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Local Officers Partake In Krav Maga Self-Defense Class

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Police officers threw punches and wrestled each other to the ground as part of an elaborate training exercise to get them ready for what they may encounter while on the job.

Police officers need to be ready for any and everything. Today, several local police departments participated in self-defense training that may save their lives.

"Second place is usually a pine box for a police officer." Sgt. Michael Davis said. "Our goal is to save lives. Too many police officers in this country die every year and we want to stop that."

Learning the Israeli practice of Krav Maga from Sgt. Davis of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the self-defense training teaches natural movements to help in arrests and the worst situations a cop could be in..

"For example we'll take natural movements like a flinch or a spontaneous response, and turn that flinch response into a self-defense technique," Pittsburgh Police Officer David Wright said.

Officer Wright, owner of Wright's Gym where the session was held, teaches Krav Maga in the Pittsburgh Police Training Academy as well.

Officers from Finley, Crafton and Carnegie took instructions and mimicked and practiced the moves. In the gym, are framed T-shirts recognizing fallen officers as a reminder of what could happen.

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