Canadian Use of Force Systems

Military

In the past and present Canadian Use of Force Systems has had the privilege of being involved with a variety of Canadian D.N.D. assets and is proud to have students currently serving in the active Afghanistan theatre. If you are a soldier serving in a Reserve or Regular Force capacity or represent a Military Unit and are interested in training with us please contact us for more information.

info@canadianuseofforce.com

Proudly supporting our Canadian Troops in Afghanistan.
Proud to train with our soldiers.
Come home safe.

"I have served in the American Military in conventional and unconventional capacities and have been deployed in many fully active, high-risk engagements. I am also an Advanced Technical Diving Instructor for military and civilian applications. I have seen what works and what doesn't out there and I have been very impressed with Canadian Use of Force Systems. The system is fast, precise and effective and Mr. Cressman is an excellent instructor. I highly recommend him and the Canadian Use of Force Systems training program to professional Military, Law Enforcement and civilian personnel."

S. Simpson
CPT, US Special Forces (RET)

The modern evolution of Bill Underwood's COMBATO system brings new Open-Hand Integrated Unarmed Combat options to Military Operators
By Robbie Cressman

If one looks at the current landscape of unarmed combat training options for military operators there are a number of methods which make themselves readily apparent. Many "Close Quarter Battle" systems prevalent are either presenting traditional martial arts within a military context, raw World War 2 based combatives which have not been updated to reflect the current needs of modern operators, Mixed Martial Arts influences which tend to blend popular styles and applications from a competition ring or physical attribute based training systems which are truly designed to be mastered over an extended period of time.

What is truly needed for current Military Operators:

Short Duration/ High Retention training for Operators that instills competency.
Modern operators have a very limited time to train open-hand use of force options as they must become masters of a variety of disciplines. With a current day reliance on firearms and higher tech Use of Force options very consistently Open-Hand tactics get pushed into the background. This reality highly reinforces the fact that whatever they do have time to learn... they MUST be able to reproduce when needed in stress situations. Although attribute training systems are highly desirable over an extended period of time for soldiers to become highly skilled warriors the fact is 90% of operators DO NOT have time for this pursuit initially, hence the modern day reality that hand-to-hand competency among modern military operators is at an all time low.

A False Sense of the Advantages of "Mixed" Martial Arts Tactics:
Seemingly many have come to believe that the modern evolution of military CQB arts should parallel the movement in popular culture for martial arts to become mixed... the blending of techniques from a variety of different arts to build a "super art" which will remedy all concerns. The general problem with this approach is that "mixed martial arts" are still mixed martial arts and are not highly task specific to the operators procedures and the realities of the restrictions they face with equipment load and weapons drawn. Training traditional or mixed martial arts and attribute training systems WILL eventually be of benefit to the average soldier only IF they can become dedicated and disciplined students... then... they have to learn how to integrate them into their operational procedures with equipment and weapons considerations placed in a primary position of importance.

A False Sense of the Integration of Open-Hand Tactics with Military gear and SOP's.
Many consider "integration" of CQC tactics to mean that they can be PHYSICALLY executed while in equipment or with a rudimentary ability to "strike with a weapon in their hands." True integration occurs when Defensive, Control or Aggressive Open-Hand options can be executed within a Restricted Movement Scenario WITHOUT relinquishing the deployment and readiness of primary weapons, (requiring single-hand use of force options) and an ability to block, strike and control in Single-Shape Tactical Movement without compromising body shape or balance. Primary weapons must still be the priority with open-hand options flowing smoothly and in an integrated fashion during a high-stress situation.

To view our response to the Operators needs within this environment purchase our
High-Force Field Combat and Nervous System Controls training DVD's which can be reinforced by Distance Learning, Basic Training Instructor and Private Tutorial Programs by LIVE Video Training. Contact us for more information.

Contact us for more details on this program offering: info@canadianuseofforce.com

"Advanced Pressure Point Fighting" for Military Operators:
An inappropriate approach to teaching Unarmed Combat to Soldiers
By Robbie Cressman

There is a trend perpetuated by some to teach Advanced Pressure Point Fighting to Military Operators as an effective option for Unarmed Combat training. This approach has many weaknesses and in essence is supporting some dangerous falsehoods about what is needed as effective Unarmed Combat options for high-stress environments.

Who would know?:

To find out what they need... ask their instructors.
All debating aside from those teaching "martial arts" outside of an official professional application let's go to the source...

