Restraint

is often talked about in the martial arts fraternity.
Does it work? Doesn't it work? Many police instructors have
made a career out of teaching restraining techniques.
Personally I think the only kind of truly effective restraint is
unconsciousness. Knock them out and they're restrained.
The rest of the time any kind of restraining technique is at
best dodgy. The only time I have found restraints effective is
when the opponent lets me put the technique on (like they do
in so many police training schools), or if I am facing a very
weak opponent. The rest of the time it is just too risky.
Someone that wants to fight properly will not be restrained.
For those times when restraint might be an option we'll
explore one or two techniques, after all it is a part of fighting
without fighting.