Originally published by U.S. News & World Report. Read the full article.
When Police Sgt. Josh Liedke puts on his gi, the two-piece uniform worn in martial arts, for an hour of Brazilian jiujitsu sparring, he practices a form of mindfulness, or being present in the moment.
“When you come here, you focus on nothing but the mat and your technique,” the 21-year law enforcement veteran says, catching his breath after several rounds of intense rolling, arm bars, back takes and leg locks.
During that hour, Liedke doesn’t think about his high-stress job in a unit that combats drug and gang crime. He doesn’t think about the sounds, smells and sights of violence and suffering.
“You just pay attention to the moves,” he says. “And you also get a great workout in.”
Liedke, 42, with a trimmed beard and relaxed smile, serves in the Marietta Police Department, in a city about 20 miles northwest of Atlanta. The department, with approximately 140 sworn officers, has garnered attention with an approach that builds Brazilian jiujitsu, or BJJ, into its training curriculum. It’s a requirement for all new hires and strongly encouraged for veteran officers.
A main argument: BJJ helps improve officers’ physical and mental health, as well as resilience. As a result, officers use lesser force during an arrest. Three years into the effort, “our overall use of force is down,” says Maj. Jake King, who initiated the program. For the Georgia agency, Brazilian jiujitsu has become a de-escalation tool.
