THE FIGHTING FIREBIRD The authorized newsletter of Action Fighting Arts
- By - Harry Wigder, President, Action Fighting Arts

QUALITY OF OFFICERS
AT INSTRUCTOR SEMINARS
IMPRESSIVE

When I retired from the Pa. Board of Probation and Parole after over 33 years, I set July, 2005 as the date I would decide whether to completely retire from Use of Force training or to continue training until my IT certification expired. It is June now and I have only one seminar scheduled – a G.A.G.E. (Ground Avoidance and Ground Escapes) Instructor Seminar at the Allegheny County Police Academy (located in North Park, a suburb outside of Pittsburgh, Pa.), June 20 to June 22 – and I am once again enthusiastic about conducting more PPCT Instructor Seminars at least until my certification expires next May (2006). Why? Simple. The quality of the officers taking part in the courses are so skilled, committed and enthusiastic, it is inspirational to me.

For Action Fighting Arts, 2005 started with a Spontaneous Knife Defense Seminar in State College (Days Inn) attended by 22 county and state probation and parole officers. Save for one county officer, all passed the practical and the written test scores were all in the mid-90 percent score areas. In March, AFA certified 22 county and state officers at the Penn Stater (Conference Center) in Defensive Tactics and Re-certified 14 probation and parole officers, again in State College, in Defensive Tactics.

Only 5 officers participated in a GAGE Instructor Training at the 84 Fitness Center in Eighty Four, Pa. , March 8 thru 10, but the officers displayed great enthusiasm and skill, adding to my belief that, eventually, GAGE will be one of the fundamental survival trainings that all law enforcement agencies will require. Almost every element and component of subject control and self defense is a central part of GAGE, including essential curriculum in self defense, such as: environmental awareness, mental conditioning; balance and tactical movement; defensive countermeasures; pressure points; the Shoulder Pin Restraint System; Safety Falls; weapon retention; ground fighting and ground escapes

Graduating with high scores were Officer Gerald Maloni, Peters Township PD; Officer James Stevick, Peters Township PD; Sgt. James Hannah, Canonsburg PD; Pa. State Parole Agent Timothy Wolfe (Pittsburgh District) and Washington County Probation Supervisor JT Ridge. A photograph of these officers can be viewed on the AFA Web Site (www.ActionFightingArts.com)

The Ephrata Boro Police Department hosted the next GAGE, this one being held at the Ephrata Recreation Center in the attractive, serene central Pa. town located about 30 miles from Harrisburg. J. Mark Rettew, who had just completed the PPCT DT Re-Certification Training the week before at the Days Inn in State College, became the first officer to accomplish a perfect score on the lengthy Written Test (in Action Fighting Arts history). Rettew, a Probation Officer with the Lancaster County Adult Probation Department, had missed only one question the previous week on the challenging DT Written Test.

Noteworthy was the performance of not only Rettew, but all the officers participating. All the Safety Falls and Ground Escapes were performed crisply and correctly. All the officers took apparent pride in their performances. As I said earlier, it was inspirational to a long-time Instructor Trainer to see. The other graduates included: Officer Chris McKim, Ephrata PD; Officer Tim Ebersole, Ephrata PD; Joshua Mangle, Montgomery County Adult Probation Dept.; Probation Officer Shawn Rowe, Dauphin County Adult Probation; Probation Officer Tom Walton, Dauphin County Adult Probation; Rodney Brown, Lancaster County Adult Probation; Probation Officer Fran Presley, Lancaster County Adult Probation and Donald Acker, Lancaster County Adult Probation.

