How does Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu help police officers de-escalate violence?

Jiu-Jitsu teaches officers to close distance, control subjects, and take them to the ground where strikes are less effective. By using leverage and body mechanics, officers can control individuals in a relatively non-violent manner, neutralize their energy, and gain compliance without inflicting lasting injury. This reduces the need for tasers, batons, or firearms.

Why is it dangerous for the public to resist arrest or interfere with police?

From a police officer's perspective, any physical resistance or attempt to overpower them quickly becomes a fight for their weapon. Any time a suspect's hands go out of sight, it's a 'five-alarm fire' as it could mean they are drawing a weapon. The public often lacks the intuition to understand these immediate threats, leading to escalations of force.

What is the 'diaphragm bill' in New York City and why is it controversial?

New York City passed a bill that criminalizes police officers from sitting, kneeling, or standing on a suspect's torso (including back, chest, or abdomen), and prohibits chokeholds. Rener Gracie argues this policy, while well-intentioned, criminalizes the least violent ground control positions, forcing officers to use more violent tactics like punches, tasers, or batons, thus increasing injuries.

Are 'vascular neck restraints' safe for police use?

Vascular neck restraints are widely used safely in martial arts training globally, causing temporary unconsciousness by restricting blood flow, not air. While a very small percentage of deaths have occurred, typically from egregious misuse or pre-existing medical conditions, Rener Gracie argues they are statistically safe when properly applied and can save lives by providing an alternative to deadly force.

What is the '100-second rule' in Jiu-Jitsu for police control?

The '100-second rule' recommends getting a violently resisting suspect on their back and maintaining body-to-body control for approximately 100 seconds. This duration allows the suspect to process the futility of their resistance, breaking their spirit and reducing their hope of escape, which often leads to compliance without further escalation of force or injury.

What are the results of the Marietta Police Department's Jiu-Jitsu program?

The Marietta PD's mandatory weekly Jiu-Jitsu training program led to remarkable results over 18 months: a 23% reduction in taser deployments, a 48% reduction in officer injuries (zero injuries among BJJ-trained officers), and suspects being 53% less likely to sustain serious injuries requiring hospitalization. The department also saved over $40,000 in workman's comp claims.

How is the Marietta model being funded and replicated?

Marietta PD used asset forfeiture funds to pay for officers' weekly training at local civilian Jiu-Jitsu schools, saving more money in reduced workman's comp claims than they spent on training. Other departments and even the Georgia state senate are now considering similar private partnerships and state grant funding to replicate this successful model nationwide.

What challenges does the Gracie University face in expanding police training partnerships?

Gracie University has more inquiries from police departments than it has certified schools in those territories to meet demand. They are actively seeking new civilian Jiu-Jitsu schools to undergo a certification process to become suitable partners for law enforcement agencies, ensuring quality control and adherence to mandated programs.

What is Rener Gracie's professional opinion on the knee-on-neck technique used in the Derek Chauvin case?

From a Jiu-Jitsu perspective, Rener Gracie believes it is absolutely possible for placing a knee on the back of someone's neck, compressing the front of their neck into the ground, to cause enough obstruction to blood flow to lead to loss of consciousness and potentially death if pressure is maintained on an unconscious person. He considers it an indirect but effective neck restraint.

Key Moments

Police Training & Police Misconduct: A Conversation with Rener Gracie (Episode #246)

Sam Harris

Science & Technology4 min read103 min video

Apr 16, 2021|71,094 views|1,528|864

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Rener Gracie discusses Jiu-Jitsu's role in police training for de-escalation and safer suspect control.

Key Insights

Police officers in the US are significantly under-trained in physical control tactics, receiving minimal hours annually.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers a highly effective, leverage-based method for controlling resisting suspects with less risk of injury.

Inadequate training leads to officers resorting to more violent force options due to 'amygdala hijack' and lack of confidence.

The Marietta Police Department's program shows a significant reduction in officer injuries, suspect hospitalizations, and use of force incidents with mandatory BJJ training.

New York's recent legislation criminalizing ground control tactics is counterproductive, potentially incentivizing more violent force.

Comprehensive, consistent training, ideally weekly Jiu-Jitsu, is crucial for improving police performance and public safety.

THE CRISIS OF POLICE TRAINING AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION

The conversation highlights a critical disconnect between public expectations of police conduct and the reality of officer training. Rener Gracie emphasizes that many instances of perceived excessive force stem from officers being drastically under-trained, particularly in physical control tactics. With only a few hours of relevant training per year, officers often face high-stress situations unprepared, leading to 'amygdala hijack' where survival instincts override rational decision-making. This lack of preparedness, rather than inherent malice, is presented as a root cause for escalating force and negative public perception, exacerbated by pervasive recording of incidents.

