Rener Gracie recently put his “SafeWrap System” to the test against one of jiu-jitsu’s most notoriously difficult opponents to control – world champion Jeff Glover.
The video, which has been making waves across social media platforms, shows Glover – known for his exceptional mobility and escape abilities – attempting to break free from Gracie‘s restraint system, which is currently being marketed to law enforcement agencies and healthcare institutions.
“I don’t believe in Rener Gracie or the safe wrap system and I want to try it out today,” Glover states at the beginning of the demonstration, setting the stage for what would become a genuine challenge to Gracie‘s technique.
Despite Glover‘s 20+ years of jiu-jitsu experience and reputation for being “extremely squirmy and hard to hold down,” the SafeWrap control proved effective. After an exhaustive effort to escape, Glover acknowledged the system’s effectiveness.
“I tried all my 20 years of squirmy guy jiu-jitsu to squirm out right now,” Glover admitted after the demonstration. “I wasn’t able to hit them… All I got was frustration and exhaustion. I was exhausted, but still able to breathe.”
The SafeWrap System, which Gracie has filed a patent application for (#63/647,962), is essentially a rebranded version of the “gift wrap” position, a common technique in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie is marketing it as a proprietary system designed specifically for law enforcement and healthcare professionals who need to safely restrain individuals.
According to Gracie, the system “was created in response to inquiries from healthcare institutions that needed a way to safely restrain aggressive, suicidal, or emotionally disturbed patients in hospitals.” He emphasizes that it uses “no joint locks, no choke holds, and no strikes” and is designed to “minimize compression of the diaphragm to facilitate free breathing.”
What makes the demonstration particularly noteworthy is Glover‘s candid assessment.
“I don’t think any two cops in the world could hold me down prone without punching me or hurting me first. I don’t care who they are unless they’re using the safe wrap,” he stated after testing the technique.
The collaboration between Glover and the Gracies has generated significant interest in the BJJ community, with many social media users expressing surprise at seeing these figures working together. One commenter noted it was “The collab we’ve been waiting for,” while another called Glover “a true warrior” who “gave every ounce he had.”
However, not everyone is convinced by the demonstration. Some critics point out that Glover was restrained by two highly trained Gracie black belts who are larger than him, questioning whether average law enforcement officers with minimal training could achieve the same results. As one user commented, “Try that with two average officers trained in this method while in full uniform.”
Rener Gracie‘s efforts to market and patent the SafeWrap have sparked debate within the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community. Some view it as an attempt to monetize a common technique, as organizations must pay licensing fees to implement the system, though Gracie has stated the license “is currently free for all military, law enforcement, and first responder organizations.”
Whether the SafeWrap System will revolutionize restraint techniques in law enforcement and healthcare settings remains to be seen, but the endorsement from a skeptical expert like Glover certainly adds credibility to Gracie‘s claims.
