Course Length

The PPCT Defensive Tactics certification course is taught over 3 days (24 hours). Participants must pass a written and physical exam to obtain certification.

Course Description

The PPCT Defensive Tactics course is the first subject control system developed through tactical, legal, and medical research. Tactically, the system addresses the most common types of resistance officers encounter, allowing the instructor to maximize training on job related techniques. Legally, the PPCT System teaches a simple use of force continuum which clarifies the appropriate force level for every level of resistance. Medical research was conducted on every PPCT technique to refine technique efficiency and to ensure the medical implications were proportional to the level of resistance.

Course Topics

Survival Learning Research: This unit examines research from educational psychology, motor learning science and neurobiology, and applies the research to the design of use of force systems. The unit explains why simple gross motor skills and systems with few techniques, are more compatible to use of force training.

PPCT Control Principles: The foundation of the PPCT training systems is based upon a series of training principles. This unit examines the PPCT Force Continuum, principles of control, survival reaction time and tactical positioning.

Tactical Handcuffing: Tactical speed handcuffing provides immediate subject control and reduces risk to the officer. This system is designed to train the student in a method which will be the same under handcuffing conditions of standing, kneeling or prone, with the completion time under three seconds.

Pressure Point Control Tactics: This unit will address a system of controlling subjects by applying as little as 2 pounds of finger touch pressure to selected pressure points on the head and neck. The application of these pressure points is to control passive or defensive resistance and are highly effective no matter what the size or strength level of the officer.

Joint Locks: Escort position resistance is one of the four most common types of resistance officers encounter. This unit provides officers with two joint locks designed specifically to control escort position resistance.

Defensive Counterstrikes: The defensive counterstrike unit teaches reflexive reaction to a physical attack when impact weapons or firearms are not appropriate. The students will learn to neutralize an aggressive assault with a basic system of blocks, punches, and kicks, designed to control a subject with minimal chance of injury.

PPCT Impact Weapon System: The training from this unit can be deployed with a traditional straight baton, riot baton or a collapsible/telescoping baton. This effective system employs the use of nerve motor points as targets instead of joints and bones, which decreases the potential of creating connective tissue damage and bone fractures.

Handgun Retention and Disarming: This unit teaches a simple system of disarming and handgun or long gun retention. The unit will address holstered defenses, drawn weapon defenses as well as maintaining a long gun in the slung or open positions.

GAGE Ground Avoidance / Ground Escape

Course Length

The PPCT GAGE certification course is taught over 2 days (16 hours). Participants must pass a written and physical exam to obtain certification.

Course Description

One of law enforcement officers’ greatest fears is being knocked to the ground during a physical confrontation and finding him or herself unable to successfully recover from such a vulnerable and potentially deadly position. Several subject control systems offer a ground defense system, however, few focus on teaching officers how to control their actions and conserve energy while on the ground. Energy and strength are important factors that impact on an officer’s ability to ultimately regain control of the situation. Thus, there is a need for a ground defense system that teaches an officer how to tactically prepare for and manage a subject’s actions.

The PPCT GAGE program will teach an officer how to fall in order to minimize injury, how to defend him/herself while on the ground, conserving and maximizing energy, and how to regain a standing position to ultimately control and survive the situation.

Course Topics

Survival Learning Research: This unit examines research from educational psychology, motor learning science and neurobiology, and applies the research to the design of spontaneous knife defense systems. The unit explains why simple gross motor skills and systems with few techniques, are more compatible to use of force training.

PPCT Control Principles: The foundation of the PPCT training systems is based upon a series of training principles. This unit examines the PPCT Force Continuum, PPCT Control Principles, survival reaction time and tactical positioning.

Ground Avoidance and Ground Escape: This chapter is designed to teach officers how to avoid being taken to the ground and how to effectively escape if the subject is successful in grounding the officer. The risks of being taken to the ground are discussed, as are tactics relating to open versus narrow areas. The four most common ground positions are examined for the danger they pose, and escapes from these positions will be taught.

SHARP Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention

Course Length

The PPCT SHARP certification course is taught over 1 day (8 hours). Participants must pass a written and physical exam to obtain certification.