THE UNIQUE ADVANTAGES OF JIU-JITSU FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, adapted and taught through Gracie University's "Gracie Survival Tactics" (GST), is presented as a highly effective solution. Unlike striking arts that rely on power, Jiu-Jitsu focuses on leverage, distance management, and control, allowing a smaller, weaker individual to subdue a larger, stronger opponent. This art is uniquely suited for law enforcement as it prioritizes controlling a suspect without inflicting unnecessary injury, a stark contrast to the inherent risks associated with batons, tasers, or firearms. The Gracie family's legacy is rooted in proving the efficacy of this method through challenge matches and early UFC events.

THE DEVASTATING REALITY OF MINIMAL ANNUAL TRAINING

The staggering inadequacy of current police training standards is a central theme. In California, officers receive an average of only four hours of 'arrest and control' training every two years, with a fraction of that dedicated to physical grappling. Gracie contrasts this with the training required for professions like cosmetology or barbering, which mandates significantly more hours. This minimal training means officers rarely develop the muscle memory or confidence needed to handle violent encounters non-violently. Even when agencies are taught advanced techniques, the lack of recurrent training renders them largely ineffective, leading to predictable failures in the field.

THE CASE OF MARIETTA: A MODEL FOR REFORM

The Marietta Police Department in Georgia serves as a beacon of hope. Following a viral video of excessive force, the department implemented a mandatory weekly Jiu-Jitsu training program for rookies and later offered it voluntarily to all officers. Over 18 months, this program resulted in a 23% reduction in taser deployments, a 48% decrease in officer injuries (with zero injuries in the trained group), and a staggering 53% reduction in serious suspect injuries requiring hospitalization. The program also proved cost-effective, saving thousands in workers' compensation claims, demonstrating that better training leads to better outcomes both for officers and the public.

THE DETRIMENTAL IMPACT OF WELL-INTENTIONED BUT MISGUIDED LEGISLATION

The detrimental effects of poorly conceived policy are starkly illustrated by recent legislation in New York. Laws criminalizing common ground control positions like the 'mount' or 'side control' force officers into untenable situations. By disallowing the least violent methods of control, these laws indirectly incentivize the use of more dangerous tools like tasers and firearms. The conversation argues that such legislation stems from a misunderstanding of police training realities and martial arts principles, potentially leading to increased violence and discouraging officers from de-escalating situations effectively.

THE '100-SECOND RULE' AND THE PATH FORWARD

Rener Gracie proposes the '100-second rule' as a core principle for law enforcement: gain and maintain control of a suspect in a supine position (on their back) for approximately 100 seconds. This period allows the suspect to process their situation, realize escape is futile, and potentially become compliant, thereby reducing the need for escalation. This strategy, rooted in demonstrating Jiu-Jitsu's control without aggression, is contrasted with less effective pain compliance techniques that fail under duress. The success in Marietta and the growing interest from other departments suggest a viable path toward professionalizing police use-of-force training nationwide.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Software & Apps

●Organizations

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Marietta Police Department: Impact of Weekly Jiu-Jitsu Training (18 Months)

Data extracted from this episode

Metric	Pre-Program (18 months)	Post-Program (18 months)	Change (BJJ Trained Group)	Overall Department Change
In-dojo injuries in 2600 classes (95 officers)	N/A	1 (cracked nose)	N/A	N/A
Taser Deployments	77 (non-BJJ groups)	54 (BJJ trained group)	-23%	N/A
Officer Injuries in the field	29	15	0 (in BJJ group)	-48%
Workman's comp claims saved	N/A	$66,752	N/A	N/A
Net savings for agency	N/A	Over $40,000 (after training costs)	N/A	N/A
Suspect serious injuries (requiring hospitalization)	N/A	53% less likely (if arrested by BJJ officer)	-53%	N/A

Common Questions

The average police officer in California receives only four hours of arrest and control training every two years, with perhaps one hour dedicated to physical control tactics. This severe under-training leads to officers resorting to excessive force due to a perceived loss of control in violent situations. Other states have similar minimal requirements, leading to a national problem of under-equipped officers.

Topics

Human Performance Mindset & Self-Improvement Society & Philosophy Police Training Police Misconduct Use Of Force De-escalation Tactics Officer Safety Public Perception Of Policing Martial Arts For Law Enforcement

Mentioned in this video

People

Sam Harris

Host of the Making Sense podcast, discussing police violence and jiu-jitsu's relevance.

