UFC champion trains Rowland police officers

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May 27—LUMBERTON — Rowland police received training Tuesday and Wednesday from an Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer.

Royce Gracie was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2003. He is known for his mixed martial arts fighting and style of Brazilian jiu-jitsu practiced by he and his family. He also is a multiple winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

In 2020, Gracie also became a reserve officer for the Pocatello Police Department in Pocatello, Idaho, according to Idaho State Journal.

These days, Gracie travels about seven months out of the year to martial arts schools to train students. And while he was in North Carolina, he made a stop to train Rowland police officers. Gracie has conducted similar training for other law enforcement officers.

"It's my way to give back to the community," Gracie said.

Gracie came to Rowland after speaking with Dr. Timothy Smith, medical director of Robeson County EMS and a Sampson County sheriff's deputy. A mutual aid agreement exists between the Rowland Police Department and the Sampson County Sheriff's Office, according to Smith.

Gracie, his son Khonry, and brother Royler Gracie, agreed to provide training for the Rowland department to equip the officers with more tactics with which to defend themselves and to prevent attacks like the assault in October 2020 that sent an officer to the hospital. Royler is a retired mixed martial artist and Khonry competes in Bellator MMA.

"They're trying to improve their techniques to defend the community," Gracie said Wednesday.

Officers were trained in takedown scenarios, self-defense techniques, and suspect control and apprehension.

"It's defense because I'm not teaching them how to fight, I'm teaching them how to defend themselves," he said.

"This will actually save these guys' lives," Smith said.

Rowland Chief of Police Hubert Graham also participated in the training that took place in the gymnasium of former Green Grove Elementary School, which was closed before the start of the 2019-20 school year during the Public Schools of Robeson County's school consolidation. The former school is used by Robeson Community College for classes and by law enforcement for training.

Graham said he and his officers are grateful to be taught additional techniques they can use to help apprehend suspects.

"It feels great," he said of receiving the free training.

The training helps the small department of about five full-time and five part-time, or auxiliary officers, which operates on a "minuscule" budget,he said. Robeson County Magistrate Patrick Lewis also participated in the training, for personal interest.

Officers are taught to protect their weapon and de-escalate a situation, Smith said. But the officers also are to protect themselves.

"You wanna control the suspect, not hurt him," he said.

One training scenario replicated a situation in which a suspect is on the ground and trying to escape. The Gracies demonstrated the need for officers to stay mobile and move in the same direction as suspects if they attempt to roll to escape custody.

Royce Gracie said he hopes officers take from the training knowledge of new techniques and the confidence to use them.

"I'm here to build their confidence," Gracie said.

And the UFC Hall of Famer said he would be willing to return to conduct more training.

Reach Jessica Horne at 910-416-5165 or via email at [email protected]