FRAMINGHAM -- They're volunteers, giving up an average of 15 to 20 hours a month to work as auxiliary police officers in town.

On Wednesdays, about half of the 25 volunteer officers actually spend money to make themselves better cops by training at the Nick Cerio's Kenpo Studios on Rte. 135.

They do it, auxiliary police Capt. Marc Spigel said, because they want to be the best they can be while they have the uniform on.

"To be able to have a good understanding of defensive tactics is good for your own safety and for the public safety," said Spigel, who works at a software company and has been an auxiliary officer for 18 years.

"The better trained we are, the better we're able to do the job," he said.

The auxiliary officers aren't required to do the training, paying $70 a month of their own money to take the classes.

Hanshi Craig Seavey, a 9th-degree black belt and head instructor at the studio, said he teaches all law enforcement officers, whether they are auxiliary, full-time or federal marshalls, in ways to fight smart in close situations.

"I teach these guys as if they're regular police," said Seavey. "I'm teaching them strategy -- generic close-quarter techniques they can use in their job. It's all hands on."

The auxiliary officers decided they wanted to take classes after they attended seminars in January and February, Spigel said.

"When we were in the seminars, we realized the defensive moves were very good, but we couldn't retain it," he said. "So we approached him (Seavey) about this class."

During last night's class, the students practiced defending themselves if someone attempted to grab their guns. They also learned how to defend themselves if someone tried to push or grab at them.

Auxiliary Officer Bryant Tarr said learning the techniques has given him more confidence.

"Mentally, you feel the difference," said Tarr, a podiatrist in his daily life. "I already feel more secure. If someone goes for my gun, I'm pretty sure I can stop them."

Tom Levinson, a 10-year member of the auxiliary force, said the training made him realize what his strengths and weaknesses are.

"It's making me exercise more," he said. "It made me rethink my limitations. It makes me realize I have to get out walking, and working up to running and lifting weights."

Both Phil Bird and Tom McCarthy said they hope to join the full-force department in the future, and said they hope this helps them.

"It helps with the awareness of the different attacks, different angles they can come from," Bird said.

"Being in law enforcement, you need training to make you better," McCarthy said.

There are also full-time officers who take the Wednesday class, and they said they get a lot from the training.

"You can never have enough training," said Westborough Officer Kris Haws. "This is good to prepare for that one time. I hope to never have to resort to it."

But Ashland Officer Gregg Wildman said you have to be prepared.

"That one time can come at anytime in any town," he said. "It's nice to know you can do something if someone throws a punch or tries to grapple with you."

Seavey said he's impressed by all of the officers, especially the auxiliary officers, who take their time to study martial arts.

"What impressed me about this is not what they're doing here, but what they do every day," said Seavey. "This is all volunteer for them, no one is making them do it."

Framingham Police Lt. Lou Griffith said the volunteer officers training on their own speaks volumes of how seriously they take the job.

"It just shows their dedication to better serve their community," said Griffith. "This is on their own volition. This goes beyond what we would have ever expected."