Taking a cue from TDA Training and Dojo Rat, I’m hoping to feature videos more in 2008. A modest goal would be to run one at least one feature video per month. We’ll see how this idea goes. Regardless, after exploring the widgets that come with a free WordPress blog I noticed that they have a VodPod video feed.
So, it is now installed and you can see some featured videos at the right side of my blog. I plan to change them out each month so please check back. It appears that VodPod lets you upload your own as well. As soon as I get the Korean stick form down I’ll test this feature and see how it goes. Right now I’m just playing around with it and ended up picking some random videos.
While I was poking around on VodPod I came across a PPCT video. This is definitely a blast from the past. I have it selected in the VodPod feed and also am going to highlight it in this post.
PPCT is a use-of-force training system for criminal justice agencies. The prison system that I worked in approximately 10 years ago used it and I had to certify in it. I also got to use it in real use-of-force scenarios.
PPCT is an acronym for Pressure Point Control Tactics. The system teaches strikes, holds, and take-downs that target certain pressure points on the body. From a criminal justice get sued perspective the system is sound. It teaches a use-of-force continuum and the appropriate response based on the particular situation.
However, if you are a fan of a “reality” self-defense systems this one is probably not for you. While it is effective and can work, it’s designed to not get your particular agency or security outfit sued. So, depending on your view of self-defense, it may not be extreme enough.
If it taught me anything it would probably be that these pressure point strikes don’t always work. Some people are sensitive to them while others are practically immune. Also, they can be hard to pull off in a live setting. In fact, sometimes we threw PPCT out the window when things went south and relied on superior numbers.
Anyhow, what follows is the video. It’s grainy so you have to bear with it. However, you can get a sense of some the training I had many years ago.
What worked…
- All the kicks are low kicks to the nerve clusters on the inside or outside of the thigh. A basic knee strike and push kicks is also taught. They worked as a gap-bridger/distraction more than anything.
- Hands always up with kicking/punching drills after blocking a punch.
- The baton tactic in the video shows what the Koreans call a high drop stance. Also taught was a normal ready stance (baton in lead).
- The basic take down taught was the arm bar. Many different ways to pull it off and the video shows one.
- The lateral vascular neck restraint (sorta of side headlock) works and can put someone out.
Now the complaints…
- The video is very grainy so there is that.
- When we were taught the arm bar the trainers always emphasized a quick pivoting circle step. Doing this throws the attacker off balance and dumps them.
- The arm bar can be drilled from the front as a counter to punching.
- The kicks are non-chambered and lack the power you’d see in karate or taekwondo.
- The escort position and goose neck wrist lock look good on paper but are worthless in reality.
- Use the head pressure points (mandibular, etc.) at your own risk. They usually just pissed inmates off.
- The video did not show sprawling drills (anti-tackle drills) along with about a dozen other training scenarios that were covered.
- They did not show the brachial stun. Essentially a hammer fist to the brachial plexus origin (side of neck).
- Half the time inmates kept on fighting regardless of what you used. In the video the partner just folds every time. In training they had us try three on one drills where the one kept fighting until actually restrained. It drove home two lessons: 1) Strength in numbers when dealing with inmates and 2) Using this stuff for real is hard.
~BCP
