The NYPD is implementing a groundbreaking training program that incorporates Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a specialized form of martial arts, to improve the safety and effectiveness of arrest techniques. This initiative aims to reduce injuries and enhance the overall relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Innovative Training for Officers
On Monday, we got an exclusive look at the new training course at the NYPD Police Academy. Proponents of this method argue that it will significantly enhance the safety of both officers and suspects during arrests. “Jiu-jitsu and wrestling are both sports that utilize minimal force to control a suspect. So by using minimal force, you prevent injuries to suspect civilians and officers,” explained Lt. Kirk Anderson of the Tactical Training Unit.
The NYPD has enlisted world-renowned jiu-jitsu coach Rener Gracie to train about two dozen officers in a new method for restraining noncompliant suspects, even if they are armed. The ultimate goal is to incorporate this method into the Police Academy curriculum and train current officers over the next few years.
Advantages of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Rener Gracie highlighted the benefits of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, emphasizing its safety and effectiveness in law enforcement. “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 explained.
Gracie refers to this technique as “safe wrap” due to the way it involves wrapping the limbs while the suspect is on their side, rather than the conventional method of holding someone chest-down on the ground. This approach minimizes the risk of injury and makes it easier to control a suspect, even for officers who might be smaller in stature.
“A lot of being able to control someone just from the ground … how easy it is to manipulate an arm or leg, especially being a smaller person if you come across someone bigger on the street,” said Officer Kristin Coscia, a tactics instructor. “There have been some restrictions put on officers with diaphragm compressions, so we’re trying to utilize different techniques that will not compromise anyone’s breathing at all,” added Lt. Anderson.
A Step Towards More Reasonable Force
The NYPD’s adoption of the safe wrap system comes in the wake of increased scrutiny and restrictions on the use of force, particularly chokeholds. The Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act bans the use of chokeholds by officers, yet complaints about their use have risen over the past four years, according to the department’s watchdog agency. Trainers believe that the new method will make arrests safer for both suspects and police officers.
“It’s our hope with the safe wrap system cops will get better trained and more effective in the use of force, more reasonable in use of force, so over time we can repair the macro-relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” Gracie stated.
The NYPD’s initiative represents a significant step towards more humane and effective policing, demonstrating a commitment to improving public safety while respecting the rights and well-being of all individuals involved.