The Controlled Force Way of Thinking
By Paul W. Papa

Before I can begin, I feel that I must point out what is most likely my worst character flaw. That being, for some reason, the inner workings of my mind have never allowed me to simply take someone else's word at face value. You see, if someone were to tell me that a program they watched, for example, was the greatest thing they ever saw, I would be skeptical until I saw it for myself. I tell you this because I am often bombarded with invitations to attend various forms of training, so, when a friend of mine insisted that the training course he had just attended was the best defense tactics training he had ever received, well, you get the picture.

I read an article in a law enforcement magazine and my friend supplied me with a Controlled F.O.R.C.E. pamphlet, which I quickly skimmed through before placing it in the pile of other pamphlets on the far left hand corner of my desk. Where it sat, that is, until that friend of mine asked me if I had yet gone to the class. While we discussed the training, it wasn't so much what he said about the class that convinced me to attend, as much as it was him saying that I needed to attend, even if I had to pay for it myself.

What was it about this Controlled F.O.R.C.E. training, I asked myself, that warranted such a strong response. There was, of course, only one thing for me to do. I signed up, and covering my skepticism with my best fake smile, walked into the room, almost daring them to teach me something. Well, teach me they did, but I must admit, it was done in a such way that I didn't initially realize I was being taught anything at all. We started the course with activities the team referred to as "Sticky Situations". At first, I found these exercises to be awkward and silly, and immediately decided from a training perspective that I wouldn't be teaching these activities in my class. While performing these exercises, our instructors informed us that their system of training took seven years to develop and assured us that everything we did had a purpose. It was a purpose that I felt, at best, to be well hidden.

We moved swiftly, taking frequent and well placed breaks, into the main portion of the course, the five holds. Referred to as Mechanical Advantage Control Holds, or M.A.C.H., each was designed to allow the officer control of the suspect depending on, and dictated by, the suspect's movements. These holds were ridiculously simple to perform and, along with some of my classmates, I began wondering how effective they would really be when it mattered most. After all, I can't tell you how many tactical training courses I'd been to where, along with my fellow trainees, I was taught very extensive techniques that were often difficult to learn. Although these techniques usually worked great in the classroom, ultimately, and almost without exception, I found myself having to completely abandon these, much too complicated techniques out on the streets. Tell me you haven't been there yourself.

It wasn't until halfway through the first day that I began noticing a couple of important aspects of the controlled F.O.R.C.E. training. First of all, Controlled F.O.R.C.E. intentionally kept from using words such as left and right when explaining how the techniques are performed. This allowed each student to learn them in a manner familiar to the individual, while still allowing that person the freedom to switch to whichever hand, or side, they felt most comfortable with. Second, the trainers, known as the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Team, were catching, and correcting, what seemed to be every mistake being made. This prevented the students from developing hard to change habits, often created by repeatedly performing techniques incorrectly. Thirdly, noticeably absent from the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. system of training was the use of strikes or pain compliance of any kind. But perhaps the best aspect of the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. program was that rather than relying on one single technique, the system provided us with different options designed to control body movement while still emphasizing safety.

As we practiced each control hold, I began to understand that by making a simple body change, or actually a body positioning change, I could completely direct the momentum of my much larger partner, without the use of brute strength. In fact, almost without our knowledge, the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. team had taught my classmates and me how to feel that exact moment when our opponent would change momentum, keying us to change holds. It was referred to as recovery, or the amount of time it takes to respond to change. I began to find myself, almost instinctively, redirecting my partner's body momentum and thus, controlling the situation. The F.O.R.C.E. I was controlling was not only my own, but that of my opponent's as well.

The best part of this whole process was that it was done, not with some fancy hard to learn techniques, but rather with simple, easy to learn holds that employ gross motor skills, insuring a high level of retention. I was impressed. So much so that after the class was complete, I asked the team to sit and talk. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the founders of the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. system of training were equally as impressive as the course they developed. The Executive Director Tony Grano brings 20 years teaching experience to the table, while Director Don Roberts, himself, brings 15 years of training. These two men explained that Controlled F.O.R.C.E found its incubus when several of Tony's students began taking martial arts instruction from him due to a fear for their own personal safety and that of the public in general.

Tony and Donny went on to explain that through research, they found two disturbing statistics. First, while most departments devote substantial time and effort to firearms training, relatively little time is devoted to defense tactics training. They found that while most confrontations involve physical restraint without the use of firearms, police officers involved in these confrontations, who did not have the benefit of competent defense tactics training, were three times more likely to resort to the use of deadly force to alleviate, or control the situation. Second, even though defense tactics training existed, it was either outdated or lacked qualified instructors. Perceiving a definite need, Tony and Donny began assembling a team of professional instructors and law enforcement personnel with a common goal of developing a program designed to enable the law enforcement officer to subdue an aggressor with a minimum of risk to the officer and the aggressor as well. What they developed was a system of training that incorporates a method of instruction, utilizing as its building blocks, 5 controlled holds, again, known as Mechanical Advantage Control Holds. These holds serve as a tool for the officer to use in their continued development in defense tactics training. This well structured course wasn't rushed, and the fact that the team took such a purposeful approach shows.
Incorporated into the program is a 10 to 1 student/teacher ratio, which is designed to maintain their reported 75 to 90% retention rate, (yes, that's 75 to 90%).