A note regarding the GAGE trainings. Every GAGE training expands all of our knowledge because officers with experience in the grappling arts, wrestling, and, of course, ground fighting, add to the curriculum with comments, observations and demonstrations in re tactics Bad Guys can and have used to defeat officers ( for example, “Grapevining”) and suggestions on how to neutralize and defeat those tactics. For instance, Josh Mangle contributed what I now call The Mangle Maneuver, which is a training technique to demonstrate how to “shoot” the right (dominant) hip through “the post,” created by the Shoulder Pin restraint. Mangle also demonstrated a “tightening technique” to neutralize the affect of Grapevining (The Bad Guy wraps his legs around the officer, making it near-impossible to roll him off). Josh Kilgore at a GAGE held last October, contributed what I call The Kilgore Klamp when he suggested officers post both elbows just above the Bad Guy’s knees during a Top Mount ground attack to keep the attacker from moving forward on the grounded officer. Fran Presley and Donald Acker also contributed helpful suggestions culled from their years in the grappling arts. Finally, Sgt Jim Hanna improved this IT’s Safety Falls with his excellent suggestions.

Finally, Timothy Stringer, an officer with the Ferguson Township PD, scored the first perfect score on the DT Written Test (in AFA history) at the Defensive Tactics Instructor Seminar, hosted by the Mifflin County Regional PD in Lewistown, 5/9 to 5/13. 2005. All officers performed the skills so well that all received a Superior overall score on the challenging PPCT DT Practical Test. Graduating along with Stringer were: Stewart Edmondson, State Department Contractor from Towson, Md.; Officer Eric Norman, Mifflin County Regional PD; Officer Christopher Kaniecki, Mifflin County Regional PD; Joshua Garver, Mifflin County Correctional facility; Officer Martin Bubb, Granville Twp PD; Detective Mont Wilson, Mifflin County Domestic Relations; Probation Officer Michael Charles, Mifflin County Probation Department and Probation Officer (Juvenile and Adult) Bo Trawitz, Mifflin County Probation.

DT “STUDENTS” HELP RESOLVE
LEWISTOWN “MAN WITH GUN”
CRISIS

Lieutenant Steven Knudson faced the scenario head on. A disturbed man, depressed and desperate, emotionally disturbed because of prolonged domestic troubles, was brandishing a long rifle at citizens, threatening mayhem. Knudson knew that suicide was a definite possibility, too.

Knudson, a former PPCT Defensive Tactics Instructor and the head of the Mifflin County Regional Police Department’s Tactical Unit secured the area, restricting the EDP’s movement, but still needed more officers.

Knudson called the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, where (Harry Wigder was conducting) the first day of the PPCT DT Instructor Certification Seminar was being held, and summonsed Officers Chris Kaniecki and Eric Norman from the training and to the scene of the crisis.

“It was pretty simple, really. I needed more troops. You never know what someone as unpredictable as a man in his (the EDP’s) situation will do,” Knudson said after the incident was resolved. “Kaniecki and Norman are good officers. I sent them where they were needed most.”

Knudson did an excellent job positioning his troops and using patience and verbal skills to resolve the crisis. Kaniecki and Norman were able to make up the two hours of class they missed by participating in a make-up session, and, as noted above, received their instructor certification on May 13, 2005.

FUTURE ACTION FIGHTING ARTS
TRAININGS---

As noted above, the last scheduled AFA Use of Force training will be at the Allegheny County Police Academy, North Park, Pittsburgh, Pa. Jack Leonard, PPCT Staff Instructor, is still fielding applications for participation at this GAGE Instructor Seminar, June 20, 21 and 22, 2005. Contact Harry Wigder at harrywigder@rcn.com (484-542-0040), if interested.

THE FIREBIRD WANTS TO
HEAR FROM YOU!

Call us or e-mail us with your training tips or success stories. 95% of the people who read the AFA newsletter are instructors or prospective instructors. Share your training secrets. We can all learn. Share with our readers your success stories, or, just as good, failure stories. The Firebird wants to chronicle incidents when PPCT techniques failed as well as succeeded. Besides, both make for interesting reading.

