What is the best martial art for law enforcement?

[Anonymous]

I'm entering the field soon and I want to start practicing a martial art to better prepare myself for use of force incidents. The department has an outstanding reputation for using the correct amount of force, with less than 100 injuries occurring out of over 48,000 use of force incidents over the past 2 years.

This is a reputation I intent to make even better by doing everything I can to subdue resistant subjects without causing any harm. I've done martial arts as a kid so I do have a little bit of basic footwork experience but when it comes to grappling and wrestling, I'm a complete novice.

The martial art needs to excel in defense and restraining of the individual to gain control and get them to stop. Striking goes out the window as punches, kicks or anything like that not only would look terrible and cause serious injury, but it's very against departmental policy and would result in felony charges being filed against me, as it should be if I did that.

What's a good martial art to start?

[MTC29]

Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, which was developed as a weaponless defense system a warrior would use if he lost his weapon in battle (imagine a disarmed police officer). Danzan Ryu focuses on throws, takedowns, and control holds, all of which are excellent skill sets police officers.

[Chazmatazz269]

Aikido should help you to keep aggressors off of you, and judo to throw them off if they do get to you; giving you the time and space to grab your stick, tazer or sidearm. Eskrima would be good too, so that the stick is actually more useful and you’ll be less likely to use unnecessarily deadly force in certain situations.

[MuddyMole]

I'm pretty sure they will have very specific techniques, which they teach and expect officers to use - and doing *anything* else (including random martial arts) would have the potential to get both you and the department in hot water.

[Avicenna]

@embracethepain, what do you and @Physics-Man think?

[Physics-Man]

I'd say Krav Maga, Sambo, Japanese Jujitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Muay Thai.

[Physics-Man]

Kyokushin Karate is also good. If you want to practice just one, then go for Combat Sambo, Judo, Japanese Jujitsu, or Krav Maga.

[Agape93]

Judo or systema

[Karate_Guy]

@Agape93 Do you do judo or systema?

[Agape93]

Nope but my friend does

[Karate_Guy]

@Agape93 Cool! You should do a martial art too! :-)

[Agape93]

I do, pankration. Hardly an expert but enough for my needs

[Karate_Guy]

@Agape93 You do pankration? That's awesome! Please PM me :-)