INTRODUCTION

Some say pain is the weakness that escapes the mind, if so what is pain? It is a physical or mental suffering. With this in mind it can be said that pain is a type of fear. A trained response to a situation, for example, A baby is naïve and touches a hot iron not knowing the potential feeling or harm is has. As we grow older we store memories of pain experiences. Every time we stub a toe, get hit, cut, or receive bad news like a family member passing. We get to a stage that even the thought of pain we cringe or feel empathy for another’s lost.
The fear of receiving pain sometimes is enough to control an aggressor, the presence of a gang with weapons will be enough for most to turn over your material wealth, the threat of injury to a family member is enough for you to follow direction of an attacker, to minimise the potential pain or injury to be received. This fear of pain is the reason why most people will give up and comply to a direction.
Keeping in mind fear also provides you with an increased amount of survival, strength and heightens ability to withstand pain. This fear of pain has to be used wisely, it is a tool not to miss used and understanding its attributes and applications are important before attempting to use it in your restraint or defence system.
When dealing with an aggressor most people are first intimidated by the person’s appearance, if they have an athletic build, their size or potential strength.
When you have been trained in using pain compliance techniques you look pass these physical attributes and focus on the individuals points of weakness. The advantage to this strategy is to seek out the vulnerable points to attack to immobilise the subject, to use their strength or size against them. For example, a person with big triceps has a larger tricep tendon that can be easily damaged when struck creating a muscular dysfunction inturn reducing the subject’s reaction time, resistant potential and coordination.
There are many charts and books outlining target areas and vulnerability, they are now only a click away on the Internet. It is important to learn these points first hand from an instructor so you will be able to be trained in the application and the techniques and theory necessary for the success of these methods.

MOST COMMON QUESTIONS WHEN USING PAIN COMPLIANCE TECHNIQUES:
- When should you apply pain compliance techniques?
- What are the types of pain compliance technique?
- How is pain compliance techniques used?
- How is pain used when escorting a person (prisoner, subject)?
- When do I reduce the pain in a restraint?
- What does it do to the subject?
- What are the signs, when there is to mush pain applied?
- What advantaging is there when using pain compliance technique?
- What disadvantages is there when using pain compliance techniques?

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF PAIN COMPLIANCE TECHNIQUES?
A pain compliance technique uses pressure points (muscular or motor dysfunctions) and joint or compression locks and striking techniques to control a person or opponent. They are the vulnerable or weak points of the body. Pain compliance techniques are used by law enforcement, and often taught as a self-defence technique in martial arts. Frequently pain compliance methods are used in accordance with an "escalation of force" policy, such techniques presume a rational adversary. Some altered states such as mental illness, extreme flexibility, phencyclidine and amphetamine use, or extreme adrenaline may alter the subject's perception of pain or willingness to submit. Like other forms of supposedly non-lethal force, such pain compliance strategies are not perfect and may be abused as a form of torture. For this reason the use of pain compliance techniques is often subject to explicit rules of engagement designed to prevent abuse and avoid conflict escalation.

WHEN TO APPLY PAIN COMPLIANCE TECHNIQUES?
Most countries and states have a simular law relating to the use of force and the reasonable application of such force. Pain compliance techniques are utilised when you feel that the physical or \verbal threat is real enough to warrant you to use reasonable force to defend yourself or another from such a threat of an assault.
In law enforcement, officers have been given powers to use force to make a subject:
- Comply to a lawful direction,
- To stop a subject harming him or herself or another,
- To maintain the safety and security of the community.
Pain compliance techniques are applied when the operator feels that they are safe enough to do so. Where they feel that by applying pain compliance techniques is the only way to equalise the situation, without an escalation of the situation.
They can be applied both standing and on the ground. For example in self defence from an side head lock, pulling back against the subjects eyes will make the aggressor move their head, placing them off balance to enable you to strike to the subjects sternum. In control and restraint when applying handcuffs on a subject on the ground, one such pain compliance technique is the cuticle nerve. Pressure to this point assists you in moving the subject’s arm.

