OPERATIONAL POLICE BATON

For Captain Jacques Levinet, founder of thePolice Operational Baton method or BOP, theuse of the baton in Martial Arts or Self-Defensehas nothing to do with the professional methodhe has tuned up. First, the material of the BOPis not wood but retractable metal. Second, theBOP is used alone, unlike other conventionalmethods that use two sticks in their discipline,as Kali or Fencing. Third, the specific use of BOPby the law enforcement units takes into accountthe Police parameters of the ROS method (RealOperational System), another method createdby Captain Levinet.Since 2000, thanks to his triple experience as

a Police Captain, Grand Master of Martial Artsand international expert in law enforcementunits, specialized in personal defense and policetactics, Levinet Jacques, after making his ownreflection on the subject, has developed his ownrevolutionary method adapted to XXI century,to extract the essence of every important detailin this field. And thus the Police OperationalBaton or BOP was born, which is not a newdesignation, but a unique and effective processfor law enforcement units, for an intermediaryand complementary use between gun and hand-cuffs. The BOP method differs considerablyfrom the American ASP (Armament System andProcedures) and now there is growing interestworldwide.

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ORIGINS OF BOP

They rely on other inventions of Captain Lenivet.• SELF PRO KRAV or SPK - This personal defense

method, which enjoys great success in many countries, gaveto BOP its originality for its practical applications on thespot. The SPK defenses are what have allowed the BOP toconsolidate its success. The absence of frills and flourishes,and the pedagogy have become a key to the success ofthese two methods that provide both civi l ians andprofessionals the means to cope with assaults on the street.

• REAL OPERATIONAL SYSTEM or POLICE ROS - Thereis an interactive link between the Real Operational System,complete method for law enforcement units, and the TOP(Police Operational Tonfa) which is one of the modules, in thesame way as the BOP (Police Operational Baton) and theGTPI (Technical Gestures Police Intervention). The ROSevolves according to its scope and the 'feedback' carried outregularly by the staff of the AJL (Jacques Levinet Academy).The difficulties of the street have priority in the BOP,therefore techniques falls to a secondary priority and thenarcissistic manifestation does not occur. The reality isimposed at the expense of fantasy to make room for theoperational.

• MALADJUSTMENT OF TRAINING - Telescopicbaton workouts are often inadequate, either becauseof lack of time, lack of competence or absence of atraining plan, without forgetting also the lack of politicalwill that means are given to achieve success. Giving atelescopic baton to a policeman is not enough to makeit operational, there must be also an after sales service.In other words, a progressive initial and continuingformation guaranteed by regular recycling and'feedback'. This is the reason why Captain Levinetcaptain has wanted to question everything. The BOPformation is much longer than in most of the cases and

techniques that do not work in reality are radically eliminated.It has been structured a training plan both technically andlegally. Absence of stereotyped assaults, predefined attacks,safe defenses with foam rubber baton, grips of an armedhand, unrealizable in the street. No passivity or recreationaltraining but rather in accordance to the harsh law of thestreet. The results of this effort are plain to see, the technicalmodification and evolution have proved vital and the BOPhas become truly operational in the broad sense of the word.

• IN CONTRAST TO THE ASP METHOD - The usualtelescopic baton training systems follow the ASP method ofUS, often for commercial reasons because the method issold in a pack which includes a baton with the same name.This method takes into account only to hit under angles,which contradicts our self-defense laws. On the contrary, theBOP method takes into account the fact that the officialshould know first how to block an attack and protect himselfbefore counterattacking. If in the ASP method very fewneutralization locks are done, the BOP system provides anexcellent sampler of control locks, behavioral, how to knockdown, how to free yourself and teamwork to carry out thePolice missions in ful l compliance with the relevantrepublican laws of self-defense. In the ASP method, baton,

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handcuffs or the firearm are gradually used. In the BOP,everything is used at the same time, depending on thesituation. Moreover, the difference in the length of the stick inthe ASP method (21 inches) and the BOP (26 inches) isparamount. Finally, in the BOP, the baton is used folded inthe hand to hand combat or at discretion. We will talk moreextensively about all these points (length, complementarityand discretion). In short, the ASP method, which is specificto the United States, is not appropriate to the legislation andthe code of conduct of most European countries.

SPECIFICITIESThe BOP has a framework of employment so that each

professional understands its utility, whatever his employmentservice and his material endowment. The influence of theGTPI (Technical Gestures Police Intervention) has been animportant factor because it is assumed that Police forcesalmost always intervene as a team.

• The length of the BOP - Unlike most telescopic batonsused by law enforcement units, that are 21 inches long, theBOP has a length of 26 inches to allow greater protection,safer counterattacks and super effective neutralization locksand behavior keys. This difference is due to the method ofthe ASP baton, which focuses exclusively on striking at ashort distance without thinking of the protection of the officerfor neutralization, and the behavior without violence of theaggressor.

• Complementarity - The work of the BOP is neverconsidered in isolation, but it takes into account all thecoercion material made available to its users. An interventioncan start with the hands and then require the use of thebaton, handcuffs and, in some cases, the firearm to deter orcounterattack. The policeman must adapt because younever know how and when danger is over. With the BOP,applying the lock, handcuffing and aiming with the pistol maybe concomitant, in random order, according to risk. Someparameters are essential, as unsheathing the baton beforethe gun and vice versa, sheathe the firearm before the baton,except in the case of immediate counterattack shooting. Inthis context, changing the hand that holds the baton isessential in order to use the stronger hand to grab thehandcuffs or the firearm.

