Marietta Police Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Program: Reported 2020 Outcomes
Research Snapshot
Marietta Police Department reported that officers participating in its Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program experienced:
- 48% fewer officer injuries during use-of-force incidents
- 53% fewer injuries to people being arrested when force was required
- 23% less Taser use
These figures came from one department’s comparison of participating and nonparticipating officers during 2020. They do not prove that another department will achieve the same results.
Program Characteristics
The Marietta Police Department implemented a recurring training program with specific structural elements that supported the 2020 comparison:
- Outside Instructor: The training was provided by a qualified outside Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor.
- Paid Officer Time: The department compensated participating officers for their time spent in BJJ classes.
- Class Coverage: The department covered class costs directly, ensuring zero financial barrier to participation.
- Frequency: The department reported that new officers attended at least one BJJ session weekly, and existing officers could attend as many as three classes each week.
- Evaluation Method: The department compared BJJ participants directly with officers who did not participate during the year 2020. The evaluation specifically focused on officer injuries, arrestee injuries, and Taser usage.
Important Limitations
When reviewing these outcomes, agencies and practitioners must recognize key parameters of the Marietta report:
Operational Comparison: This was a department-reported operational comparison, not a randomized controlled study.
Data Scope: The published material does not provide the complete sample size, statistical calculations, officer assignment method, incident severity, or all possible confounding factors.
Agency Example: Sensei Sandy BJJ presents these figures as a documented agency example, not as a guaranteed result.
Application to Sensei Sandy BJJ
Sensei Sandy BJJ does not reproduce Marietta Police Department’s program. The Marietta example helps explain why agencies may explore recurring grappling practice.
Any Sensei Sandy agency pilot requires a separate discussion of department policy, training objectives, participant safety, equipment, supervision, and New York state requirements.
Source Record
The original documentation is preserved in the following metadata registry to maintain attribution integrity:
| Organization | Marietta Police Department |
|---|---|
| Publication | BJJ Training Data Documents Reduction in Injuries |
| Published | February 8, 2021 |
| Data Period Discussed | 2020 |
| Last Source Check | 2026-07-14 |
| Source Status | Redirecting |
The original source link has redirected from its older address to a CivicPlus News Flash location.
View the original Marietta Police Department publication