Broken Arrow PD Now Offering Free Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Classes to Officers: 'Just to make themselves a better officer,'

The Broken Arrow Police Department is the first department in the state to offer Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes to its officers.

How does training Officers in Jiu Jitsu work?

Three days a week, anyone in the department can take a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class at Triton Fight Center in Tulsa, completely free. 

The classes are one hour, and they can participate during their shifts, or if they train on their off day, they can take an hour off another shift.

"This isn't something that's mandatory. It's not required. So any officer that comes to this class is doing it by their own will, you know, and that, to me, shows that they're willing to step up and receive extra training just to make themselves a better officer," said Detective Eric Bentz, Broken Arrow Police Department Captain.

Officers can use this training towards their CLEET credit for the year and earn belts within the sport.

About 30 BAPD Officers are participating in the program, and the department hopes more will join, and the program will bring in more recruits.

The benefits of Jiu Jitsu for Law Enforcement

Detective Eric Bentz and another BAPD Captain, Steve Smith, helped put this program together because they've seen the benefits firsthand.

"When I was a patrol officer, and, like I said, I had a bunch of martial arts experience. I didn't really ever, you know, go to my pepper spray or my taser, because I knew I could handle people," said Bentz.

The Broken Arrow Police Department says these Jiu Jitsu classes could help officers use their weapons less, by controlling people using techniques that would keep both the officer and the other person from getting hurt. 

"There's situations where you have to go from non-lethal to lethal, so hopefully if we can go into non-lethal apprehensions and controlling tactics it allows both parties to go home with minimum side effects or injuries for that matter."

"Even if that person is bigger or stronger or younger than them, because it uses techniques and leverage, not so much just brute strength, to control somebody. So that evolves over into police work really well," said Bentz.

Detective Eric Bentz says Jiu Jitsu also plays a big role in building confidence and improving mental health.

"It starts to build a level of confidence, because when you step on the mats and and you don't know anything, but then over time you progress, and you get better, we're practicing with other officers, but when you're able to control another officer, it's just a confidence boost," said Bentz.