Category: Grappling

Police struggle to arrest man using baton (pain compliance)

The police officer holding the leg of the suspect has been derided many times on the internet. And it does look somewhat comical the way he is dragged around by the suspect.

However, his actions are effective in preventing the suspect from escaping. It is the other officer who should then be taking advantage of this by clinching with the suspect to take him down. Instead, he attempts to use his baton to effect pain compliance which fails. He only continues to use the baton which makes them both look foolish.

This is yet another example of why police need at least fundamental grappling skills, and their training is often not up to the task.

Lower lip bitten off in street fight

Two main things to note here:

  1. Biting is possible at any time a grip is established and from any range and position, and it can happen very quickly;
  2. Despite having about one third of his lower lip bitten off, the victim of the bite was willing to continue fighting. It was the biter who stepped back, put his palms up then walked away. Biting does not incapacitate and will at best discourage.

Man gets out of position while fighting multiples

When this fight begins, male in black shirt is already in a bad position, facing two other men who are shoulder to shoulder. The two targets cannot be dealt with at the same time, and when attacking one, we become exposed to the other.
Black shirt reaches toward white shirt. White shirt is able to read black’s movements which were telegraphed from quite a distance. White shirt is now moving backwards and drawing black shirt into a position which exposes his right side to striped shirt.
Black shirt throws a punch while completely out of range and exposes his side which cannot be defended while he lunges and commits to his own punch. This position could hardly be any worse.
Striped shirt takes full advantage. More people get involved in the fight, mostly grappling with each other and missing strikes. Black shirt is the only person who continues to take hard strikes to the head while he is defenceless on the ground.

Suspect twists out of wrist grabs as officer attempts arrest

A police officer unsuccessfully attempts to handcuff a suspect by holding his wrists, an approach which is only effective when the suspect is compliant. As this video demonstrates, it is not difficult to twist out of the position. Even if physical restraint and control can be achieved by a single officer, locking on handcuffs may not be possible without assistance from multiple police.