HOW IS PAIN COMPLIANCE TECHNIQUES USED?
The main objective in using pain compliance techniques is to hinder the aggressor’s movements or counter attack. This is achieved by keeping the subject off-balance and to ensure you are out side the aggressor-fighting arc. This will prevent the attacker to execute a counter measure, to strike or regain their balance.
Pain compliance techniques are used to:
- Off-balance the aggressor or subject, effecting their stance and mental focus,
- To create or to inhibit movement,
- To reduce reaction time of the aggressor,
- To create distance or a gap (when applying a restraint or self defence technique),
- To immobilise the attacker or subject (reduce resistants potential and provide yourself with an increased reaction time in restraint or self defence),
- Used as a distraction method, and
- To intimidate when using a human shield in a multi attack situation.
Pain compliance techniques may be very effective in controlling a passive or actively resisting individual. Officers of law enforcement may only apply those pain compliance techniques for which the officer has received Departmentally approved training and only when the officer reasonably believes that the use of such a technique appears necessary to further a legitimate law enforcement purpose. Officers utilising any pain compliance technique should consider the totality of the circumstance including, but not limited to:
(a) The potential for injury to the officer(s) or others if the technique is not used,
(b) The potential risk of serious injury to the individual being controlled,
(c) The degree to which the pain compliance technique may be controlled in application according to the level of resistance,
(d) The nature of the offence involved,
(e) The level of resistance of the individual(s) involved,
(f) The need for prompt resolution of the situation,
(g) If time permits (e.g. passive demonstrators), other reasonable alternatives.
The application of any pain compliance technique shall be discontinued once the officer determines that full compliance has been achieved.
They can also be used as a combination of nerve and joint locking techniques for pain compliance, i.e. (to break the grip or to off-balance the subject leading them into another technique).
In my experience, most violent situations with a subject are caused by their poor cognitive ability, to provide rational options to resolve a problem. In his or her anguish the subject wants everyone else to feel his or her frustration. The subject becomes fixated on their rage and sometimes gets caught up with the confrontation, forgetting their initial problem that triggered the event. The subject has no other thought other then to hurt another or vent their frustrations making it hard for an officer to communicate or negotiate a rational solution.
Pain compliance techniques are pattern interrupters, used to interrupt this negative message first created by the subject to vent physically. The pain blocks the initial message created by the subject and now has to listen to the operator’s direction.
You must know the timing of inflicting pain. You must know when to do it, when not to do. You need to know when to start and when to stop. While those may sound like the same thing, they are significantly different and unless you want to have a drawn out fight or struggle on your hands it is important to know those differences.
When the subject has other factors affecting their mental state such as intoxication the message is much slower to process. It is important to give the subject time to comprehend the command or information, especially if your applying a lot of force that further adds to the cognitive processing of the subject, impairing the nervous system and message.

HOW TO USE PAIN COMPLIANCE IN ESCORTING?
The main objective of escorting a subject is to safety remove or relocate them to another area, say outside of a premises, into a room or vehicle. When you have gained control of the subject and commenced escorting you must consider:
- Obstacles
This may be other people, chairs or tables, broken glass, environmental conditions

- Stairways
This is the technique of escorting on a stairwell and factors that may be considered such as type of restraint and body positioning.

- Doorways (opening the door, moving through the doorway)

- Other people that may attack or hinder your movements
Depending on the environment and type of subject you are escorting this is very important. Other people can become a problem – get in the way, want to help, want to stop you or hurt the subject you are escorting, especially if the subject has committed an assault against them or a friend).

- The protection and safety of the subject, yourself and others
The subject you are escorting may need to be protected even if they have been in a confrontation with another. The subject while being escorted has to be protected even if you believe they are a low life, you have a duty of care when they are restrained. Why do you ask? The subject has no way of self-protection when restrained.
More importantly is the safety or protection of you or your restraint team, from the subject and the public. The public may like to get back at the subject being restrained because they are unable to fight back or want to attack you because you are escorting one of their friends. This gives them an opportunity to attack when you are interlocked with the subject.
Protection from the subject may be spitting or another physical assault (striking).

When to reduce pain when stationary
When escorting you will have to stop for some of these above reasons. The first step is your own safety and the restraint teams’. Before any pain is reduces you must ensure that the subject is unable to attack. You do this by lowering their stance creating a downward pressure reducing their ability to generate attack with a kick or substantial power to off balance you or your team. Use you voice commands telling the subject:
- To Stop walking,
- Spread your legs apart,
- Pain will be released if you cooperate (Remember that all the pain is not released)
Sometimes in an escort the subject will kick out to push off an object (wall, person, doorway etc) to generate power for an attack or to off balance you or your team enough to escape your restraint.
The key tool in using restraint techniques in combination with pain compliance is to ensure good communication between all parties, being: your subject, others in a team restraining and the observers (on lookers, public). Communicating your intentions to your subject helps them know how to comply and what your objectives are especially if they change starting to comply through the restraint. Working in a team restraint, good communication help stop eliminate injury and coordinates your objective, setting a rhythm in the procedure. Allowing others to understand your intentions tells them to clear the way, to warn off and provides you or your team a witness other then your team of the events of the restraint, just in case something goes wrong. This also tells other that you might need help with a restraint or with clearing a path.

