Terry Pollard has been practicing martial arts since the 1980’s, currently holds the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt, Guro in the Filipino Martial Arts. He has trained in styles such as White Eyebrow Kung-Fu, Wing Chun, Free Style Karate, Ju jitsu, Pambuan Arnis, Weapons training and more. He is also owner and Master Instructor of School of the Fighting Arts and founder of Revelation Martial Arts (RMA).Active member of Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.
International Awards and Accomplishments include:
Former Deputy Hamilton County Sheriff Department - 12 years
1987-1991 - US Army Persian Gulf Veteran (Desert Shield/Storm)
1988 to 1990 - European Fighting Champion, undefeated
1998 - Independent Karate Schools of America Instructor of the Year
1995 to 2005 - Deputy of the Hamilton County Sheriff Dept. in Chattanooga, Tn. and Hamilton County Juvenile Court.
1999 to 2003 - Soft forms champion and weapons champion
2000 - Walt Disney's Wide World of Sports Team Weapons Champion
2000 - 2010 - Tournament promoter
2001 - USA International Hall of Fame Master Instructor of the Year
2003 - Officer of the month (Aug), Hamilton County Sheriff's Dept.
2008 to 2009 - Also works as a local Bounty Hunter
2008 - Recognized by Pambuan Arnis International
Terry Pollard has received training from such martial artists as:
Dai Sifu Dr. Y.Q. Wong (BAI MEI KUNG FU)
Grandmaster Won Chi Chu (Tae Kwon Do)
Grandmaster Floyd Burke(Master of Traditional A.K.F. and Head of Independent Karate Schools of America)
Ama GuroRufino Pambuan, (TULISAN CABALLERO TAGA-HERADA, Pambuan Arnis)
I served in the US Army for 4 years and a Persian Gulf war veteran, I am a former Deputy of the Hamilton County Sheriff Department (11 years) and Currently a shift Supervisor Juvenile Detention Center in Chattanooga, TN. I also worked as a local bounty hunter for a couple of years, Asset protection Agent for 6 years, catching shoplifters.
I started my training in the martial arts back in the 1980’s, and I have learned so much from all of my teachers. I started training in Tae Kwon Do, but I soon realized that was not the style for me. I was very fortunate to come across a Master in Bai Mei (white eyebrow) Kung Fu, which gave me a strong foundation in the Chinese martial arts.
When I joined the Army I continued to train in the martial arts, and I came across other martial artist training in freestyle karate in Germany. I trained with the base instructor there until he left Germany, and then I took over teaching as base instructor until I left. I returned home and was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA., but only a few months later I was sent to the Middle East Desert Shield/Storm 1990-1991.
While in the Middle East I still continued to train in the martial arts, for me there is no excuse not to train. I tell my students all the time, if I can train in Iraq, you can train her at home. Martial arts is part of my lifestyle, it is built into my personally. Martial arts have helped me physically and mentally, I don’t know where I would be right now if it was not for the martial arts.
I currently train in Escrima/Arnis, Kung Fu, RMA Tactical and Fighting Arts, which is my main background, but I also teach basic self defense, and weapons training of various types. My goal now would be to continue to teach others, and to build up confidence to all of my students.
You now know a little more about me, now let’s get to the point on how I used my martial training in real situations. When asked if I ever been in a real fight, and did I use my martial arts, I can say yes. But many people confuse real fighting from sport fighting, or movie fight scenes.A real fight should only last a few seconds. If the fight last more than a few seconds, it should be to make sure everything is clear and safe to get out of the area.
A highly trained martial artist are not looking for a fight, but prepared to do so. A trained martial artist should be quick, aggressive, and go as far as necessary without breaking any laws. The majority of my real situations were when I was working for the local sheriff department and asset protection. I have proven to myself that training will work if you simply practice, and to be honest with yourself.
If a prisoner becomes combative with me or a fellow officer, I will shoot in on them immediately before the threat becomes worse.Every single time I did this, the situation was over within seconds. I will give the prisoner every chance to comply, but if they don’t, then I make them comply.
One of my main physical techniques I used is a simple slap across the face, to create a distraction. While they are responding to the slap, then I will do a basic arm bar take down, or just grab them at the back of their neck to take them down. I only used OC spray 3 or 4 times in the 10 years, because it was not needed.
The strategy I used prevented injuries to me, and fellow officers. No prisoners ever got hurt, only their pride for acting stupid. I have been in countless situations, and I used basically the same strategy every time, and it always worked. There are so many martial arts instructors teaching self defense, and they have never been in a real fight. The feeling of a real fight is completely different from sparring. A real fight is unpredictable, and sparring is in a controlled environment.
One situation I was in would be a prisoner who was ready to fight. Before I got there he had already been fighting with a fellow officer. I ran pass the officer and went into the cell to restrain him. He was in left fighting type stance, and I tried to get him to come to me, but he refused. The next thing I did, I ran in on him by simply grabbing his left wrist, with a slap across the face as a distraction, took him down with a simple arm bar, applied hand cuffs and it was over.
Another situation was with a very combative prisoner who refused to come out of his cell, I was working down the hall from the booking area. A group of officers were trying to decide how to pull this prisoner out of his cell.I went to the booking area to get something, while the officers were still deciding what to do. I went to the cell and grabbed him behind the neck and dragged him to the booking area. I have learned in real fighting there are mind games going on, don’t play their game, you play yours.
I tell my students all the time, don’t fight with anyone, just get it done because action is quicker than reaction. I can talk about so many other different situations, but they all end the same way, within seconds, I don’t give the other guy time to fight.
Owner/Master Instructor
Shihan/Guro Terry Pollard
8th Degree Black Belt
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