MMA center plans seminars for law enforcement

SPARTA — Local law enforcement and corrections will have the opportunity to attend three free defensive tactics and close-quarters combat seminars at Miller Brothers Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness in Sparta.
The events will teach officers how to safely secure an individual who is behaving in a manner which makes them a threat to themselves and others, and will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on Sept. 4, Oct. 2, and Nov. 6.
Instructor Mike Pagano is a United States Army veteran who served as an instructor in the Army’s combative program, and has more than 10 years of experience training in and teaching martial arts.
“When an officer has trained in defensive techniques they have the confidence and skill to ensure that potentially dangerous situations do not become violent confrontations,” Pagano said. “An officer who has trained in martial arts creates a safer environment for themselves, their fellow officers, the public, and even the individuals causing the disturbance.”
Miller Brothers Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness has many officers who train in order to learn potentially life-saving skills, including Jersey City Police Department officer Sean Licata.
“I've only been training for a year and it's already one of the best decisions I've ever made for both my professional and personal life,” Licata said. “It has made me a stronger person both mentally and physically.
“It's a very humbling experience. I wish every police officer was training. It would make my life easier as well as the lives of the other police officers. I have used what I have learned at work and it has made myself and whomever I was with safer!”
Attendance at the seminars is open to anyone serving in the law enforcement or corrections fields. For more information on the seminar, or to confirm a place, visit MillerBrothersMMA.com or call 862-268-2660.