TRAINING TIP OF THE MONTH

Bring Your Trainings To Life With Picture Perfect Training Using Innovative Drills and Exercises

By
Harry Wigder, PPCT IT and Director Of
Action Fighting Arts

Over The Years I have learned many important things about training law enforcement people. I hope to share some of those things in this and future newsletters. This Training Tip is one of the most important, that is, if you want your trainings to come alive, meaning that the officers who are in your class(es) don’t just attend---they participate, and, more importantly, they learn today, and, even more importantly, they practice and keep learning tomorrow!

I believe that many instructors I have trained with, been trained by and/or observed training are fine technically. Meaning, they can technically or mechanically perform the skill. In some situations, mechanical demonstration is enough. But I also see the eyes of the student-officer and I don’t see that light a good instructor sees when the student gets it. And that’s what I shoot for – that light in the eye. This is not an unimportant distinction, in my opinion, because, students who feel the techniques and concepts they are learning are crucial to their safety and survival will, in most cases, practice the skills after the classes dismiss. The officers who practice will increase their skills through repetition and will, in turn, increase their confidence in those survival skills. Increased confidence leads to more practice, which, of course, leads to higher skill levels, and--- well, you get the picture.

And, speaking of pictures, here is the Tip Of the Month, which is, simply, to inspire students through igniting the Right Side of their brain through “Picture Perfect Training,” that is by teaching in pictures through innovative drills and exercises. I say this because research proves that most adult students, especially those in use of force training programs, learn through imaging, which starts in the right side of the brain. We are a visual society. Which is the basis behind the phenomenon of Soft Wiring, a concept you probably are very familiar with if you are a use of force instructor. For those of you who are not (familiar with the term), Soft Wiring is the term used for the process whereby a student, observing the demonstration of a skill or technique by a skilled instructor, forms an image or a picture of how that skill should be performed in their mind’s eye (interestingly, the Mind’s Eye is a term synonymous with Soft Wiring). That picture begins the process of creating a Survival Motor Program that is eventually downloaded to the Central Nervous System which is instrumental in the student being able to physically perform the technique or skill in the training arena, and, later on the street during combat situations.

In short, the key to Soft Wiring a skill in the students’ mind’s eye is the use of force instructor’s demonstration skills. You probably know the principles: (1) Demonstrate all skills at 50% or less speed and power. (2) Break (chunk) all skills into 3 parts – a beginning, middle and an end, and, (3) All feedback should be delivered in mental pictures.

PICTURE PERFECT TRAINING (PPT)

PPT is a principle based on the fact that almost all of us learn best through the instructor being able to present and demonstrate each technique, or skill, in two ways:

1. Association: Association works all the time. It is the strongest form of learning. Association works like this: Link something the student already knows with something the student does not know. That simple. Really. For example, let’s take a term I used in a PPCT Impact Weapon Instructor Seminar. I was teaching how to correctly execute a Backhand Cutting Strike. Several students were having difficulty with the footwork, especially after I used the training mantra of “pivot and cut (not one student had any problem understanding the training description for the Forward Cutting Strike, which was “step and cut”I surmised because everyone knows how to step).” I associated how a quarterback must pivot by stepping back and to the strong side with his rearward foot while turning (or, pivoting) his front foot and upper body in order to hand the ball to the fullback. I also used and demonstrated taking an imaginary loaf of bread from one (imaginary) counter and “pivoting” the same way to place the loaf on another (imaginary) counter behind and to my strong side. I was associating something everyone in the class already knew with something most people in the class did not know. After a few more demonstrations, the class “got it.” A better example of association can be seen in how good instructors teach rotating the hand and the cuffs during Tactical Handcuffing. Better than stating and demonstrating rotation of the thumb to the outside and the cuffs to the inside, use association and PPT to Soft Wire and help the student Hard Wire the technique. Link what the student already knows –which is the ability to cross the support wrist over the dominant wrist, an act everybody in the room knows how to do – with what the student does not know yet – the act of rotation. Demonstrate crossing one wrist over the other until they both touch and have the students cross their wrists. Once without the handcuffs and again using the cuffs. Apply PPT every time the student forgets to rotate, or when the student rotates incorrectly by walking up to them and simply crossing the support wrist over the strong one. Since the image or visual cue is already part of the motor program, the student will immediately “get it” and will perform the proper rotation the next time.
   
