Todd Fox stands out as a beacon of experience and innovation in the dynamic world of law enforcement and defensive tactics. His latest book, “Underpinning,” delves into the critical aspects of training often overlooked in traditional martial arts instruction when applied to law enforcement scenarios. Fox’s approach aims to bridge the gap between martial arts techniques and the real-world challenges law enforcement officers face.
A Background of Diverse Experience
He brings a wealth of experience to his work. As a former U.S. Marine, he was assigned duties that “spanned the Corps’ broad gamut, ranging from washing dishes to operating with JTF-6.” His military career gave Todd Fox unique insights that informed his approach to law enforcement training.
After his time in the Marines, he transitioned to law enforcement, where he was responsible for creating, developing, and training a regional law enforcement Special Response Team. His team participated in protecting humans and assets during several pivotal national events. Fox is also a graduate of multiple advanced programs at the Counterterrorism Division of FLETC.
A lifelong martial artist, Fox holds three black belts in different arts and has a professional MMA record of ten wins and two losses. He is also a black belt American National Champion, U.S. Open Champion, and Pan-American Medalist in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Currently, Todd Fox is the founder and Managing Director of the Close Protection Group. He continues to train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai actively.
The Context of Force
In “Underpinning,” Fox emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader context in which law enforcement officers operate. He argues that teaching martial arts techniques without considering the unique circumstances of police work is insufficient. “If the instructor understands the context and all the surrounding issues that underpin the use of force and defensive tactics, then he can modify the program to provide the end user with that adjusted material,” Fox explains.
This context includes factors such as gear weight, environmental conditions, and multiple opponents. He elaborates: “I’m wearing 45 pounds of gear, or I’m on the pavement… Instead, now I’m going to concrete if I’m working in an urban environment, or if I’m in the country working in a rural area, maybe in a creek on rocks or in mud or dirt or sand.”
Beyond Pain Compliance
One of the critical insights he offers is the limitation of pain compliance techniques in certain situations. He points out, “I don’t want to be using all pain compliances because if I break this guy’s arm and he’s on crystal meth, a chance of him stopping fighting is pretty slim. Maybe I disable that one arm, but that’s a small percentage of the fight.” This realization underscores the need for a more comprehensive approach to defensive tactics, as emphasized by Todd Fox.
The BJJ Advantage
While Todd acknowledges the value of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in law enforcement training, he stresses the need for adaptation. “If I had a choice between teaching guys regular, simple BJJ versus nothing or other DT forms, I would absolutely teach them regular BJJ and then have them adjust it for their environment,” he states. Underpinning aims to guide instructors in making these crucial adjustments.
Competent Instruction with Todd Fox
He distinguishes between the ability to perform techniques and the ability to teach them effectively. He argues, “The fact that they can do something has no correlation to what they can teach you… It’s far more important to find somebody who can help you develop you than, ‘Hey, look at me. I can dance around and do all these cool things.’” This perspective highlights the need for instructors who can tailor their teaching to individual officers’ needs and capabilities, which is something Todd Fox emphasizes in his training programs.
Confidence Through Competence
A recurring theme in Fox’s approach is the relationship between competence and confidence. He argues that officers who are competent in their skills are less likely to escalate situations unnecessarily. “If I’m confident that I can handle this situation, the chance of me escalating or feeling the need to escalate doesn’t happen,” Fox explains. He adds, “Especially if I’m competent and I know it. How do I know I’m competent? Because I can do it with different people in different environments.” Todd Fox sees competence as the key to confidence.
Continuous Learning and Integration
Fox practices what he preaches, continuously seeking new training opportunities and integrating them into his existing knowledge base. He emphasizes the importance of immediately applying new knowledge, stating, “I want to integrate it immediately. I don’t want it to get lost.” This attitude toward continuous learning is a hallmark of Todd Fox’s approach.
Future Projects and Programs
Todd’s commitment to advancing the field of law enforcement and security training continues to evolve. He has announced that a new book will be released in 2025, further expanding his expertise and insights in the field.
He is actively engaged in sharing his knowledge through hands-on training programs. Todd will soon host Defensive Tactics Instructor programs, allowing enforcement professionals to enhance their skills and teaching abilities in this crucial area.
Fox will be conducting Executive Protection programs, leveraging his extensive experience in the field to train security professionals in the specialized skills required for high-level personal protection. These sessions will benefit greatly from Todd Fox’s hands-on experience.
These upcoming projects and programs demonstrate his ongoing dedication to improving training standards and practices in law enforcement and security, ensuring that professionals in these fields are well-equipped to handle the complex challenges they face in their roles.
In “Underpinning,” and through his various training initiatives, Todd Fox offers a comprehensive look at the complexities of law enforcement training, emphasizing the need for context-specific instruction, continuous learning, and thoughtful integration of techniques. His insights, drawn from a diverse career spanning military service, law enforcement, and martial arts, provide valuable guidance for instructors and officers alike, aiming to enhance safety and effectiveness in the field.
As Todd continues to share his knowledge through books, training programs, and speaking engagements, his impact on law enforcement and security training will surely grow, shaping the future of these critical professions.
