What training would be good for future FBI service?

[Paco]

Hey Wolf, if you're going to be an agent good luck to you but- having said all that- here is the last piece of advice:

I've seen too many macho-cowboy motherfuckers in this business, some get shot at and most end up in legal troubles... Don't add to that list. As an agent all you have is your word and your mind is your best weapon. Don't screw anybody over who didn't have it coming to them, ok?

[Heroic Wolf]

They were teaching X-block against a knife attack? Is it just me or is that inefficient? Cuz I tried that against a sparring buddy and after a while he started faking a downward stab to get my hands up and then stabbed me in the stomach with the prop knife, lol

Don't worry Paco, I've always relied more on brains than macho-ness (I've never been a particularly gifted athlete or natural macho-man) and I'm sure I'll carry that into any law enforcement agency I work for

[ltindiandaeng]

Heroic Wolf Paco has given you some good advice so take heed.In my department I taught the approved curriculum,which to me was next to useless,due to the fact that the approved tactics were meant to avoid lawsuits by minimising injury to the opponent.On my own ,outside of class,and also in secret,I taught the real techniques,because the fact is the bad guys were not worried about lawsuits or minimising injuries.Any and all martial arts are good to know if you are in law enforcement.Choose what works for you.I have my own preferences but I have worked with guys who studied every MA there is and they hare all good.

As for x-blocks for knife attacks,let me tell you that I am native American and started martial arts training by learning knife fighting from my uncles.I studied knife defense for over 40 years and I still get cut.The fact is there is no 100 per cent effective unarmed defense against a skilled opponent with a knife.When I teach unarmed knife defense the focus is on not getting killed,I tell them they can expect to get cut.The point is to try to avoid a fatal cut.But x-blocks are useless I agree.

I am retired from US law enforcement,though I still work as advisor to police in Thailand,but I will say that those actions in my career I feel most proud of are the ones where I managed to avoid violence.I hope you do the same.The point is there will be times when it is unavoidable,and for your own sake as well as the publics you must prepare for it.

[Heroic Wolf]

Just to be curious, there are so many knife martial arts and combatives programs out there. Do those many systems start having similarities after a while or are there an infinite number of knife fighting methods to learn?

[bashy]

I would go with Hapkido, My old master trianed the FBI and the Swat team in my area. lots of weapon offense and defense, with small and large joint manipulation.

[ltindiandaeng]

This is just my opinion but it is shared by other law enforcement trainers I know.If you are interested in law enforcement as a career,I would not concentrate on knife fighting training.I do not know of anyone in law enforcement who has ever used a knife in a fight,and while it is good to know unarmed defenses against knife attacks,in general since you will be armed with a firearm this is your best defense in that case.If you were going to be a corrections officer,then I would say it is definitely worthwhile to learn unarmed knife defense.Grappling arts,or even better arts that teach striking as well as grappling,such as hapkido as was mentioned previously,would be a better choice I think.

[glendanfig]

i heard that youll get spinal tapped. not sure for what, drugs or somthing im sure...either way man if you join the FBI your in for a hell of a ride...