BELLVILLE — National Cor-
rectional Officers Week ended on May 11, and the Austin Coun - ty Sheriff's Office recognized the Austin County Jail division for completing a Defensive Tac - tics course held by Sgt. Rocky Bustamante of the Austin County Sheriff's Office. The course centered around Gracie Survival Tactics Level 1 (GST) Brazilian jiu-jitsu, is a tes - tament to the increasing risks the correctional officers face within the jails. Jiu-Jitsu equips them with an effective method to safe -
ly resolve altercations, preventing them from escalating to inhu - mane and/or excessive levels. According to published data at agencies in the United States, regular jiu-jitsu practice has re - vealed a reduction in officer field injuries by as much as 48 percent and a reduction in subject inju -
ries by as much as 53 percent. The Austin County Sheriff's Of - fice will continue to provide the best training for their men and women on the front line. Gratitude was also expressed to Gus Pennison for allowing the sheriff's office to use his gym at the Eclipse Tae Kwon-Do in Bellville.
