RI – Tactical Ground Control & Edged Weapon Defense Instructor Certification

Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy
Hosting
L.O.C.K.U.P. ® Police Training Systems
May 18 – 22, 2026 0800 – 1630

It was both an honor and a pleasure to present the L.O.C.K.U.P.® Ground Control and Edged Weapon Instructor Training Program from May 18–22, 2026, at the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy.

The training was exceptionally well received by all attendees, who demonstrated a high level of enthusiasm, professionalism, and dedication throughout the five-day program. Their engagement and commitment to learning contributed significantly to the overall success of the course.

A review of the course evaluations revealed overwhelming satisfaction with the program. One hundred percent (100%) of participants rated the course, instructional methods, and instructors at the highest level of Excellent. Additionally, 100% of participants stated they would recommend the training to their peers.

Participants consistently praised the organization and structure of the program, noting that the material was well presented, easy to follow, and appropriately challenging. Students particularly appreciated the instructors’ ability to break complex techniques into manageable steps, making the material easy to understand, replicate, and ultimately teach to others.

Instructor evaluations for Inspector (Ret.) Percy Smith and Captain Bryan Palagi were equally outstanding. Participants repeatedly cited their extensive knowledge, professionalism, teaching ability, and seamless instructional partnership. Many comments described them as among the most knowledgeable instructors in the profession, noting their ability to clearly communicate complex concepts while maintaining a practical and engaging learning environment.

Participants also identified several ways the training would improve their current assignments. Common themes included expanding instructional options for officers with varying skill levels, strengthening agency use-of-force training programs, enhancing in-service instruction, and reinforcing existing arrest and control methodologies. Many attendees indicated that the course provided valuable training materials, practical applications, and instructional techniques that could be immediately implemented within their agencies.

Representative comments included:

• “Every officer should go through this training.”
• “Breaking down each technique step-by-step and then putting it all together was extremely beneficial.”
• “Best instructors in the field.”
• “Provided me with the experience, training, and materials to better my department’s use-of-force training.”
• “Teaching methods were very easy to understand and retain.”

Overall, the evaluations reflect a highly successful training program that met its objectives of developing instructor competency, enhancing operational effectiveness, and providing participants with practical, defensible, and transferable skills for both field application and future instruction.

Thank you again for the opportunity to work with such a professional and dedicated group of officers. Their commitment to excellence made this program both productive and rewarding.

The L.O.C.K.U.P.® Police Ground Control Edged Weapon Instructor Course Is first-of-its-kind instructor program that delivers a complete, tactical ground-control and edged-weapon defense curriculum built for policing—not sport. Designed for law enforcement and corrections, this course equips instructors to teach real-world, high-stress control tactics that work in full duty gear and within constitutional standards.

It focuses on practical techniques and strategies that are essential for officers involved in dynamic, combative situations. The L.O.C.K.U.P.® system provides the framework for this training, with a specific emphasis on ground control and defense against edged weapons. Gain the critical skills needed to effectively manage dangerous situations and protect yourself and others in the field.

Why it’s different!
• You can’t train in tee shirts and shorts and then perform wearing full gear.
• Mission-built for officers: Techniques account for body armor, duty belt, radios, and confined spaces.
• Beyond grappling: Focus on control, weapon access/retention, and edged-weapon defense under pressure.
• Train-the-trainer: Graduates leave with lesson plans, testing rubrics, and coaching cues to scale agency training.
• Evidence-informed & defensible: Aligned with case law, reportable standards, and UOF articulation. Students will learn to teach
• Ground control entries, pins, transitions, and handcuffing in gear.
• Edged-weapon threat indicators, defenses, and disengagement options.
• Weapon retention while grounded; suspect access denial.
• Decision-making under stress (recognition-primed cues, pre-attack indicators)
• Safe training progressions, scenario design, and injury reduction
• Documentation & articulation: integrating tactics with policy and report writing.

Who should attend
Use-of-Force instructors, DT/combative staff, field training officers, tactical team trainers, and training supervisors

The agency has an excellent self defense training program which contributed greatly to their success in low usage of less lethal weapons during this accreditation period.” C.A.L.E.A.® Assessment of L.O.C.K.U.P.®

Capt.  Bryan Palagi  – 14 year law enforcement exp. BJJ Black Belt, Master L.O.C.K.U.P.® Instructor  
Percy Smith – 20 year law enforcement exp. BJJ Black Belt,  Master L.O.C.K.U.P.® Instructor
ONLY $995.00

REGISTER HERE

Course Flier

LOCATION of TRAINING:
Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy
Camp Fogarty  – 2841 S County Trl, East Greenwich, RI 02818
Contact – Gary Driscoll – Director of Continuing Education 
gary.driscoll@risp.gov / 401-205-1678 (Desk)