MACH 1: The suspect (right) becomes aggressive toward Jeff Clancy (1). As he approaches, Clancy uses his left hand to parry the suspect’s right arm downward (2). Next, he wraps his right arm around the suspect’s upper arm and locks his fingers on his left biceps. At the same time, he extends his left arm until his hand pushes the suspect’s head backward (3). Close-up of the hand position (4).
	MACH 2: When the suspect resists, Jeff Clancy (left) moves his left forearm to the other man’s shoulder while maintaining his grip on his biceps (1). The suspect fights against what he perceives as a takedown attempt, causing Clancy to transition to MACH 3: He uses his right hand to secure the man’s wrist (2) and his left arm to entangle his limb (3). He then turns his body and bends the suspect’s arm to effect a figure-4 lock (4).
	MACH 4: As the suspect continues to resist, Jeff Clancy (left) backs off, extends the man’s arm and executes a modified armbar (1). When the suspect does not go down, Clancy transitions to MACH 5: He seizes the other man’s wrist with both hands (2) and applies pressure against the joint (3).

As law-enforcement agencies across the nation search for the ultimate defensive-tactics program, their techniques and training methods are undergoing a metamorphosis that parallels the evolution of the martial arts. Trainers have begun focusing on the separate elements that make up personal combat—in large part because of the career-threatening injuries sustained by officers involved in confrontations with larger and stronger suspects.

The result is that the police have been forced to design more comprehensive programs to address the threats they face in the field. The current trend is toward controlling suspects through the use of momentum and leverage without inflicting injury.

While that may reduce lawsuits against police departments, it’s also one of the most difficult forms of tactical training.

The source of the problem is as follows: An officer attending a 20-week academy program receives approximately 80 hours of defensive-tactics training that consists of arrest and control techniques, handcuffing, and the use of the baton and pepper spray.

And because of budgetary and time constraints, many departments can provide their officers with only four hours to six hours of recertification training a year.

Because that barely scratches the surface, trainers must scramble to provide a cost-effective program that’s adaptable, easy to retain and quick to teach. One group that has succeeded in meeting those requirements is composed of experienced instructors from the Chicago area. Known as the Controlled FORCE team, they’ve been on the cutting edge of defensive-tactics training since 1990.

The History
Executive director Anthony Grano, director Don Roberts and deputy director Diana Suarez are in charge of an elite cadre of instructors who possess an average of 10 years of teaching experience each. Grano, a martial artist who has instructed law-enforcement officers for more than 20 years, conducted extensive research into a variety of existing programs. His investigation revealed that officers nationwide devote substantial time and effort to firearms training and qualification, but relatively little time to other types of self-defense. Yet statistics show that most police confrontations involve physical resistance prior to or without the use of a firearm.

“When police officers are involved in physical confrontations without the benefit of proper training in defensive tactics, their personal safety is often placed in jeopardy,” Grano says. “More important, untrained officers that are threatened with a physical confrontation are three times more likely to resort to the use of deadly force to alleviate the situation. The result, more often than not, is one that is wrought with civil and even criminal liability for not only the officers, but for their municipality or agency as well.”

After careful consideration, Grano began assembling a team of respected instructors and officers who shared his vision—and his goal of solving the problem. Their brainchild is Controlled FORCE.

The Challenge
The goal of Controlled FORCE is “to produce an effective building block of principles and attributes that demonstrate why techniques work, while staying within a credible force continuum,” Roberts says. During the development of the program, it soon became apparent there were three major deficiencies in the average defensive- tactics curriculum: The teaching lacks an organized structure and a method for attribute development, the techniques are too complex and require a high degree of fine motor skills to execute, and the     students fail to retain what they learn.

To remedy those shortcomings, the group chose five basic control techniques, called mechanical advantage control holds (MACH). They form the centerpiece of the system and provide a vehicle for learning proper body control.

They also serve as a biomechanical structure to follow an opponent’s resistance from one movement to the next.

Each hold was tested in violent street confrontations with real suspects.

The officers found that the transitions between holds flowed according to the responses displayed by the suspects. A replay of each confrontation proved instrumental in providing the team with a platform for teaching the program and a precise method for developing the physical attributes needed to employ the techniques.

However, the most important characteristics of Controlled FORCE should not be overlooked: It was designed to be adaptable to programs currently being used by law-enforcement agencies throughout the country and to reduce liability. And on those fronts, it’s an unrivaled success.

