Gendarme combatives

Gendarme combatives was an unarmed self-defense style developed for and taught to officers of the Royal Corps of Gendarmes in the Golden Empire.

Centurions had been taught Var Shek, but law enforcement advisors to the early Gendarmes felt this style was inappropriate for dedicated law enforcement officers, as it focused too much on seriously injuring or killing attackers, rather than apprehending them. As a result, the Gendarmes developed a style with greater focus on submission techniques, grappling, joint locks, and takedown techniques, although they retained some strikes designed to stun or briefly incapacitate attackers.

The wide variety of sentient life forms in the Empire presented unique challenges to the development of the Gendarmes' fighting style. A Human could not use the same submission hold on a Fyaar that worked on a Doloy, and techniques suited for s in general might be insufficient for s. The Corps's martial arts experts developed, by trial-and-error, a core curriculum of techniques which were generally applicable, as well as others which functioned best on attackers of one's own size and configuration.

In addition to hand-to-hand techniques, Gendarmes learned weapon retention skills to maintain control of their sidearms and rifles; marksmanship itself was covered by their military training and law enforcement firearms instructors. Gendarmes were also taught the use of s and cuffing techniques for restraining suspects.