Course Description

The PPCT SHARP Program has been specifically designed to meet the needs of women when control methods and assault prevention methods are required. Principles and strategies for effectively reducing the likelihood of assault through actual techniques of countering an attack are stressed in this program. Utilizing efficient and effective methods of subject control that do not rely on size and strength, PPCT has developed a training system that can be used by just about everyone who is interested in personal safety.

Course Topics

Survival Learning Research: This unit examines research from educational psychology, motor learning science and neurobiology, and applies the research to the design of safety and control systems. The unit explains why simple gross motor skills and systems with few techniques are more compatible to safety and control training.

Prevention Psychology: This non-physical unit is designed for lecture only. Utilizing techniques of mental awareness and survival, this section teaches women methods of preventing the situations from occurring.

Managing Social or Professional Physical Harassment: Control techniques for physical harassment in the workplace and social functions are stressed in this section. Low level techniques that can easily avert an unwanted physical advance are taught with an easily retained method.

Sexual Assault Countermeasures: When confronted with a criminal sexual assault, the techniques taught in this section can be used to neutralize the assailant. Among the techniques stressed are striking techniques utilizing the hands, legs and feet, followed by methods of escape and evasion necessary to reduce the chance of further attack.

Spontaneous Knife Defense

Course Length

The PPCT Spontaneous Knife Defense certification course is taught over 2 days (16 hours). Participants must pass a written and physical exam to obtain certification.

Course Description

In most situations, an officer would be immediately justified to escalate to deadly force when confronted with a knife attack. There are times when an officer is confronted by a spontaneous knife assault and the ability to retrieve their weapon is not possible. However, correctional officers face an even higher level of threat from knife assaults, since they are rarely issued a firearm.

The PPCT Spontaneous Knife Defense System has been designed to meet the needs of police and correctional officers. The students training will begin with a comprehensive course on offensive knife systems. The focus of this training is to raise the student's awareness to the sophistication of strategies, yet the simplicity which an officer can fall victim to a moderately trained subject with a knife. The second phase of training will focus on the PPCT Knife Defense techniques, based upon a realistic , yet highly aggressive check and stun philosophy. This system has evolved to the simplest form, where all of skills are gross motor skills that are compatible to the affects of survival stress. This simplicity in design allows for quicker learning and retention under the stress of a knife assault.

Course Topics

Survival Learning Research: This unit examines research from educational psychology, motor learning science and neurobiology, and applies the research to the design of spontaneous knife defense systems. The units explains why simple gross motor skills and systems with few techniques, are more compatible to use of force training.

PPCT Control Principles: The foundation of the PPCT training systems is based upon a series of training principles. This unit examines the PPCT Force Continuum, PPCT Control Principles, survival reaction time and tactical positioning.

Psychology of Combat Knife Systems: This section examines various philosophies regarding the tactical use of a knife as a lethal weapon. The research will explore the historical perspectives of the evolution of combat knife systems beginning with the influence of the Sykes/Fairbairn World War I system, the influence of Filipino knife training and the current view of military special operations units.

Analysis of Target Lethality: There is considerable mythology surrounding the lethality of specific targets, as well as their effectiveness. The purpose of this unit is to reveal facts about human incapacitation resulting from a knife attack. This unit will examine the difference between fatal cuts and cut which will immediately immobilize a subject. This unit will also provide a foundation for the design methodology of the PPCT Spontaneous Knife Defense System.

Analysis of Offensive Knife Attack Strategies: The effectiveness of any knife defense system, is based on the officer's knowledge of how a knife can be used offensively. This training block will teach the students the six basic knife strokes, and common offensive strategies to quickly disable an officer. This block will not only teach the officer how a trained knife practitioner will attempt to disable an officer, but it will also increase the student's visual reaction time and ability to recognize a threat quicker.

PPCT Spontaneous Knife Defense System: The PPCT Spontaneous Knife Defense System is based on a check, stun and control principle. This system is comprised of two checks, followed by either a low front kick or a stunning technique. This combination allows an officer the option to disengage to cover or to follow-up for restraint and control. This unit will also examine the use of impact weapons to effectively control and disable a knife attack.