By Joanna Putman
Police1
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Body camera video released by the Louisville Metro Police Department shows an officer using Jiu-Jitsu to subdue a suspect, WDRB reported.
According to the arrest citation, the suspect had become belligerent and was being removed from the bar by security on Aug. 18. Police said the suspect then pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the bouncer. Officer Mason Barnes arrived on the scene and saw the suspect arguing with security personnel. When Barnes attempted to detain him, he fled.
Body camera footage released Aug. 19 shows Barnes approaching the suspect, who was walking away. Barnes’ body camera fell off during the encounter. A bystander picked it up and placed it on the ground, capturing the subsequent struggle between Barnes and the suspect.
During the altercation, the suspect briefly gained the upper hand, but Barnes, using his Gracie Survival Tactics training—a form of Jiu-Jitsu tailored for law enforcement—managed to subdue the suspect by trapping him around the neck with his legs until backup arrived to place him in handcuffs.
“Officer Barnes, through his training and decision-making, kind of reversed that. Even being on the bottom, he was in more control than the aggressor,” said Officer Adam Sears, who leads the Gracie Survival Tactics training for the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Sears explained that the training provides officers with more options in such situations, allowing them to effectively control suspects regardless of size differences, without resorting to excessive force, according to the report.
The use of force in law enforcement is a critical and often controversial topic. Traditional methods, such as prone restraint, have come under scrutiny due to their potential for escalating situations and causing harm. As the landscape of policing evolves, there is a growing need for innovative techniques that prioritize safety, effectiveness and de-escalation.
In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley is joined by returning guest Rener Gracie, a prominent figure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the head of Gracie University. Rener introduces the SafeWrap system, a groundbreaking technique developed to address the shortcomings of traditional prone restraint methods used by law enforcement. Listen to the full podcast.