach all of these points in my Active Countermeasures classes, and I’m consistently surprised at how few officers know the most effective dysfunction points.
9) Don’t assume that a pause means it’s over.
Do not take a lull in the action as a sign that your opponent is done fighting and will easily be restrained. Believe that a second wind is coming at any second and resist the temptation to lower your guard and rest. The most immediate goal is control, usually in the form of having the suspect cuffed. Don’t stop until you’ve got it.
10) Keep breathing!
A common instinct in a fight is holding your breath, which can be very dangerous. Lack of oxygen will cause you to tire more easily, become dizzy and could even lead to passing out. Equally important is the fact that being struck while your breath is held can lead to serious internal injuries.
Remember to CONSCIOUSLY tell yourself to breath throughout the fight. It could make all the difference.
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