Oklahoma Law Enforcement Learn Less-Lethal Techniques From UFC Hall Of Famer

A UFC Hall of Famer and MMA expert spent a week in Oklahoma City training law enforcement.

The law officers spent the week at a gym on the southeast side of the city learning how to de-escalate dangerous situations and techniques on how to restrain combative suspect using martial arts.

The training is held every October in Oklahoma City and continues to grow, according to the founder and Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Troy Fullbright.

He said now more than ever, law officers are looking for less-lethal techniques they can use in the field.

The trainees are learning from the best. Their instructor, Royce Gracie, has been called the godfather of mixed martial arts. Gracie is passing down the Brazilian jiu-jitsu techniques his family made famous.

However, instead of taking their skills to an MMA match, the law officers in the class will instruct their colleagues.

“Tweak it a little bit,” said Fullbright. “Make it suitable for law officers trying to get out there and control violent suspects without injuring suspects of the officer.”  

Fullbright said the purpose was to give law enforcement another less-lethal tool.

“Rather than going straight to the belt (and) grabbing a Taser, a baton,” said Fullbright. “If we can achieve our goal without any kind of physical contact that’s what we want. That’s the best option.”  

But there will be times when physical force is needed with a suspect. Gracie said if done correctly, an officer can handle someone much larger and stronger. 

“I fought someone with MMA fight, mixed martial arts that was 6 feet 8 inches, 400 pounds,” said Gracie. “And I subdued him in less than three minutes. So, what I’m teaching the students here is how to control somebody.”

Ultimately, these officers want to keep their streets safe through de-escalation and not reaching for a gun. 

“It’s encouraging to me, and it tells me agencies are looking at other options,” said Fullbright. “Adopting newer techniques.”

The law officers who attended the class represented agencies across the Oklahoma City metro and state.