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This month we are delighted to announce the launch of N.O.R.M.A. (The National Organisation for Restraint Membership and Accreditation).
N.O.R.M.A. is the new Specialist Directorate Group of the British Ju-Jitsu Association Governing Body (BJJA GB) with specific responsibility for the design, development, accreditation, endorsement and enforcement of Physical Restraint. As such it acts as the National Source to the Governing Body on all aspects of Occupational Physical Skill Instruction and Delivery (Restraint, Breakaway and Self-Defence).
What is unique about N.O.R.MA.?
Up to this point there has been no officially recognised National Governing Body that covers Occupational Physical Skill Training. All of the Governing Bodies that exist are Sporting Governing Bodies, and as such, all of the coaching awards, instruction and insurance cover have been geared to the delivery of a sport-based activity only. As a result many sport based coaching awards have never had to consider the occupational factors, work environment or specific risks associated when developing any coaching or instructional awards in relation to any physical skill taught for employed use.
Many martial arts promote the self-defence aspect of their art as a way of increasing course attendance or membership. However, as all martial arts are mandated by their respective National Governing Bodies on the basis of sport, there has been no formal structure input within the sporting coaching awards or instruction for any occupational aspect of the sport's implementation. This has led to a wide and diverse range of courses offered all based on the respective 'technique' specific to the sport based art from which it has been developed from.
Martial Arts and Occupational Skill Training
The reality of the fact however is that without the martial arts physical restraint, for example, as we know it would not exist in its current form, and a true fact is that all physical skills training packages have, at some stage, had their roots in a martial arts system.
This is evidenced by the research contained with the report submitted by Stanley Colville entitled 'A Moving Experience' for which he won a Butler Trust Award in 1992. At that time Stanley was one of the senior C&R instructors in the Northern Ireland Prison Service whose report examined training in the control and restraint of violent persons in a wide range of countries across the globe.
In his account he found that in the Netherlands training was devised from a Ju-Jitsu based syllabus. In Italy a Ju-Jitsu form of self-defence was taught and was deemed to be an important part of the Italian Officers training. In Singapore the defensive tactics training included instruction in judo and tae-kwon-do. In Malaysia, staff are taught a karate-based form of self-defence. In Hong Kong self-defence training involved pressure-point control and striking techniques, in addition many of the Hong Kong instructors were trained in other forms of martial arts including Aikido and Karate.
IN the UK the Prison Service C&R (Control & Restraint) has its roots in Ju-Jitsu. In the Prison Service C&R replaced the MUFTI (Minimal Use of Force in Tactical Intervention) system used for controlling violent prisoner's - fondly remembered by many senior staff as restraint with a mattress!! In the 1980's two of the British Ju-Jitsu Associations Senior Tutors, namely John Steadman and Jimmy Pape, worked with Prison Service staff to help them develop the system of C&R currently in use today based on ju-jitsu technique. As a result, many of the techniques in use in a variety of restraint systems have their root in British Ju-Jitsu.
Restraint Training Coming Home
It is also worth noting at this stage that both John Steadman and Jimmy Pape are also two of the founding members of N.O.R.M.A. In short restraint training has come home!!
Beware False Prophets!
There are some organisations that have actually set themselves up as National Governing Bodies for Physical Restraint / Intervention and Self-Defence. However (as you will know if you have read our other articles on this issue), they are 'Governing Body' by name only and are not a National Governing Body similar to those given mandate by Sport UK and the CCPR. One drawback of this is that the insurance they offer (or fail to) will not provide cover for the 'occupational; application' of the skills taught - a reason in itself why it cannot be a National Governing Body. In addition some agencies and institutions who offer accreditation do not have individuals on their accreditation panels who even possess a formally recognised National Governing Body (real one) Coaching Award or National Governing Body Officer status, but who will presume to then assess others on the skill aspect of what they are 'think' is an appropriate technique without the competency or qualification to know what a skill is defined as.
This is where N.O.R.M.A. is different!! |