If you have ever had the opportunity to talk or do business with Military Unarmed Combat Instructors or Training Team professionals from a SWAT unit who have had personal experience in and understand high-stress operations they will be able to tell you exactly what they think their teams need even if they don't have a handle on every available option open to them. The reality is that any team leader or instructor (even if they don't have a wealth of experience in H2H applications) understands the environment they put their operators in and that it is significantly challenged. Their focus with you will be on ensuring that what you teach them is going to be easy to learn and maintain and that it needs to be highly task specific to exactly what operators will face in their theatres of conflict. It will also need to mesh with their operational procedures and integrate with their accepted Use of Force training model. Any professional in this environment will also identify that the use of H2H applications are far lower in frequency (although needed) than the higher force options they train very regularly. They need a glove that fits and ease of use whenever they feel they need it without compromising any of their other force options.

Now it certainly needs to be addressed that there are a variety of differences within the mandates and applications of various military units/teams etc... It can be difficult to discuss larger issues without throwing certain "blanket statements" around but again, consistency of truth can and should be found within the realities of high-stress engagements where especially, physiological responses of the body must be managed in addition to the objective itself.

Is there truth behind Pressure Points and their effects on the human body?
There most certainly is truth within some of the science behind pressure points, general placement on the body and the effects of trauma or "pressure" on them. Applying or playing with these points in a clinical environment will reveal they do have certain affects on the body and that it is possible to cause internal damage to the body when multiple targets are hit simultaneously. These sciences of the body have been around for thousands of years and are very understood by many in a variety of cultures. The problem comes when you attempt to apply these concepts in a theatre of high-stress military physical conflict.

The Problem is in its Application:

Complication is the enemy of the stress environment:
Anyone who teaches complicated tactics and techniques for H2H applications to High-Stress Professionals simply doesn't know that they are doing and frankly will be told so by anyone managing training for an agency or organization that has any experience in this arena. An interesting seminar for amusement???... perhaps... on an off day but it is nothing that Training Command would look at seriously adopting as part of their program.
One of the first major issues with applying advanced pressure point applications is its complexity of set-up. It is difficult enough in a Law Enforcement situation to apply a single pressure point to a subject to take control of them to attempt to strike multiple targets on an enemy combatant in a military engagement. To have the hand-eye coordination in a stress situation to drop your primary weapons and strike multiple targets on a subject simultaneously goes against all current study around the realities of such engagements.
It simply won't happen as physiologically the fine and complex motor skills required to execute such techniques won't be present in 90% of the soldiers thrust into such a situation. It's fantasy... not reality.

What about unpredictable environments and equipment?
It would be hard enough to actually command the physical skills required to execute such tactics in a stress environment but what consideration has been given to the sketchy, unpredictable, sloppy, messy environments that soldiers find themselves in and with the equipment that they are mandated to wear? To be able to "strike" any target requires set-up, balance and an ability to generate power and speed through a power generation process that will flow through the body. If you are on ice, sinking sand, wet and slippery surfaces you are going to require that much MORE skill to be able to pull this off against a SINGLE target let alone 2... to be hit SIMULTANEOUSLY. The deck is now getting further stacked against us...

At this point we haven't even referenced equipment. Soldiers are wearing equipment which restricts their physical movement and which makes it even that much harder to throw punches and hit precise targets with any kind of timing. This can also entirely be found in the reverse. Opposing soldiers or combatants in any kind of gear and equipment will often have these precious points covered so striking them is not going to be an option in a realistic conflict scenario. At this point I don't know that it is even worthwhile to address the issues being able to execute such techniques while attempting to keep primary and secondary weapons available in unsecured environments. It would simply not be possible in an attempt to perpetuate such H2H tactics as a reality in such an environment.

Complex Pressure Point Fighting is not what Military Operators need for Stress Engagements:
It is always good to study and experience as much as you can. I always feel at a lack of time to study, experience and train more of what lays out there. You can learn from anyone... every "white belt", every inexperienced soldier and civilian. What is sure is that "Square Pegs do not fit in Round Holes..." Advanced Pressure Point applications, in my opinion, should not be taught to Military Professionals as valid option for H2H tactics. Operators would never have the time to master their applications, have the ability to execute them under high-stress conditions and there are far too many restrictions to their use.

