Small people on the police force...

[Keba]

Are you serious? someone under 5,8 trying to tackle a six footer and over.
WTF?

Trust me, it's not a pretty sight. I learned martial arts a while back, for recreational purposes, and the absolute best fighter there (who could literally beat anyone, if one does not count the trainer) was this slip of a girl, 5'1'', maybe 5'2''.

[rory_20_uk]

Police are there to protect, not beat up. Even in the example that you give, it would be bettter for a burly 6 footer to merely be there than the short gal. Sure, she can floor any trouble makers better than the other, but the 6 footer will be better at keeping the peace. Some jobs in the police force like and other are what one appears to be, not what one is. Those that are not able to be passively intimidating should be given desk jobs - or become a Merc if you really want to fight - there offence is the objective.

[A.Saturnus]

Police are there to protect, not beat up. Even in the example that you give, it would be bettter for a burly 6 footer to merely be there than the short gal. Sure, she can floor any trouble makers better than the other, but the 6 footer will be better at keeping the peace. Some jobs in the police force like and other are what one appears to be, not what one is. Those that are not able to be passively intimidating should be given desk jobs - or become a Merc if you really want to fight - there offence is the objective.

Well, I guess police departments get so many applicants that they can be very choicy...

Let me tell you all a story a medic once told me. In the hospital he was working a while back, they once had a problem with a woman who has brought into the psychatric department (against her will, obviously). She was brought by firemen because the ambulance didn't dare to approach her. Well, the was also about 1.60m (about 5 foot 2 inch), and around 50 years old. She suffered from a condition called polytoxicomanie - that's what you may get if you take speed, crack, PCP, alcohol and some other stuff at the same time. Now, the firemen tried to get her from their truck into a room in the hospital, about 50 meters. They got help from a few policemen, called just for the case. That were maybe 10 men. It took them nearly 2 hours to get her from the truck to the room. Several of the men involved got rips, noses or arms broken. A doctor who just looked what was going but wasn't actually involved got his nose broken in passing. When they finally got her to that room, they tried to bind her to the bed but it was impossible. It was only possible when a psychatrist came and injected her a drug with the description "for the raging insane".
Now, I don't mean to say that that woman would have done well in the situation discussed here (as she probably would have eaten that guy), only that size can be deceiving.

And finally: yes, I'm willing to pay the extra tax money to keep policemen and women trained.

[rory_20_uk]

As you probably know, when we use our muscles we don't use 100% of their power. There are neural pathways that block the ability of the muscle to pass a certain threashold (you might notice this if you're forcing someone's arm and suddenly they stop resisting).

There are situations when this is overridden. Normally it falls under the "fight or flight" - where people have lifted massive weights. Here the body (somehow - don't ask me) turns the safeties off as failing to give 100% today will mean there isn't a tomorrow. Usually severe suppression of pain goes along with this. It's the same in sport when you notice the massive bruise on yourself after the game, but barely can remember when the injury occurred as you were so hyped up.

In a dyed in the wool junkie like that, something similar is probably responsible. Her muscles are working at a level of intensity that is likely to cause major damage to tendon, bone and muscle, but her brain is so messed up it doesn't care.

[Kralizec]

Here the body (somehow - don't ask me) turns the safeties off

Adrenaline?

[yesdachi]

Trust me, it's not a pretty sight. I learned martial arts a while back, for recreational purposes, and the absolute best fighter there (who could literally beat anyone, if one does not count the trainer) was this slip of a girl, 5'1'', maybe 5'2''.

Exception to the rule.

[lars573]

Ummm no. Properly trained a height difference is a none issue.

[yesdachi]

Ummm no. Properly trained a height difference is a none issue.

@ me?

[lars573]

Yes.

[yesdachi]

Yes.

Statistically I’ll bet a 5’2” slip of a girl that is the best fighter in class is the exception to the rule. I didn’t say anything about training, just that she was the exception to the rule.

[lars573]

Yup, that training worked well for that little gal didn't it. She would have had a better chance of subdueing the suspect with giving him a lewinsky, I'm sure she could do that better than her lame attempt of playing cop.

The kind of training I'm talking about is as much mental as it is physical. An attitude and having control of the situation. Which can be taugh, but is much better if it's already there to be fostered. I guess being raised by a bossy and domineering mother colours my view of what women can do even though there smaller. I don't treat my sister that much differently than my brother (I just punch her less). Being a girl is not an excuse not being able (or not allowed) to do something far as I'm concerned.

[Keba]

Statistically I’ll bet a 5’2” slip of a girl that is the best fighter in class is the exception to the rule. I didn’t say anything about training, just that she was the exception to the rule.

Actually, there were two of the type ... plus one that was 5'6''.

I wouldn't underestimate short people, proper training and anyone can knock down a much larger opponent without training ... when both have similar levels of training, the one with the greater weight usually wins, if he knows proper tactics ... if he doesn't, he's dead.

[Devastatin Dave]

Ummm no. Properly trained a height difference is a none issue.

Yup, that training worked well for that little gal didn't it. She would have had a better chance of subdueing the suspect with giving him a lewinsky, I'm sure she could do that better than her lame attempt of playing cop.

[Ronin]

Trust me, it's not a pretty sight. I learned martial arts a while back, for recreational purposes, and the absolute best fighter there (who could literally beat anyone, if one does not count the trainer) was this slip of a girl, 5'1'', maybe 5'2''.

I´ve trained martial arts for a number of years(stopped now because on an injury) and I can say that those cases exist...but they are a clear exception....8, maybe 9 out of 10 times size is gonna win in the end.