Martial Influences
While Controlled FORCE is not designed to turn cops into martial artists, it does have roots in the Asian arts. For example, its lock flows parallel aikido’s way of blending with an aggressive line of attack and converting it into circular motion. Grano and his associates were also attracted to aikido’s philosophy of defending oneself while minimizing the risk of injury to the attacker.

Other styles played an essential role as well. The finesse of redirecting force found in hapkido can be seen throughout the MACH transitions.

Drills from Greco-Roman wrestling were modified to develop the student’s base, balance and upper- body control. The wing chun concept of protecting the centerline is seen in the system’s empty-hand defenses against strikes.

Controlled FORCE unites those philosophies and techniques to teach students to exploit their opponent’s momentum using leverage, body positioning and body mechanics. The key element involves using techniques that follow the opponent’s movements. During the transition from one technique to another, they use a MACH response to keep him off-balance and prevent him from establishing a base.

Strength to Skill
The first two techniques of Controlled FORCE, called MACH 1 and MACH 2, are entry-level strength holds used primarily to determine the direction in which you will take your aggressor. Once you feel resistance from him, you must adjust and use his momentum during the transition to the next hold.

To execute MACH 1, approach your opponent and stand facing him, then parry his right arm downward and interlock it with yours. As you turn slightly to your right, use your right hand to grab your left biceps, forming a figure-4 lock. Simultaneously place your left hand across the right side of his face and push his head back slightly.

As you begin to circle to your left, your force carries him backward. To resist, he will attempt to move forward.

When you feel his energy change, note that you could lose the hold if you try to match his power and he’s stronger than you. Instead of fighting him, flow with him and move to MACH 2—or elsewhere if he takes you there.

To execute MACH 2, remove your hand from his face and place your forearm across his shoulder. Maintain the tight figure-4 lock, push down on his shoulder and drive it toward the ground. Your opponent will most likely push up and back because he feels as though he’s falling.

When that occurs, be prepared to move to a skill-level hold such as MACH 3. As he attempts to reduce the pressure on his shoulder, he’ll pull away from you while moving backward. Step in front of his leg and position your right hip against the left side of his body, then execute a “check and trap.” At the same time, slide your hand down his arm and grab his wrist. During this transition, it’s critical to keep his arm pinned against your body.

Next, reach around his right arm, then back under it until you can grab your wrist in a figure-4 configuration.

Pull his elbow into you, maintain a tight hold and direct his movement by stepping in front of him. Then twist your body and bend his arm to move his hand toward his shoulder. His elbow and wrist are now locked.

As he pushes toward you to reduce the pain, transition to MACH 4. Begin by releasing your grip on your wrist, extending his right arm and positioning your left forearm just above his elbow. Your orientation should resemble that used in an arm-bar takedown, but you’re relying on leverage instead of pain. From this position, guide him toward the ground by slightly lifting his wrist while maintaining a base with your forearm on the area above his elbow.

Your body should move back and to your left. Although MACH 4 is not a finishing hold, it’s often used to place an opponent in the prone position.

If he doesn’t go down, revert to MACH 3 or continue to MACH 5.

MACH 5 is the final part of the sequence and considered the highest skill-level hold in the series. Slide your left hand down his arm and grab his wrist with both hands.

Form a “V” on the back of his hand with your thumbs, and use your fingers to grasp his palm. Then rotate his hand as you move away from him. Maintain control by keeping his palm facing his body and driving his thumb downward without twisting his wrist.

Once you’ve attained a baseline level of proficiency with the five MACH techniques, you should practice them out of order in a variety of scenarios. If you’re an arresting officer, your goal is to place your opponent in a prone position for handcuffing.

Your ability to adjust to his actions will be determined by how much unpredictability you incorporate into your workouts.

Final Thoughts
Whether your desire is to improve your defensive-tactics curriculum or supplement your martial arts training, Controlled FORCE will provide a fine blueprint for advancement.

The program can be tailored to fit into any established curriculum, or it can form the infrastructure of a new program. It’s recommended for any police instructor or martial artist who is serious about improving his abilities as efficiently and rapidly as possible.

About the author: Jeff Clancy is a federal law-enforcement agent and defensive-tactics instructor. To contact him, send e-mail to JDClan57@aol.com. For more information about Controlled FORCE, visit www.controlledFORCE.com.
 

 

Black Belt Magazine