To view our response to the Operators needs within this environment purchase our
High-Force Field Combat and Nervous System Controls training DVD's which can be reinforced by Distance Learning, Basic Training Instructor and Private Tutorial Programs via LIVE Video Training. Contact us for more information.

info@canadianuseofforce.com

The necessity of Non-Telegraphic Entry and Control Tactics for Special Operators within street applications - The Evolution of Bill Underwood's Open-Hand System for Special Operations Professionals
By Robbie Cressman

A large portion of traditional and sports martial artists do not appreciate the necessity of Non-Telegraphic fighting tactics as it is an element that is entirely out of their regular mode of thought and training environment. This could also be said (although generally to a lesser degree) of that of general Law Enforcement and Military operators.

The Traditional and Sport Martial Arts Environment:
The reason is simple... many find it hard to think outside of their own application or environment. Traditional and Sport Martial Artists exercise their skills to the greatest degree within very controlled environments and many with a billion spectators, video cameras and rules that guide their matches. Many have a hard time thinking about applications that outside of a "man on man" contest. In such an environment there is little that is unexpected. Everyone knows why they are there and there is generally an accepted fighting style, some knowledge of their opponent and certainly rules to guide their conflict.

General Law Enforcement and Military applications:
Standard Law Enforcement and Military applications generally also don't have an extensive appreciation for non-telegraphic open-hand options. General Law Enforcement operational roles are very deliberate in their exercises and rely very heavily on firearms and higher level force options. That being said they are usually either engaging the public when pushed to that extent which is purely defensive or they are rushing in like a bull charging through a china shop during a forced entry. Within mainstream Military considerations again, either in Peacekeeping or Policing roles or within deliberate aggressive movements, operations and objectives actions are deliberate and there isn't much time for "sneaking around". Unarmed Combat applications being way down the Use of Force scale will be aggressive unapologetic in its presentation.

Special Operations, Intelligence and Undercover Operators:
The entire realm of Military Special Operations and Undercover or covert Law Enforcement activity should have the greatest amount of appreciation for Non-Telegraphic Entry and Control Tactics. They find themselves in every sort of bizarre environment attempting to fit in or to operate entirely in an invisible capacity. They are very often not afforded the luxury of high-force equipment, support and staged and prepared assaults which give them an advantage. They can be in civillian dress, purposefully unarmed and very often wishing to appear to be anything but a foreign combatant. These operators need options for Defense, Control, Aggressive Force and Elimination Tactics which can be released entirely in a non-telegraphic manner and from both standing, seated positions and within restricted movement scenarios.

2 Different Worlds....
How entirely different are these 2 scenarios? Massively.... Your street operative in a meeting gone bad scenario or surprise confrontation in an elevator while gathering intelligence cannot afford to drop into a low Karate stance. A stiff and rigid body attempting to hide its movement and intent to start to slug away at multiple opponents will only give his opponents a leg-up. He needs to be able unleash a lightning fast attack (possibly from an unbalanced position) which will stun his attacker within a blurr to set himself up for his next move or to access some form of weapon. Any sign of telegraphed intent or movement can spell his doom as a trigger finger is usually far faster than whole body movement. Traversing range and immediately triggering Nervous System Control options provides a massive advantage when the elements of "Surprise + Speed = Success" (Bill Underwood)

Non-Telegraphic Open-Hand options evolved from Bill Underwood's original Special Operations training systems:
Canadian Use of Force Systems places a concerted effort on modifying and evolving open-hand applications for the task-specific needs of Law Enforcement and Military Operators. They are not in the sparring arena, nor in the traditional martial arts studio nor does traditional open-hand Unarmed Combat entirely serve their purposes. A focus on non-telegraphic entry options through flick movements and improvised elements are key to establishing a dominant position within the conflict. An ability to operate while experiencing restricted movement, single-hand options and single-shape tactical movement are also critical as well as an ability to fight from both the standing and seated positions. Immediate trapping skills which are not dependent upon the specific attach also prove to be crucial as well as a training platform which is short-duration/high-retention in nature. When called upon for Military applications operators must also be in a "plug and play" position for immediate termination of nerve flow tactics. (Dynamic Spine and Neck breaking.)

The element of surprise and veiled intent from any natural or casual position:
A the end of the day these operators are working in very dangerous environments which can turn on them incredibly quickly. They may not have the luxury of weapons or physical support from a team and so an advanced set of open-hand skills is highly desirable. It was for these purposes that Mr. Underwood originally developed specialized systems for these operators and for these reasons Canadian Use of Force Systems has continued to evolved, modify and adapt these concepts for modern applications.

Training in this evolved system is available in Private and Small Group platforms. Visit our PRIVATE TRAINING page for more information.