Releasing The Grip: Using Pressure Points To Assist In A Handcuffing
By Prof. Gene Roos
This is a true story of how technique combined with knowledge of pressure points helped police officers do their job while at the same time minimizing potential injury to the assailant.
The police officers were having trouble.
A man under the influence of drugs was causing a disturbance at his job site. The police were called to intervene, but the assailant wasn’t easily controlled.
The police were trying to handcuff him and take him into custody, but to no avail. The assailant was resisting.
A call for help went out to a supervisor, one of my students. When he arrived shortly afterwards, he found four officers around the assailant, now on the ground face down. The assailant had his hands locked together across his chest and the officers had been unable to get him to unlock his hands so they could handcuff him.
It should be noted that the police officers had exercised considerable restraint. They had not used any type of irritant spray (into the eyes), or resorted to using their night sticks, but their commands for compliance and physical efforts to wrestle the assailant’s arms free clearly were not working.
The officer’s left knee is placed on the assailant’s left side (near the chest) and his right foot on the right of the assailant.
Officer’s right hand grabs and pulls to the rear of the assailant’s hair (locking the neck).
The officer’s left wrist bone is placed under the assailant’s neck.
If the assailant has short or no hair, the officer uses his fingers (right hand) to pull back the assailant’s neck.
The officer rotates (backward and forward) the bottom of his wrist. The wrist bone against the neck causes considerable discomfort with no damage to the assailant’s neck and he will release his hands. The officer will then use his hand cuffing procedure.
Prof. Gene Roos
Prof. Gene Roos, 10th dan Ju Jitsu, and 4th dan in judo, is a member of the Board of Directors for the America Ju Jitsu Association. He is a frequent contributor to FightingArts.com. In 1958 was awarded Shodan (Judo) and won the Regional Judo Champion. In 1958 & 1959 was Judo State Champion. His instructors include: Harold Brosious (Ketsugo), Dennis Palumbo (Hakko Ryu Ju Jitsu, 8th dan), George Kirby, & Shizuya Sato (Ju Jitsu), Wally Jay (Small Circle Ju Jitsu), Dr. Sacharnoski (Hard Style Ju Jitsu & Ki) and Master Mochizuki (a student of Funakoshi, Kano, & Ueshiba). He is also the author of a series of upcoming books on Aiki jujitsu as well as a number of videos including: “Aiki Jujitsu” (a three video tapes series with manuals); “Deadly Attacks” (defense against 30 knife, gun, stick and empty hand attacks); “Deadly Attacks – Part II” (defense against an additional 30 knife, gun and empty hand attacks); “Deadly Attacks III” and “Devastating Throws and Other Deadly Attacks ” (defense against 30 advanced combat throws, knife attacks, stick, and a rear shotgun attack).
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