Trending Topics

NYPD incorporates jiu-jitsu training for safer ground restraints

Martial arts trainers are teaching officers the SafeWrap technique, which will allow officers to restrain a suspect on the ground without compressing their chest

By Joanna Putman
Police1

NEW YORK — The NYPD has begun training officers in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a specialized martial art, to improve safety during arrests, CBS New York reported.

Trending
“We have more volunteers than I could even imagine. And without them, we could not be where we are with the progress we have made… Black Mountain strong,” a police official said
The man initially fled a traffic stop after speeding down a roadway before breaking into an ex-girlfriend’s home with a gun and committing two carjackings
Legislators are planning to introduce a bill that would create a “law enforcement arm” within the cannabis oversight agency of the state Regulation and Licensing Department
Phoenix officers’ body camera video shows the officer using what appeared to be a gardening tool to rescue the man

“Jiu-jitsu and wrestling are both sports that utilize minimal force to control a suspect. By using minimal force, you prevent injuries to suspects, civilians and officers,” Lt. Kirk Anderson of the Tactical Training Unit told CBS.

Jiu-jitsu coach Rener Gracie has been brought in to train about two dozen officers in a new method for restraining noncompliant suspects, even if they are armed, according to the report. The goal is for these trainers to incorporate the method into the Police Academy curriculum and teach current officers.

Gracie is working with the officers on a move he calls the SafeWrap, he told CBS. The new restraint hold involves wrapping the limbs while the suspect is on their side, rather than the traditional chest-to-the-ground technique.

“There is no joint lock, no pressure point, no chokehold and no compression of lungs or diaphragm, so it’s the safest method of two-on-one restraint that has ever existed in law enforcement,” Gracie said.


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.


JIU-JITSU FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
Aside from the obvious benefits of the art itself, we are only beginning to tap into the full potential of what Jiu-Jitsu offers law enforcement officers
SWAT
The level of control needed during this martial art is the same as when responding on a SWAT call
Law enforcement must capitalize on the proven effectiveness of grappling arts to control combative suspects
A world-renowned martial arts expert argues why cops must be adequately trained in defensive tactics
A program at the Pasco Police Department aims to explore techniques that may be more effective than what is taught at the academy
Exploring the unique considerations when coaching BJJ to law enforcement personnel, focusing on weapon retention, transitioning to cuffing and strategic disengagement