Sometimes the best offence is a good defence as local law enforcement personnel and others interested will soon have the opportunity to learn a new way of subduing criminals without unnecessary contact.

Head Bailiff of Magistrates' court, Bob Smith, has recently become certified as a tactical instructor in the `CDT' method of nondeadly-force training and now he is hoping to offer this skill to others across the Island.

Mr. Smith said that CDT, founded by Thomas Patire has been taught to both the FBI, CIA, as well as a host of other law enforcement agencies across the US.

Compliance, Direction, Takedown is what the acronym CDT stands for. The technique puts its user in the best position for total control over someone who is either handcuffed or in temporary restraint. The method has proven to be one of the most complete methods of empty handed control and a last resort weapon in subduing for today's litigation-conscious world.

Mr. Smith has a fifth degree black belt in Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do form, which he studied under master Morio Higaonna.

CDT teaches the student the physical, mental and psychological aspects of applying the proper diffusion or disarming techniques.

The method is most commonly used to subdue hostile subjects with minimal or no injury to the subject, the officer, or any third party.

The focus of these controlling techniques and weapon disarms techniques are to help the subject maintain safety, and personal well being from attack.

Born in Bermuda, Mr. Smith said that his interest in martial arts peaked while attending school in the New York.

"My introduction was because of the bullies and things that happened to me during my day to day school activities that persuaded me to get involved."

"(At school) We used to have chest day, where you would get punched in the chest at random and then we had green leaf day. If you didn't have a green leaf at the end of school you would get ganged up on," said Mr. Smith. "My parents weren't to keen on sending me to a karate school. After I was able to demonstrate that I was really serious about it they finally agreed."

One recent accomplishment came when Mr. Smith stepped out of retirement for the 20th Bermuda Open Karate Championships, in which he fought in the over-40 category and emerged victorious, before cleaning up on a younger age group as well.

He has served as head bailiff at Magistrate's court for about two years, but started as a bailiff three years before that.

"It was stressed and emphasised throughout my CDT certification training that the least amount of force that is necessary in any given situations should be utilised," said Mr. Smith. "Each technique was demonstrated, and then applied over and over to allow the trainee to employ the least amount of force that is reasonable to control a situation at hand.

"Needless to say that after a few days of both applying CDT techniques and having them applied on me, I was amazed at how easily an individual could be controlled without being injured."

The CDT method teaches the location of the direct activation points on the body and how to maximise results while minimising the risk.

It is viewed as minimal justifiable force and is based on a proven theory that less is better.

CDT also has a family protection component which focuses on the role an individual family member can use during a violent altercation.

It is a complete training course that includes verbal diffusion, cover and evacuation techniques taught in conjunction with proper use of force.

"This is very politically correct. After these techniques are applied no one's hurt, no one's injured," said Mr. Smith.

"Its not something that takes a long time to learn. It's meant to be learned on a short period of time."

He said that there were different levels to the CDT programme ranging in cost from $395 per person to $150. Level one technical control will cost $395, A compliance and escort course $200, a stun and run course will cost $175 and a third party entry course will cost about $150

Mr. Smith is currently moving to a location on Joells Alley, where he will be teaching his Martial Arts classes. He can be contacted at 297-7732.