Ryron Gracie

Rener Gracie's brother and co-instructor, also highly skilled in teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for law enforcement.

Derek Chauvin

Former police officer involved in the George Floyd case, whose trial for the killing of George Floyd is noted as a relevant, calamitous event impacting public perception of policing.

Kim Potter

The police officer who accidentally drew her firearm instead of her taser, resulting in the fatal shooting of Dante Wright.

Royce Gracie

Rener Gracie's uncle, who won the first UFC tournaments, astonishing spectators with his jiu-jitsu prowess against larger, stronger opponents.

Bill de Blasio

The former Mayor of New York City who signed into law the 'diaphragm bill,' criminalizing certain police control tactics.

Jake King

A Major at Marietta Police Department who championed and orchestrated the implementation of the mandatory weekly Jiu-Jitsu training program for officers, leading to its significant success.

Dante Wright

Motorist shot and killed by a police officer in Minnesota, whose case highlighted risks associated with police reliance on tasers and accidental firearm discharge.

Rorion Gracie

Rener Gracie's father, who brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to America in 1978 and co-created the UFC to showcase its effectiveness.

Anthony Bruno

An off-duty firefighter who was fatally shot by Officer Donald Hubbard during a struggle, after attacking a cab driver while intoxicated.

Elio Gracie

Rener Gracie's grandfather and co-creator of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, who modified Japanese techniques to suit his smaller physique, making the art effective for smaller individuals.

Art Davie

Rorion Gracie's partner and co-creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

George Floyd

Individual whose killing by police officer Derek Chauvin became a shocking instance of police misconduct and a central point of discussion regarding police violence and public perception.

Carlos Gracie

Rener Gracie's granduncle, who learned Japanese Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil and passed it on to his brother Elio Gracie.

Dana White

Credited with helping to make the UFC a sanctioned spectator sport on regular television after an early phase of ownership changes.

Donald Hubbard

A Kansas City police officer who fatally shot a suspect while being physically assaulted on the ground, a case highlighted by Rener Gracie as an example of deadly force resulting from insufficient training.

Art Jimmerson

A boxer who fought Royce Gracie in UFC 1 and tapped out from Royce's mount position without a submission, demonstrating the psychological impact of effective control.

Rener Gracie

A third-generation member of the Gracie family and chief instructor at Gracie University, an expert in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and police training.

Concepts

Gracie Survival Tactics

A week-long, 40-hour certification course offered by Gracie University to law enforcement, teaching non-violent jiu-jitsu techniques for officer and suspect safety.

Mounted position

A dominant grappling position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where one combatant sits on the opponent's torso; criminalized by a new bill in New York City, which Rener Gracie argues is counterproductive.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

A martial art credited to the Gracie family, uniquely effective for apprehending and controlling suspects without significant injury due to its focus on grappling and leverage.

Back mount

A dominant grappling position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where one combatant is on the opponent's back, controlling their upper body; criminalized by a new bill in New York City.

Side control

A dominant grappling position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where one combatant lies perpendicular across the opponent's torso; criminalized by a new bill in New York City.

Software & Apps

Rear Naked Choke

Also known as a vascular neck restraint, a highly effective and generally safe submission technique in Jiu-Jitsu that causes temporary unconsciousness by restricting blood flow to the brain, which has been debated and removed from police use-of-force policies in some areas.

Locations

Peachtree City, Georgia

A city in Georgia whose police department has signed a contract with Gracie University for Jiu-Jitsu training, indicating growing adoption of the successful Marietta model.

New York City

A city that passed a bill criminalizing certain ground control tactics for police officers, including mount and side control, which Rener Gracie argues will lead to more violent arrests.

Marietta, Georgia

The location of the Marietta Police Department, which is leading the way in police training reform by implementing a weekly Jiu-Jitsu program.

Organizations

California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training

The state body that sets the minimum training requirements for police officers in California, criticized for its low number of required hours compared to other professions.

Marietta Police Department

A police department in Marietta, Georgia, that implemented a successful mandatory weekly Jiu-Jitsu training program for its officers, resulting in significant reductions in officer and suspect injuries and cost savings.

Gracie University

A global Jiu-Jitsu organization headquartered in Southern California, with over 180 physical locations and 300,000 online students, focused on teaching self-defense and law enforcement professionals.

Roswell Police Department

A police department that has signed a contract to partner with Gracie University for Jiu-Jitsu training, following the success of the Marietta model.