A comprehensive new study has analyzed the martial arts training used by law enforcement agencies around the world. The findings show that many countries incorporate grappling arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into their officer defense training programs.
“Countries are recognizing the need to give their officers well-rounded skills for safely subduing suspects,” said lead researcher Emsal Öztürk. “Martial arts like BJJ provide excellent tools for control and restraint with minimal force.”
BJJ is a grappling-based martial art that emphasizes using leverage and technique over strength. Its focus on positional control, joint locks, and chokeholds allows officers to quickly neutralize resistant subjects without striking. Several major police forces, including Brazil, integrate BJJ ground skills.
“In volatile situations, BJJ gives officers an array of methods to get a suspect to the ground and immobilize them without causing unnecessary injury,” explained Öztürk. “That protects both the officer and the detainee.”
| Country | Primary Martial Art | Other Supplementary Martial Arts |
|---|---|---|
| America | Krav Maga | Boxing, Judo, Wrestling, Aikido |
| Canada | Combato | Boxing, Judo, Wrestling |
| Hungary | Krav Maga | Karate, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling |
| Germany | Jiu-Jitsu, Wing Chun, Krav Maga | Judo, Karate |
| France | Savate | Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Karate |
| Italy | Krav Maga | Karate, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling, Aikido |
| Spain | Krav Maga, Keysi | Judo, Karate |
| China | Wushu, Sanshou (Sanda) | Judo, Karate, Wing Chun, Aikido, Kali, Kung Fu |
| India | Army Battle Combatives | Boxing, Wrestling |
| Israel | Krav Maga | Karate, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling, Aikido |
| Korea | Taekkyon, Shippalgi | Kuk Sool Won, Tang Soo Do, Boxing, Kali, Kung Fu, Taekwondo |
| Greece | Pankration, MMA | Kickboxing, Taekwondo, Boxing, Wrestling |
| Russia | Sambo, Systema | Fencing, Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Escrima |
| Bulgaria | Sambo, Systema | Fencing, Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Escrima |
| Cuba | Sambo, Systema | Fencing, Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Escrima |
| Brazil | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | Judo, Karate, Taekwondo |
| Netherlands | Krav Maga | Kickboxing, Wrestling |
| Japan | Taiho Jutsu, Ninjutsu | Judo, Karate, Aikido, Kali, Jujitsu, Taido, Daito-ryu Aiki Jujitsu |
| England | Krav Maga, Goshingwaii, Spear | Karate, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling, Aikido |
| Iran | Krav Maga, MMA | Karate, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling, Aikido |
| Thailand | Muay Thai | Kali, Escrima, Kickboxing |
| Turkey | Police Defensive Tactics | Kickboxing, Wrestling, Wing Chun, Escrima |
Out of the total 22 countries/regions listed, 6 of them specifically mention using BJJ or some form of Jiu-Jitsu in their police training.
So the percentage of countries/regions that use BJJ or Jiu-Jitsu is:
6/22 = 0.2727 or 27.27%
Therefore, approximately 27% of the countries/regions in the list incorporate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Jiu-Jitsu into the martial arts training for their police forces.
The study examined defense systems across 22 countries and found many utilize comprehensive hybrid martial arts tailored for law enforcement. However, most build upon core techniques from arts like Boxing, Judo, Wrestling, and increasingly, BJJ.
“Law enforcement defense isn’t about beating up suspects – it’s about control and de-escalation,” said Öztürk. “BJJ’s grappling tools are ideal for that mission when verbal commands alone fail.”
With its emphasis on safety, positioning, and threat-management, BJJ appears poised to become an ever more important part of police defense training worldwide. Agencies want officers prepared for any situation using the minimum needed force.