   
2. Picture Perfect Training (PPT): As chronicled above, PPT is no more than training and/or demonstrating in such a way and in such a manner that a “perfect picture” of the technique and how it must be performed is formed the student’s Mind’s Eye. Here are a few (of many) examples of PPT, often combined with the concept of Association to help students perfect PPCT techniques and skills:
   
   PPT EXERCISES AND DRILLS:
   1. Slamming The Car Door Image: I have used this visual image to help students maximize their power on their Forward Fluid Shock Wave Strike. The “picture” also helps the student Soft Wire the correct form. I usually use this picture when the student is “casting” the baton and striking “at” the target instead of dynamically striking through the target. I will suggest to the officer that he/she imagine that he/she is angrily slamming his/her car door. I then direct the officer(s) to actually go through the motion of slamming the door (in one situation, during a break, I actually had an officer slam my front door). Without exception, the officer executes the correct form, which is the left side of the officer’s body (for a right-hander) drives forward to lead the baton and stops upon impact (providing counter pressure) while the right shoulder, arm and hand flings the “door” at the target and all joints on the right side lock upon impact. Providing no energy leaks. There is an ample hip and shoulder turn (chambering), the knees bend and all power is delivered into the target not “at it.”
      
      
   2. The Highway To Heaven (or, The Ramp): I use this “picture, “or image to help correct errant Brachial Stuns, especially the Palm Heel Brachial Stun and the Outside of the Forearm Brachial Stun. Many officers want to thrust or push the Palm Heel Stun (thrusting straight forward). At best, most thrust only partially contact the Brachial Plexus Origin Motor Point, making a complete Fluid Shock Wave effect improbable. To correct this I suggest that the officer(s) imagine that the Bad Guy’s shoulder along the line of the strike is a highway or a ramp and that they should direct their Brachial Stun inches above the ramp. I tell them that the “highway” always leads to the side of the neck. I demonstrate the correct path of each Brachial Stun, of course, but, until I use the Ramp metaphor, several of the students cannot get the correct path. The correct path is no trivial or cosmetic matter, either. Incorrect path plan leads to poor strikes, failure to induce the Fluid Shock Wave Principle, striking the Bad Guy in the (side of the) face and total misses.
      
      
   3. Don’t Spill The Coffee (or, Beer) Image: A common problem relative to the Straight Punch is strikes that create energy leaks by turning the fist over, flailing the elbow to the side. Here I suggest to the officer that he or she
      
      imagine that they are holding a mug of coffee or beer and the idea is to smash that mug into the torso of the Bad Guy (or, strike pad)without spilling any of the liquid. This requires the officer to hold the wrist, hand and forearm in a straight line and encourages the officer to keep the forearm close to his or her side when striking, another prerequisite for a powerful, effective punch. A nice ancillary effect of a correct Straight Punch smashing the coffee mug is the reduction of wrist injuries caused by striking with a bent wrist.
      
