#171 After Dark - Knives, Combatives & Changing The Game In Law Enforcement Training w/ Wild Bill Braski

Welcome back to another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast!

Today, I’m sitting down with someone who’s not only a good friend, but one of the sharpest dudes I’ve come across in the training space — Wild Bill Braski.

If you’re on Instagram, you might already know the name. Bill is a military veteran and a full-time law enforcement officer who works directly in the training unit at his agency on the East Coast. He’s also a major voice in the combatives world and the founder of the Wild Bill Braski Knife & Tool Company — a brand built for real-world operators, not keyboard commandos.

In this episode, we dig into how Bill approaches training inside his agency and how that’s influenced neighboring departments. His work is making a noticeable impact.

We talk process, leadership, and what it takes to get real buy-in when pushing for progress in a culture that can be notoriously resistant to change. There’s a lot of wisdom here for trainers, cops, and anyone leading people through hard problems.

We also get into his gear company and the mission behind the knives and tools he’s building — why he started it, what makes his gear different, and how he’s designing with the end user in mind. I own a couple of his tools myself, and I can say firsthand — they’re the real deal.

This episode is packed with insight, a few laughs, and a whole lot of straight talk. 

Whether you’re in law enforcement, the military, or just someone who respects the people doing the hard jobs the right way — this one’s worth your time.

Enjoy the show!

-

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

06:17 Wild Bill’s Military & Law Enforcement Journey

16:21 Evolution Of Combatives & Training Philosophy

22:25 Building Effective Training Programs

31:29 Why Realistic Training Matters

48:36 Integrating Firearms With Combatives

50:03 The Pyramid Of Hard Skills

1:03:43 Measuring Success In Law Enforcement Training

1:08:42 Navigating Public Perception

1:19:53 Launching A Knife & Tool Company

1:26:46 Craftsmanship & Community Connection

1:40:58 The Value Of Combatives Summits

-

Red Dot Fitness Training Programs:
rdfprograms.com

Online Membership (Full Access To All Programs & Virtual Coaching):
https://www.reddotfitness.net/online-membership

Virtual Coaching:
https://www.reddotfitness.net/virtual-coaching

Self-Guided Programs:
https://www.reddotfitness.net/Self-Guided-Programs1

Connect With Us:
Website - https://ironsightspodcast.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ironsightspodcast/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/