Judo champ has firm grasp of American dreamROSALIND GIBB
WHEN Maurice Allan learned his first grappling moves as a teenager at an Edinburgh wrestling club, he never imagined he would be using similar techniques to teach SWAT teams and drug enforcement officers in the USA.
But more than 40 years on, that is exactly what he does on a daily basis. The former British judo champion was also a renowned wrestler, and represented Scotland and Britain in the sport at both the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics in the 1970s.
Now, as well as running his own judo school in Virginia, he is in charge of defence training for all trainee officers at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy. Maurice, 59, who grew up in Gorgie, said: "Every law enforcement officer goes through the Academy.
"I teach rookie cops and then once they become a policeman on the street they have to do a week-long course."
FBI agents and members of SWAT teams also enrol on the courses.
"I teach them close-quarter combat and ground fighting. If an officer gets into a fight they have to be in control, be able to use handcuffs, or disengage them until someone else comes to their aid.
"They need to do one of these or a combination to make sure they don't get hurt, and so there is minimal injury for the criminal."
More than seven and a half million people live in Virginia, and Maurice is training officers to be able to deal with any situation.
He said: "They might have two women fighting, a man and woman fighting, an armed robbery or a drugs bust. Even with something like a traffic stop they never know how it's going to go so the drills I teach them give them sound techniques that can be taken into any situation and adapted."
Maurice went to Gorgie Primary School and Tynecastle High School. As a teenager he took up wrestling at Milton Road Amateur Wrestling Club.
He was awarded the MBE for his achievements in wrestling in 1975, but he became just as well known for judo, managing the Edinburgh Club and coaching at Edinburgh University.
It was while in the States on a judo tour in the early 1970s Maurice decided he wanted to move there.
"There was something about it I really liked and just knew I would move here one day." And in 1976 when he was offered a job by a judo club in Virginia, he didn't hesitate to accept it. "I am very happy here," said Maurice, who hasn't lost his thick Edinburgh accent.
His daughter, Kristen, 24, is also set to be part of the US 2008 Olympic judo team.
But he admitted he still misses his home town. He added: "I visit Edinburgh about once every two years to see old pals and my old coach George Kerr. I love the history of Edinburgh and the old, solid buildings.
"And when I'm back, I always make sure I have a fish supper, which I love."
But more than 40 years on, that is exactly what he does on a daily basis. The former British judo champion was also a renowned wrestler, and represented Scotland and Britain in the sport at both the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics in the 1970s.
Now, as well as running his own judo school in Virginia, he is in charge of defence training for all trainee officers at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy. Maurice, 59, who grew up in Gorgie, said: "Every law enforcement officer goes through the Academy.
"I teach rookie cops and then once they become a policeman on the street they have to do a week-long course."
FBI agents and members of SWAT teams also enrol on the courses.
"I teach them close-quarter combat and ground fighting. If an officer gets into a fight they have to be in control, be able to use handcuffs, or disengage them until someone else comes to their aid.
"They need to do one of these or a combination to make sure they don't get hurt, and so there is minimal injury for the criminal."
More than seven and a half million people live in Virginia, and Maurice is training officers to be able to deal with any situation.
He said: "They might have two women fighting, a man and woman fighting, an armed robbery or a drugs bust. Even with something like a traffic stop they never know how it's going to go so the drills I teach them give them sound techniques that can be taken into any situation and adapted."
Maurice went to Gorgie Primary School and Tynecastle High School. As a teenager he took up wrestling at Milton Road Amateur Wrestling Club.
He was awarded the MBE for his achievements in wrestling in 1975, but he became just as well known for judo, managing the Edinburgh Club and coaching at Edinburgh University.
It was while in the States on a judo tour in the early 1970s Maurice decided he wanted to move there.
"There was something about it I really liked and just knew I would move here one day." And in 1976 when he was offered a job by a judo club in Virginia, he didn't hesitate to accept it. "I am very happy here," said Maurice, who hasn't lost his thick Edinburgh accent.
His daughter, Kristen, 24, is also set to be part of the US 2008 Olympic judo team.
But he admitted he still misses his home town. He added: "I visit Edinburgh about once every two years to see old pals and my old coach George Kerr. I love the history of Edinburgh and the old, solid buildings.
"And when I'm back, I always make sure I have a fish supper, which I love."
FONTE: Scotsman - United Kingdom
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