WHEN TO REDUCE PAIN?

The application of any pain compliance technique shall be discontinued once the officer determines that full compliance has been achieved and when you and your restraint team is safe and out of harms way. Now instead of pain spurring the subject on, he has to make a conscious decision to run through a veil of pain to get back to where he was before. Remember a promise of pain is used if the subject continues or attempt to continue with unacceptable behaviour.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF PAIN ON THE AGGRESSOR / SUBJECT?

When pain is applied normal people will retreat from it and comply much more quickly only if they aren’t affected by other conditions. When there is an overload of pain the subject will fight back injuring them selves or go into shock created by the stress on the body.
Most react to pain when applied in a quick over reactive response, either by changing their stance or position to counter the feeling of pain. The fear of getting hurt without knowing the outcome can spur on unacceptable behaviour if not used correctly.
When you are under stress your heart rate will increase slowing your reaction time and ability to comprehend messages. Too much pain will make the subject stop in motion or create the subject to shake and may cause bowel release. Pain will humiliate a subject because they feel that they are unable to freely move to fight, on the other hand pain will heighten your ability to withstand pain when placed under mental or physical stress.

WHAT ARE THE VISUAL SIGNS OF PAIN?

The study of pain is of great importance as a practitioner of Jujitsu; this is made clear in the training hall. We practice applying techniques on our partners and they indicate their pain or discomfort by signalling a tap.
In a real situation there are factors that blur the clarity and a nice tap as in a controlled training area will not be possible. The person we wish to control or escort will not have the knowledge of the techniques and may be intoxicated. There body will react in different ways in which we are not usually aware of in training.
When placed into a situation your fear will reduce your ability to react in a sound manner. Visual awareness is important to seek out and scan the signs of pain upon the subject.
Some of the following may be displayed:
- Shaking
- Change of colour
- Access sweat
- Stop of motion
- Over reactive response
- Fear · Bowel release
- Desire to comply by changing stance by drawing away from pain

Knowing these signs will assist you in having better success in controlling the situation and may provide you with the correct amount of force needed for the application of the techniques.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF PAIN COMPLIANCE?

Pain compliance uses the stimulus of pain, to influence and control resistive behaviour. Through joint manipulation or pressure points, pressure is applied whilst verbal commands are given. The pressure and pain are alleviated when commands are obeyed and subject becomes co-operative.
Pain compliance techniques decentralise weight assisting with off balancing the subject, providing a distraction proceeding joint locks or pressure point control. Subject’s ability to use strength mobility greatly reduced when off-balanced.
Pain compliance techniques weaken motor action by changing the though process momentarily to allow follow-up control techniques. Pain will shift the subjects’ concentration by diverting thoughts from offensive to defensive.

Pain stimulation creates an overwhelming sensory input inturn causing a mental stunning lasting 3 - 7 seconds. This is also called reflexive inhibition that reduces the reaction time of the subject, allowing time for the operator to follow-up with control or defence techniques.
Pain created by striking techniques, over-stimulate motor nerves, causing temporary muscle impairment. Strikes delivered with total body rotation to specific points utilise fluid shock wave principles, thus the primary motor action of that muscle will be weakened.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF PAIN COMPLIANCE?

