As law enforcement professionals we have a tendency in training to want to skip the basics so we can get to the high speed, low drag, really cool tactical stuff. Here is the inside scoop. There are no advanced tactics or techniques. There are basics and there are basics mastered. The high speed, low drag, really cool tactical stuff is simply the basics mastered then applied to real world situations. In order to get to this level we need to master the basics.
One day I was doing my interval training on the exercise bike in the basement and watching a training video of a seminar put on by a high ranking iu jitsu black belt. He was discussing this very topic with the seminar participants. He explained that there were no advanced techniques in the art, just the basics mastered. He used the example of the rear naked choke and explained that a rear naked choke was a rear naked choke. It was the same for a 6th degree black belt as it was for a white belt. The only difference was that after 20 plus years of training and thousands of applications on hundreds of people he happened to be more proficient at it. The technique however, was the same.
During a control tactics instructor class I was discussing this concept with the the course participants. One of the participants was an experienced law enforcement instructor as well as a high level judo practitioner who had been training and competing for years. He reinforced this concept when he related to the class that most judo black belts win competitions with yellow belt moves. Yellow belt moves that they have practiced and mastered.
Many of you are familiar with the story of Marcus Young. Marcus was shot five times, including once in the face and one round that shattered his right arm, at point blank range by a gang member intent on killing him. Marcus prevailed in that confrontation eventually shooting and killing Beckman. If you are not familiar with Marcus’ story then I would highly recommend you purchase a copy of W.I.N. 2 Insights Into Training and Leading Warriors at Warrior Spirit Books and read about it in Marcus’ own words. Chuck Remseberg also wrote about this incident in his great book Blood Lessons which is also available at Warrior Spirit Books. Marcus and I have had a number of lengthy discussions about his incident and have presented together on a number of occasions. When I asked Marcus to identify one or two things that allowed him to prevail and win that violent encounter against Neil Beckman one of the things he told me was “Practice the basics over and over.” Marcus had learned this lesson through 20 plus years of martial arts training and 20 years as a law enforcement professional. It was a lesson that served him well as it was his mastery of the basics and his mental preparation that allowed him to perform at such a high level during this violent encounter.
Two challenges:
- Step back and reflect on your personal training. How much time do you spend on the basics.
- Now step back and reflect on the training you deliver. How much time do you spend finding ways to make practicing the basics fun and meaningful for your officers. Training the bacics is not about being boring. The basics can be practiced in a variety of ways that are fun, innovative and practical. Use your imagination.
Take care.
Brian Willis
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