Send us Fan Mail You can’t “talk your way” out of every violent encounter, and pretending otherwise sets both officers and citizens up for the worst day of their lives. Dr. Travis Yates sits down with Amir Khillah, a Michigan peace officer, retired professional MMA fighter, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, and the founder of Centurion Modern Subject Control, to get painfully honest about what actually happens before and during real-world fights with police. We dig into why confidence matters: Amir lays out the competency effect, where better hands-on skill leads to calmer decision making, stronger communication, and better de-escalation. We also challenge the idea that de-escalation is purely verbal. Sometimes early, controlled physical action prevents a spiraling confrontation that later demands higher levels of force. If you care about police officer safety, safer arrests, and reducing injuries, this part of the conversation hits hard. Then we go where most training programs don’t: the data. Amir explains how officers are commonly assaulted and why training should focus on repeatable, street-relevant skills like dealing with pull-aways, haymakers, and tackles, not flashy techniques no one can recall under stress. We also talk leadership accountability, why state minimums aren't enough, what metrics departments should track, and how budgets and politics quietly shape use-of-force outcomes in ways the public rarely sees. If this conversation gives you language for what you’ve felt watching body cam footage, share it with a leader, a trainer, or a partner. Subscribe, leave a review, and send this episode to someone who still thinks policy can replace preparation. Amir Khillah has spent more than 25 years teaching people to control violent encounters safely. A current Michigan peace officer and a published use-of-force writer for Law Officer and Police1, he now runs Centurion Modern Subject Control, a law enforcement training program built on what the data show about how officers are actually assaulted. Contact Amir here. Purchase his book here. We encourage you to contact our partner, Functional Medical Institute, for your wellness and health needs. Owned and operated by law enforcement, Dr. Yates credits the FMI team for his successful wellness journey. Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders: Get The Book Get Weekly Articles by Travis Yates Join Us At Our Website Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training Join The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance
