The problem with many self-defense training drills is you can't actually hit your training opponent as hard as you would in a tactical situation. This means you never practice going all out, neither from a physical standpoint nor from an emotional one. To address this problem, a number of training programs have arisen that use a full-body protective suit to allow a trainee to attack a target with full force.
Purpose
Many people are unable to attack another person full force without eliciting a specific state of mind, a state that is uncomfortable for most. By practicing with a human target protected by a full-body suit, students can learn how to access that mental state on demand -- and to deal with the adrenaline, fear and associated physical symptoms that accompany that state. This, in theory, helps better prepare them for the real thing.
Features
Full body suits cover the wearer with thick, padded plates that protect him from the bulk of an attacker's blows. The suits tend to emphasize protection for the head, neck, collar and joints -- the areas most likely to be badly harmed by a full-force attack. Face protection for some suits may be rigid, discouraging attacks to that area, or soft with enough padding to protect that area. You can also get suits with rigid plates for the knees and elbows. These suits are usually intended for use during weapons training, since the padded plates may not protect from a full-force strike with a police baton, for example.
Disadvantages
The person inside a full body suit may not be subject to injury, but he is rarely comfortable. The suits are heavy, hot and restrict movement. They also tend to dull the senses by offering only narrow eye holes and covering the ears. These disadvantages also translate to the attacker, since the slower-movement and restricted vision of the wearer make him a less formidable opponent than somebody dressed naturally. The suits also make attacks to one area much the same as another -- precision strikes taught in many martial arts become useless when used against somebody in a full body suit.
Safety
A full body suit is not a license to tear into the wearer with no consideration. Although the padding mitigates the impact of attacks, it doesn't eliminate it completely. You should throw blows to vital areas, especially the face, back of head, groin and knees, with due caution -- and the wearer should take care to protect those areas. As with any other live training drill, all participants should agree ahead of time on a set of signals to give each other directions during the drill. The drill should also be supervised by a qualified third party who can break the action if either participant looks to be in danger.
References
- "Beauty Bites Beast"; Ellen Snortland; 2001
- My Self Defense Resource: Beyond Redman Suit Training
- Jason Brick; Martial Arts Instructor; Bushido Martial Arts; Hillsboro, OR
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