The Lynnwood Police Department in Washington state is embracing martial arts by incorporating mandatory jiu-jitsu training in an effort to better equip officers with more skills to de-escalate a situation without resorting to lethal force. 

Lynnwood Police Chief Jim Nelson said that more training is necessary to keep officers fresh.

“By and large, after the [police] academy that training diminishes significantly. And it’s a perishable skill,” Nelson told KOMO News.

In an unprecedented training requirement for law enforcement, Nelson has assigned all of his department — around 90 officers and command staff — to receive two hours of training every month over the next two years. The chief is also included in that training requirement.

Nelson said that after the training is complete, steps will be taken to analyze the results and determine the efficacy of the training in order to justify its continuation. Currently, funding for the training is covered by the police training budget. 

According to a spokesperson for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Lynnwood is the first police department to mandate such training, and believes it should be more widespread. Other departments around the country — including in Mesa, Arizona, and Marietta, Georgia — have announced voluntary jiu-jitsu training for officers.

Martial arts instructor and 19-year police veteran Kyle McCutchen said the rigorous training is unusual among law enforcement: “It’s pretty unique. I’m pretty connected in the training world and I don’t know anywhere else that is doing it to this degree.”

McCutchen is co-owner of Kindred Jiu-Jitsu, where the training sessions are held. He said the training will improve officers’ defensive abilities, which can increase officer safety and the safety of a detainee when making an arrest. Additionally, it will also help with de-escalation — if you know you have the skills to fall back on, you can stay calm longer. 

“It’s a grappling martial art [and] in its most basic form it’s self-defense,” McCutchen said. “It’s a martial art that can be done safely [and] you can practice with great resistance. We have a responsibility to not injure the person we are trying to take into custody.”

Officers involved told KOMO News that they are already seeing positive effects, including increased confidence and bonding with fellow officers. They also noted that the training is great exercise and keeps them fit. 

The idea isn’t to teach officers how to throw a punch; it’s about protecting themselves from a punch. 

McCutchen said jiu-jitsu, which mostly relies on grappling, can be helpful when making arrests and dealing with a resisting suspect, as it gives officers a means to gain control without using deadly force. 

Lynnwood Officer Brooke Silveira agreed. “It’s fun and it’s a good way to add a tool to the toolbox. It’s another option besides force,” she said.

Nelson said that by adding more options, officers will not feel cornered into escalating to violence.

“Your mind can shut down and it goes to strictly to protection mode,” Nelson said. “We want to keep our officers out of that as much as possible and provide them the opportunity and tools to do that. And that’s what we’re trying to work through here.”

The police chief added that he hopes the community will see the training as a commitment
to protecting civilians and reducing police use of force in the future.

The Lynnwood Police Department in Washington state is embracing martial arts by incorporating mandatory jiu-jitsu training in an effort to better equip officers with more skills to de-escalate a situation without resorting to lethal force. 

Lynnwood Police Chief Jim Nelson said that more training is necessary to keep officers fresh.

“By and large, after the [police] academy that training diminishes significantly. And it’s a perishable skill,” Nelson told KOMO News.

In an unprecedented training requirement for law enforcement, Nelson has assigned all of his department — around 90 officers and command staff — to receive two hours of training every month over the next two years. The chief is also included in that training requirement.

Nelson said that after the training is complete, steps will be taken to analyze the results and determine the efficacy of the training in order to justify its continuation. Currently, funding for the training is covered by the police training budget. 

According to a spokesperson for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Lynnwood is the first police department to mandate such training, and believes it should be more widespread. Other departments around the country — including in Mesa, Arizona, and Marietta, Georgia — have announced voluntary jiu-jitsu training for officers.

Martial arts instructor and 19-year police veteran Kyle McCutchen said the rigorous training is unusual among law enforcement: “It’s pretty unique. I’m pretty connected in the training world and I don’t know anywhere else that is doing it to this degree.”

McCutchen is co-owner of Kindred Jiu-Jitsu, where the training sessions are held. He said the training will improve officers’ defensive abilities, which can increase officer safety and the safety of a detainee when making an arrest. Additionally, it will also help with de-escalation — if you know you have the skills to fall back on, you can stay calm longer. 

“It’s a grappling martial art [and] in its most basic form it’s self-defense,” McCutchen said. “It’s a martial art that can be done safely [and] you can practice with great resistance. We have a responsibility to not injure the person we are trying to take into custody.”

Officers involved told KOMO News that they are already seeing positive effects, including increased confidence and bonding with fellow officers. They also noted that the training is great exercise and keeps them fit. 

The idea isn’t to teach officers how to throw a punch; it’s about protecting themselves from a punch. 

McCutchen said jiu-jitsu, which mostly relies on grappling, can be helpful when making arrests and dealing with a resisting suspect, as it gives officers a means to gain control without using deadly force. 

Lynnwood Officer Brooke Silveira agreed. “It’s fun and it’s a good way to add a tool to the toolbox. It’s another option besides force,” she said.

Nelson said that by adding more options, officers will not feel cornered into escalating to violence.

“Your mind can shut down and it goes to strictly to protection mode,” Nelson said. “We want to keep our officers out of that as much as possible and provide them the opportunity and tools to do that. And that’s what we’re trying to work through here.”

The police chief added that he hopes the community will see the training as a commitment
to protecting civilians and reducing police use of force in the future.