      
   4. Key In The Ignition Image And Bottle Opener Images: Touch Pressure application must create enough pain to impel the Bad Guy to comply with commands. Yet, time after time, I see officers using the finger print section, or pad, to execute the Mandibular Angle Pressure Point. Other failure factors are keeping the knuckles of the hand pointed down and laying against the side of the Bad Guy’s neck. Finally, the officer will attempt the pressure point with the fingernail of the thumb in a horizontal position. Performed separately, each mistake is not devastating, but performed together, all these mistakes make a Mandibular Angle Pressure Point almost totally ineffective. To correct all these errors, I:
      • Suggest to the student(s) that they locate the “slot, “ which is a ½” wide line or area extending from the pressure point to the R-Angle of the jaw. I direct students to imagine that is the ignition slot of their automobile and they are placing the key in the ignition. I ask, you wouldn’t try to place the key horizontally in a vertical slot, would you? This often corrects the horizontal thumb placement.
      • 
      • Suggest that they make sure the knuckles of the executing hand are facing the ceiling when they “key the ignition.” The picture I suggest is that they imagine they are opening a bottle of beer with an opener. At the optimal position of the Mandibular Angle Pressure Point (the position the hand is in when Pain Compliance is achieved) the hand should be away from the neck, the wrist · should be pointed at a 33 degree angle toward the pressure point and the knuckles facing the sky, which would be the exact position of the hand at the point when the bottle cap pops off the bottle!
      • Exercise To Demonstrate The Difference In Pain Between Using the Pad of the Thumb (fingerprint area) and the Digital Tip: Direct the students to place the fingerprint section (pad) of the thumb against the right side of their temple. Direct them to execute pressure directly into the temple. There is very little pain. Now, turn the fist over so that the tip of the thumb is against the students’ side of the temple and everyone’s knuckles are pointed straight up. Direct the students to press their thumb into the temple. Ask the students. They will tell you their pain has at least quadrupled. Now direct the students to stabilize the left side of their head by placing the palm of their left hand against the side. This will provide the crucial element of Pressure- Counterpressure. Direct the students to press the digital tip into the side of their temples and the students will affirm that their pain has increased another two fold. Using Picture Perfect Training (PPT), you have now taught the importance of and the methodology of Stabilization; Digital Tip Pressure; the Correct Position of the hand and knuckles.
        
        
        
        **** ****

TRAINING LEG LOCKS TO MANAGE OFFENDER RESISTANCE
AN ESSENTIAL SKILL FOR TEAM ARREST TACTICS
By Bill Haslego

On many occasions during an arrest, the offender goes to the ground: either by verbal direction, that is, being given verbal commands to get on the ground and he complies; being taken to the ground by an armbar or other defensive tactic; or the offender resists and the fight ends up on the ground. When the fight goes to the ground, the offender’ goal is to be mobile to elude capture or be able to deliver harm to the arresting agents/ officers. In a team arrest situation, the tendency is for all agents/officers present to focus on the subject’s arms and hands. If the offender resists and all present focus on controlling the upper body, the offender retains his fighting platform, his legs. The strategy in the use of leg locks is while the offender is concentrating his resistance high, part of the arrest team goes low. Removing his fighting platform by the use of leg locks is an effective means of shutting down residence or used preemptively, an effective means to prevent resistance. Additionally, if all the agents present “dog pile” the offender, issues of weapon retention arise, agents get in each others way and inhibit any effective use of defensive tactics and may give the offender an opportunity to access a concealed weapon. Consider that with all the focus on the resisting offender, the perimeter remains unguarded against additional threats.

The goal of a leg lock is to immobilize the offender and that will give the agents/officer the ability to control the upper body. With the legs immobilized the offender will fatigue
The Fighting Firebird
quickly and resistance will end. Ankle and knee joint manipulation will lock up the lower body and secondarily cause pain compliance.
A well trained arrest team will be ready to take action and be able to interchange assignments as the arrest situation unfolds.
Let’s take the example of a 4 person arrest team. We have a contact officer, a cover officer a perimeter guard and a rear guard. If the contact officer armbars the offender to the ground and whether the offender resists or not, the cover officer moves to control the other arm, the perimeter guard moves to apply a leg lock, while the rear guard moves to watch the perimeter.
The leg lock is also a preemptive measure to counter the “Folsom Prison Roll”. This practiced by inmates to counter improper prone cuffing technique on the agent/officers part. After feigning compliance, if the cuffing agent does not keep the offenders shoulder low to the ground, the offender rolls toward the cuffing officer, takes him down and secures his firearm with the purpose of shooting the cover officer first, then the cuffing officer.
If the contact officer during the compliance stage, moves to apply a leg lock first it preempts any roll. The cover officer quickly moves to the prone cuffing position. These skills will only come through regular practice and training.

Here are 3 simple but effective leg locks with a variation on the third.