• Key points - They take the form of concreteanswers to the agents, alone or in a team, and not thatof a purely theoretical teaching.

• Distance - It depends on the response to danger. Ifwe see it coming, in this case, our defense will be at adistance and in advance. The length of the stick favorsindirect blocks over direct blocks, thanks to thebalance positions with two hands or with a sword inone hand. If our attention has not allowed us to seethe attack coming, our defense will be unexpected

and very close. In this hypothesis, conditioned reflex andindirect blocks with the body of the baton are favored,thanks to the reinforced positions of the arm or forearm in anormal or reverse position. Distance thus conditions ournatural, innate and reflex technique.

• Positions - The BOP is not limited to banal positions. Itadapts them according to the mission, which opens animportant field of action in the interventions carried out in aclosed or reduced place. The fetish BOP position is the'GRIP', or grabbing the baton grip, that offers theopportunity of easily changing the strong hand, hooking andpushing, but also blocking while drawing the gun for self-protection. The other BOP positions (balance, sword,reinforced, inverted, folded baton) protect against anyupward or downward attack. The BOP position in Vfacil itates conduction, lying down on the floor andoverturning. The BOP folded serves not only to catch but tocounterattacking, forcing, blocking and discreetly pressingon pressure points with all discretion, because the batonfolded is less visible than open.

• Release of hands - BOP techniques allow change handsfor handcuffing or pull out the gun. You must anticipate thedevelopment of the situation. Either counterattacking issufficient, or you must neutralize your opponent, throw himto the ground, do the handcuffing together with a bodysearch, take him up. In summary, the BOP is never releasedfrom the beginning to the end of the intervention. Israeli andtwist keys are a remarkable help because they free bothhands.

PROFESSIONAL PEDAGOGYThe BOP training plan requires that instructors with the

name AJL, transmit the official pedagogy with the legislativeand ethical references inherent in each of the countries.

• Legal Explanations - In the BOP, there's no "blind"reading of the articles of the law on self-defense. Thepoliceman or the military, explains the technique used in theaction so that it is under the law of his country. It's not asimple reasoning, but a typical demonstration of legalreconstruction. He must guarantee, before a judge or a

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superior, the legitimacy of theintervention. The BOP pedagogyprovides all legal advantages to achievesimilar responses in hand to handcounterattacks in tip grip wrist, elbowup, to avoid any unfortunate percussionin the face. Likewise, pulling out the gunis not synonymous of counterattackshooting, but also getting out of ahostile environment or protection for theagent and the individual.

• Specific terminology - In the BOP,words are a way to mitigate liability.

Terms like "blow" or "hit", synonymouswith aggression, are never used;instead, we use the word"counterattack", which is equivalent todefense. We must speak with a loudand intelligible voice in a professionalenvironment. Control of the media andcurious onlookers with their mobilephones, photos and videos, force us toa minimum of prudence. Theintervention combines safety,protection and action in the strictestrespect for the law of the countryconcerned.

• Proper training - The legal criteriafor intervention in the BOP must fit theapplicant country. For example, in theUnited States, the use of the firearm isless pressing than in Europeancountries, consequently lesstechnicality of BOP. Due to the ban onthe use of the firearm, but in use insome countries, the baton is used onlyto hit at a short distance withoutworrying about self-protection.However, in France and in mostEuropean countries, agents are ruledby specific laws of self-defense by

limiting the use of firearms. As suchthey should learn to protect themselvesand dominate the telescopic baton.Hence the interest of the BOP forprotection, the keys of coercion usingthe pistol to get free.

• Real situations - BOP promotesteamwork with the PLI (Protection,Link, Intervention) exercises, with the26-inch baton expanded or foldeddepending on the situation. No foamrubber baton in training, but the realstick to acquire a good realisticgesture. What good is a safe trainingwith a foamy baton, that will not be ofno use in the street?

COURSES WITH LABEL

The BOP enjoys an important aurathrough the following points.

• Multi l ingual Programs - BOPinstructors of the ALJ are, for the mostpart, multilingual (English, German,Italian, Spanish, Portuguese) to providea direct and understandable formationfor everybody.

• ROS - BOP Label - The courses,training plan, recycling, feed back, thecertificate renewable every year, givethe instructor ROS - BOP a highlyprized quality label.

• Training on demand - CaptainLevinet offers his expertise, throughinitial and continuing training, withcommon units, as well as specializedunits of the police and army (swat,intervention groups) in France andaround the world. Instructors are alsoformed by a gradual course towardthe ROS - BOP Instructorqualification.

• International recognition - Theexhibitions and BOP seminars of thefounder Jacques Levinet in the fourcorners of the world, have aroused theenthusiasm of the international expertsof the security forces.

The Police Operational Baton or BOP isnot an exhibition accessory, as thenunchaku, but the best non-lethal weapon,of which Captain Jacques Levinet hasmanaged to extract all the professionalefficiency, unmatched until now.

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