If someone conducts a full-on assault on you — the kind of attack that will cause you to fight for your life — will you be prepared to take a hit or will your knees crumble on the first punch in the face.
Do we prepare ourselves for this kind of contact and how do we do this.
Many officers have never been in an all-out physical fight in their entire life. They went through school, graduated, and went to work in mainstream America — at some point landing a police job.
Once into the Academy training on the gym mats was their first ever physical contact.
Many had trouble doing PT, running, sit-ups, and push-ups without getting winded or sick.
So what happens to that officer in a real-life all-out fight? Your body will go through so many rapid changes your mind will not be able to keep up unless you prepare.
How do we prepare for this kind of physical contact outside of a controlled environment? Very difficult to do. Because departments must address injury issues so we train in a controlled safe setting.
Officers who usually fair better in an all-out confrontation are those who played contact sports like football, lacrosse, wrestling and the like. They are used to being hit and realize an elbow to your face won’t kill you (unless, of course, you just submit and stop fighting on)
Contact sports are great ways to prepare you for physical contact in a real fight. Your body prepares for the contact and you understand that you can push through the pain and play or fight on.
You learn to manage adrenaline dumps to your system and how to manage pain. Your pain threshold will go up the more contact that you encounter.
Karate, boxing, and even flag football keep you from getting caught flat-footed. Learn to keep your tongue inside your mouth jaw down and tight.
So what are your skills? What is your fight level? What’s your pain threshold? How did you get that training? Where did you prepare for your street fight?
No matter who you are and no matter where you work, that day may come when you will be tested. Will your knees buckle or will you push through?