The example photos are shown only with one person performing the lock for clarity.

Many thanks to Joe Bednarczyk for his patient instruction over many years.
And thanks to Mike Gmitter and Jose Nunez for being there to help.

1. THE FIGURE FOUR LEG LOCK:
   Place the ankle of one leg behind the knee joint of the opposite leg and place your palm on the toes of the opposite leg and press the opposing leg toward the offender’s head while grasping the foot of the leg folded into the knee joint. Your body position should have you kneeling on the leg closest to the leg that will be pushed toward the head. Your other leg is straight and extended to provide a solid base to work. Grasp the offender’s belt or pants at the waistline as you push the leg toward the offender’s head
   
   Ankle placed behind the knee
   
   
   Hand on toes Press toward the offenders head. Grab at the waistline. Note how the right leg is straight and extended to provide a solid base to apply the lock.
   
   
2. SINGLE LEG LOCK:
   This can be used when you are unable to maneuver a leg into the figure-four position. A leg is grasped with the palm pushing the toes toward the head. Body position: one knee is on the outside of the leg that will be locked and the other knee is on the inside of that leg with your leg over the offender’s non locked leg, trapping the non locked leg in the hollow spot near your ankle. This will prevent the offender from kicking you with the free leg. Again you grasp the offender’s pants or belt at the waistline.
   
   Trap free leg in the hollow of your ankle
   
   
   3 (A) Leg lock by kneeling on the Offender's ankles or lower legs
   
   
   3(B) Leg lock at the superficial peroneal or ankle with the baton
   [Expandable baton placing pressure on the Superficial Peroneal nerve area (one or two inches toward the knee from the ankle)]

THE FIREBIRD’S FEATURED USE OF FORCE INSTRUCTOR – JON “JT” RIDGE. - 2004, “A YEAR TO REMEMBER!”

Jon “JT” Ridge, a supervisor with the Washington County (Pa.) Adult Probation and Parole Department,and an outstanding PPCT Instructor in DT, SKD and GAGE, is the featured Use of Force Instructor of this issue (of the newsletter) both for his commitment to PPCT as an instructor and for his noteworthy personal accomplishments is 2004.

In September, Ridge culminated years of hard study and sacrifice by earning his Masters of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. JT also won two Open wrestling tournaments (Masters Division) and finished second in a power lifting competition, bench pressing 320 pounds(Ridge’s weight varies between 160 and 180 depending upon the competition) and dead lifting an improbable 450 lbs. He also finished second in a 5K (foot) race on July 4th, amazing in that Ridge had never seriously competing in running prior to this. He is currently training for the Marine Corps Marathon in November.

“I know I worked hard and, even though I am proud to have done some cool things, none of these accomplishments can come close to what my beautiful wife Julie (Marshall-Ridge) did when she gave birth to our wonderful daughter Hannah last November.”

DO YOU HAVE A STORY, AN IDEA, A CONCEPT THAT CAN HELP OTHERS GO HOME EVERY DAY?

Action Fighting Arts and the Fighting Firebird invited you to contribute a story, article, feature or advertise your training in its monthly newsletter. The Firebird personally knows a lot of you out there who have innovative ideas and/or field experience when PPCT and/or other training programs have either worked or failed. Our readers (and I) can learn a great deal from those experiences. Plus, writing about your experiences and ideas can be fun and fulfilling, just as can seeing your thoughts in print can be.

Send those articles and features to harrywigder@rcn.com, or, Shana Lee Albert, my web master, at www.ActionFightingArts.com.

Thanks to Rachel Goldstein, the founder of Artists Helping Children, for her help on art work and other features.

Click Here to Subscribe to Action Fighting Arts Newsletter

AFA Newsletter Archive

• INAUGURAL EDITION - November, 2004
• January/February 2005 Edition
• April, 2005 Edition
• June, 2005 Edition
• December, 2005 Edition
• February, 2006 Edition
• May, 2006 Edition