Tony, Donny and the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. team are most proud that their program is simple to learn, easy to retain and allows the officer to quickly render the aggressor into submission without the risk of excessive pain or injury to either party.
While we spoke, Tony produced letters from other students who had completed the training and had, already been faced with an opportunity to use the holds they had learned. In letter after letter, I read how the student felt that his or her confidence in their ability to control subjects without having to resort to strikes or higher levels of control had increased.

Armed with confidence is how Tony explained it. "The term armed with confidence was created after virtually hundreds of students across the country stated how much more confident they felt in the field after having graduated from Controlled F.O.R.C.E.".

With the founder's permission, I contacted some of these letter writers to see if they still had the same feelings about the class as they had after first completing it. More importantly, if they had used, or intended to use Controlled F.O.R.C.E. where it mattered the most...on the streets.

My first contact was with Lieutenant Michael Jordan a Police Officer with the Federal Reserve, a Visiting Instructor with the Crater Criminal Justice Academy in Virginia and an Instructor with over 16 years experience. Lieutenant Jordan stated that he believed that Controlled F.O.R.C.E. was "an easy way to get people to work as a team" and explained that his department intended on implementing the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. system of training as a building block to their own defensive tactics training for three main reasons. "First of all, it's simple to use, not very time consuming to teach, and very effective."

My next contact was with Deputy Chief Chuck Mader, the Training Director and Range Master of the Bloomingdale Police Department, Bloomingdale, IL. Deputy Chief Mader is a strong proponent of Controlled F.O.R.C.E. mainly because it "blends with anything we've done". Especially impressed with the fact that his department wouldn't have to throw anything away, or learn a whole new defense tactics system, Deputy Chief Mader told me that he was interested in the program for two reasons. First, it was simplistic and second, it employed the use of gross motor skills.

Deputy Chief Mader referred me to Officer Jackie Slater, one of his officers who attended the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. training. At 5'4&1/2", Officer Slater was most impressed with the adaptability Controlled F.O.R.C.E. offered her. "The program has so much flexibility" she stated, "and the holds worked very well, even for someone of my size".

Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Deputy Director Diana Juarez, 5'3" herself, stated that the program "was specifically designed keeping the smaller officer in mind". In fact, Diana informed me that in trials in the field, the program has proven to be equally effective for smaller individuals as for those of medium or larger size.

When the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. team returned to train another group several months later, I again attended, only this time as an observer. I was even more amazed the second time around. Instead of concentrating on
completing the holds myself, I was able to watch the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Team operate like a well-oiled machine. Subtle looks and body gestures from each member of the team to the others insured that every student was on the same page. The group moved on, as a whole only when the training team was confident that the aspect of the program they were teaching was understood. I watched the students move from hold to hold and was able to see that expression of awareness display on their faces, when that moment arrived which indicated they were getting it, they were understanding. I was "getting it" to, all over again.

During a break I spoke with David Paiz, a Defense Tactics Trainer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and a Body Builder with seventeen years experience. Officer Paiz stated that he believed the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. system of training to be "one of the most adaptable programs as far as police defensive tactics training is concerned". Officer Paiz went on to tell of a time when he was working with a group of seasoned officers on an assignment involving a large crowd. "In five minutes" he said, "I was able to teach them the first two mechanical advantage control holds". These holds came in handy, according to Officer Paiz, who informed me that he and his group made several arrests that evening, all without incident or injury. But the best feedback I received was from Defense Tactics Instructor Charles Michael of the Sparks Police Department. Officer Michael, who has been in martial arts training since the age of ten, stated "I didn't expect to learn anything from this training, but I have been pleasantly surprised". Fluid was how Officer Michael explained the holds, "It flows like water. It's not a solid". Officer Michael was so impressed with the program that before he even completed the training, he began to plan how to incorporate it into his department's training program, adding "it will mesh with and enhance our defense tactics program, because it is extremely simple and doesn't overload the student. I wish I'd thought of it". And he meant it too!

Where does the training stop? "It doesn't" according to Tony Grano, "It's a full circle of training. In a year from now Controlled F.O.R.C.E. will have grown and the student will have grown with it". What do I suggest? I suggest you don't listen to me, but contact Controlled F.O.R.C.E. yourself at www.controlledforce.com. Find out when they'll be in your area and attend, even if you have to pay for it yourself.