I was looking for something else, and tripped over this thread and decided I'd bump it up -- and use Rich's post here to do it.
Thought I'd clarify something that I'm pretty sure Rich got -- but might have been a little confusing. The idea of official or certified instructors versus someone who is contracted or brought in to teach something, versus the "teaches a few deputies" types. I'm going to try to use myself, mostly, as an example.
I'm a certified DT instructor, among other instructor credentials. That means I've had training in not only performing, but in teaching DT skills. and that training meets the criteria set forward by the state, I've completed an apprenticeship, and can teach cops and give them official training credit. It doesn't make me a super fighter or anything like that; I wouldn't even compare it being a yellow belt, let alone a black belt, in a formal martial art. Because it's a focused course, for a specific purpose. (It does, arguably, make me something of an expert on use of force...)
We've had guys come in to teach clinics or seminars. In fact, I'd like to bring one in myself, because he's got a really effective, solid knife program. He's not a cop. If he comes down and we teach a seminar on a Saturday, using the academy, with their blessing and permission, that doesn't make it official training. There are a lot more hoops to go through for that; lesson plans must be developed & approved, among other things. Or, as another example, several years back, Dr. Gyi came out and taught a clinic on the military fighting knife (specifically, the K-Bar, but really, it would have worked with any military style combat/utility knife). It was set up in coordination with a young man going through The Basic School at Quantico, and he and several of his classmates there came out for the clinic. It wasn't official military training, no matter how useful they may have found it.
Finally, I've had a few cops come through at my regular club. Sure, I stressed some things with them, but it wasn't DT training. It was a martial arts class, with some applicability to work situations. No DCJS credit, no endorsement by any agency, done on our own time & dime.
My headache with claims comes from people in the second or third category trying to create the impression that they're in the first. Especially when they're using it to try to impress the uneducated masses. At that point, it's kind of comparable to a contractor who can do a few little things with plumbing or electricity screwing a homeowner on a job by saying that he doesn't need to bring in an actually electrician or plumber on a job... It doesn't mean he can't do it, and do it well, but he ain't licensed for the job and often it won't meet code.
