4th degree black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Ryron Gracie and his brother, 3rd degree black belt Rener, do a Gracie Breakdown of the death of Alton Sterling.
On Tuesday night, July 5, 37-year-old Alton Sterling was fatally shot during a ground fight with two police officers. A graphic cell phone video of the shooting was shared widely on social media, quickly sparking local protests and drawing national attention. Although an investigation by federal authorities is underway, and many details are still unknown, Ryron and Rener felt compelled to share their thoughts regarding one of many critical steps that must be taken by police departments around the country to reduce the frequency of deadly force incidences.
WARNING: Although Rener and Ryron chose not to include video footage of the actual incident, the images used are graphic, and not suitable for children.
Ryron and Rener extend their deepest condolences to the Sterling family and to the families of the Dallas PD and DART PD officers who lost their lives in an incident occurring at a protest related to this event.
In response to feedback on this video, Rener offered an update.
As we always say, “the right move at the wrong time is the wrong move.”
No matter how good our intentions were, due to the intense emotion surrounding recent events, there are some critical elements of the Alton Sterling breakdown that are being misunderstood. Most significantly, the idea that grappling against an armed suspect is a good idea or that deadly force is not justified against an armed suspect in a ground fight. This is not the case, and it ultimately boils down to the difference between what is “justified” and what is “necessary.” Every situation is different, and a deadly force incident affects everyone, not just the suspect. Just because Ryron and I teach a less-lethal technique for a particular situation does not mean it is the best option for the situation. The technique is simply another tool in the toolbox, so to speak. The force option, and decision to use force, is a split second decision that the officer must make in a rapidly evolving and stressful situation. On the other hand, just because deadly force is “justified” legally, doesn’t always mean there weren’t other possible outcomes. More than anything else, the necessity for deadly force may be determined by the level of training/confidence the officer has to deal with any encounter.
We apologize if anyone was offended by the options or opinions shared. As always, our goal is to help more officers develop their abilities so that they have more options available to them in dangerous situations.
Upcoming 5-day Gracie Survival Tactics Police Courses around the country:
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