UFC Hall Of Famer, MMA Fighting Legend Teaching Oklahoma Law Enforcement Safe Defensive Training

A UFC Hall of Famer and legendary MMA fighter is in Oklahoma right now, training officers on safe ways to deal with suspects.

Royce Gracie says the main focus of his training is, it doesn't matter how big, strong, or fast you or the suspect is. Gracie says there are ways to take control of the situation, without hurting the suspect and avoiding using any type of weapon.

Gracie has dedicated his whole life to the art of Jiu-Jitsu, and now he uses his skills and knowledge to teach law enforcement and the military. Gracie spent years fighting in the UFC and his father always taught him to win his fights, without hurting his opponent.

"When I am teaching a class I tell them, treat your opponent like he is a five-year-old kid. Do not hurt. It doesn't matter if he is fighting you back. or if he is resisting, you have to be able to control your suspect, and put him down without hurting him," Gracie said.

Gracie has been coming to Oklahoma for 12 years, teaching officers defense tactics.

"The training is going to give them confidence, and if they have confidence they will become more patient,” said Gracie. “The focus here is, you don't have to be big, you don't have to be strong, you don't have to be fast, it is knowledge, you've got to know what you are doing."

Some Oklahoma Instructors say they wish this training was required. Right now, Oklahoma only requires officers to do yearly firearm training, but not yearly defense tactic training.

"In my opinion, we fight and drive more than we have to shoot people, and I think defensive tactics are very important to give to our officers and make it a requirement that they use these tactics and train with these tactics yearly,” said a CLEET Instructor.

Buddy Clinton with GRDA says he is seeing more officers getting the training, in their own time.

"It is good to see people seek it out on their own,” said Clinton. “They take that tool back with them. To actually see people getting proactive now within the last year with what is going on in the world, to actually want to get out there and learn it."

Gracie spent part of the week training officers and deputies in Oklahoma City and today he is in Muskogee training other officers and deputies.