New Jersey BJJ Academy Offering Free Training To Blue Belt For Law Enforcement

June 5, 2020

In the wake of nationwide calls for law enforcement reform, we reported on a BJJ Academy in Louisiana offering free training to law enforcement officers. The belief being that with increased training in grappling, officers will be able to more peacefully perform their duties. Today, the cause is being emulated in southern New Jersey.

Chris Noonan of The Hive Martial Arts Academy has offered free instruction to local LEO’s up to blue belt. The former top ten rooster weight announced the new initiative in an Instagram post earlier today.

View this post on Instagram

We believe that a change is necessary. We stand with those fighting for equal rights. We also support our officers who put themselves in harms way on a daily basis. We will be following the lead our friends at @logicphilly have taken, and offer FREE TRAINING to all LEO from White to Blue Belt. This isn’t a 6 weeks course. It takes a couple of years to earn a Blue Belt from our Head Instructor. We want to use our platform and our small sphere of influence to better connect our officers to our community. To help them build real skills and confidence to protect themselves, and our community. Jiu Jitsu is a unique ecosystem that brings people from all walks of life together. People that would never have an opportunity to interact in their lives find common ground, and form real and meaningful connections. We choose to stand and be the change we wish to see in the world. 💛🐝

A post shared by The Hive Martial Arts Academy (@thehivemartialarts) on Jun 5, 2020 at 7:35am PDT

While the conversation is FAR from over, efforts like these continue to prove that BJJ can bring people together in the name of self improvement. With BJJ constantly being used for self defense by civilians, the only shame is that third parties are needed to educate the people who should be receiving this training at this outset.

The JJT will follow the issue as it develops.