Pain compliance techniques are designed to work on normal people with a sound mental state. Most of your encounters will be with a subject whose mental state has created an incredibly high pain tolerance. Unfortunately these are the types of people that these techniques will be used on. The techniques used to control a normal person has to be adapted or substituted to counter people effected by drugs, alcohol, psychosis and enraged states, this changes your strategy entirely.
It is well known that people in severe pain go into "shock”, when this happens the body releases epronepherene and other endorphins to handle the pain. A person in this state has a much higher tolerance to pain. What is important to realise is that most people, who are in shock, aren't aware of it. In fact, many will insist that they are fine and attempt to continue to operate.
The body often cannot tell the difference between physical pain and mental anguish; it releases endorphins in both cases. These endorphins block pain. Often what results is that people in a mentally aggravated state has a much higher pain tolerance. A study on individuals with high pain thresholds in mental institution was conducted and it was discovered that these individuals had high epronepherene levels. When these individuals were given endorphin blockers their pain thresholds returned to normal.
These scientific findings largely undermine the idea of unilaterally controlling everyone through pain. Under "normal" circumstances, the idea will often work. But what constitutes "normal" for officers is significantly different than it is for a civilian. Your job routinely brings you into contact and conflict with those who are to everyone else incredibly rare. If only 1 in 10,000 people have this imbalance, guess which one is going to go off and you will be called in to deal with? To you, the abnormal is normal.
The second problem is that human beings are not machines. You don't just push a button and a specific thing happens. Compliance is only one of three or four possible responses. Inflicting pain doesn’t have a guaranteed response, because most pain compliance techniques are applied at the height of enraged, psychotic or stupid behaviour.
At this time when you inflict pain, the suspect has a much wider range of ways to resist than originally thought, as many officers have found out the hard way.

The third problem is that you cannot "force" someone to comply through pain. Compliance is purely the decision of the subject. As long as he mentally maintains another goal / motive that is stronger than the message you are sending, then he will continue to resist. He will act on “his” motivation, not yours. Some people will never submit they are so locked into their own mental processes that you will have to kill them to stop them. Against this kind of commitment, pain is either irrelevant or further motivation to continue fighting for his goal.
The fourth problem is that alcohol and other drugs physically slow down the nerve processing speed. The message physically does not travel as fast as it does while in a non-intoxicated state. Literally a drunk's email has been reduced to the Pony Express, the message will get there, but at a much, much slower rate.
How often have you taken a drunk down in a joint lock only to have him, when he is on the ground, start screaming that you are hurting him? It’s not that you are hurting him, it’s that alcohol slows the neurological process. He was hurt during the takedown but only when he's lying there in a cuffing position, does the message finally get to his brain!
These four problems seriously overlap and affect each other.
The secret of pain compliance application is in the timing, the desired result and when it will send effect the subject. The key to understanding the “moment” is in the following statement:
Pain and emotion are motivational messages, when we feel them, we feel we must act,
If you don't want someone to act, don’t send the message!
Compliance or submission to pain compliance techniques is a type of “flight’. Physical flight cannot ensure your safety, so submission is another way of fleeing from danger.
Psychologically fleeing or admitting to another’s dominance, we prevent further aggression from the subject, inturn submitting to your control.
Unfortunately, pain is just likely to escalate the situation, making the subject to fight harder to escape from your control. This fight reaction will result in you or the subject getting injured.
When you apply pain, you are sending a motivational message; the problem is that you can’t accurately predict the response you will get i.e. Will the subject submit, will he flee or will he attack.
The critical error by an operator when using pain compliance application is that they assume that a bit of pain is going to stop certain behaviour and make the subject comply. This extra motivation will only allow the subject to react, especially if the operator has not communicated the objectives to the subject. If the subject doesn’t know your objective, you will not be able to determine what path or reaction they will take.
Another factor that may reduce the effect of pain is various cultural differences or language barriers or mentally understanding of voice commands when applying pain compliance techniques. Ensure you provide sufficient time for the subject to comprehend the command, first ensuring you and your restraint teams safety.

HOW TO TRAIN IN THE USE OF PAIN COMPLIANCE TECHNIQUES?

People who are mentally ill or under the influence of drugs or alcohol are often impervious to pain. Extremely drunk people are frequently unaffected by the pain because alcohol will dull that portion of the brain where pain is registered.
With this in mind, law enforcement and security personnel have to understand the levels of pain compliance to be applied. Practising to apply these techniques under a controlled training environment will help you determine the sufficient level to be applied on others when on the job with these differing states.
Having these techniques also applied on yourself will help you understand the feelings; responses and reactions placed upon you as a subject. This along with studying the signs of pain will help you determine when to release or alter the technique you are applying in your restrain or defence.
In the practising of pain compliance techniques, participants must use the verbal command “danger” and / or non-verbal command of a physical “tap” using their hand or foot to indicate to their training partner’s that they are experiencing pain or discomfort. Training partner’s receiving the verbal and/or non-verbal command must immediately cease applying the technique. It is important that participants’ practice the techniques as demonstrated by the instructor’s. Over zealous application of techniques can cause injury.

Conclusion

The trip back to good behaviour doesn't hurt.


Home Control and Restraint