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[Piper]

This is aimed at Hock, but anyone can jump in and help me out. I am looking for research that shows that training in hand to hand improves a number of psychologically induced problems or concerns.  Hock, I remember your stuff about "the Skittish Quickdraw" which talked about the untrained officers pulling thier guns too quickly (where can I find that article?)  I have seen officers on the job back off from laying hands on guys when it was obviously time to do so...but they were just scared of getting beat down.  I am trying to establish the need for serious hand to hand training first, stating that it gives the officer confidence when dealing with volatile subjects; particularly, that it gives the guy who would normally be too afraid to engage the confidence to do so, and lower the anxiety of the guys who are prone to skittish, over the top behaviors as well.  I was just hoping for some empiracal data to throw into my powerpoint for the brass.  My program focuses on teaching worst case stuff first, then going down the use of force ladder later on in the program to deal with non-violent resisting subjects (I believe in teaching the officers to survive first, and learn how to take the bad guy down nicely later...).  For too long the brass would just focus on subject control, meaning just simple joint locks and takedowns against moderately or passively resisting subjects.  That was the horrible 80's mentality (trainers convinced of the outdated Hicks Law and brass frightened of litigation).  Since I have been teaching our officers hardcore hand to hand, they have shown a lot more backbone in rough situations....and because of that confidence have shut down situations that could have gotten violent.. because they could look that thug in the eye with that spark of the beast they recognized....and the thugs have been backing down.  I have also seen these officers lay hands on people much more quickly when it is necessary to do so...much less hesitation and fear.  It makes me happy to see.  But still, back to my original request.  Any research that I can back this up with?

[Hock]

That quick draw? It is mentioned somewhere in here! Somewhere...
http://www.hockscombatforum.com/cqcmagazine/Mag-02-Jun-Jul-2000.pdf

But you are talking about age old police training problems. I just attended a great use of Force police program at a Texas police academy.  It was taught by a smart police Lt. form a major city. BUT, it was also at times still peppered with very archaic and disproven ideas and programs. A blend of new ideas and stuck-in-the-mud ideas.

This particular LT was fond of PPCT. But, it was clear he liked the easy list of strikes and kicks. A list any of us could write up.

So, its a very slow process. I can't think of any empirical data that says exactly what you want. Too elusive a subject I guess. But it is common sense. But police administration have never had a monopoly on common sense.

Hock

(With Hicks Law? Lots of meat-heads will think that denouncing Hicks law means that you think that every person can learn and master 10,000 things overnight. That is not the point. Its a continuum of people and tasks. The point is that people are smarter than Hicks law and can learn 8, 10 or 15 things rather than 1 or 2. Some more. 

                          "Keep it simple, but not TOO simple," - Einstein.

But simple to Einstein is not simple to you or me. Its all relative. A proper system has doctrine to recognize these parameters and growth for the individual.)