Programs
From the first week of the academy to a full instructor certification, there is a track for every stage of a career and every first responder discipline.
Academy block
Recruit Academy Program
A structured grappling block embedded directly into a department's basic academy. Recruits learn positional control, weapon retention, and how to get back to their feet under pressure, before they ever put on a duty belt.
- 40 hours of mat time integrated into the academy calendar
- Curriculum aligned to state POST control-tactics standards
- Emphasis on weapon retention, standing control, and disengagement
- Skills testing with individual feedback for every recruit
Weekly classes + quarterly blocks
In-Service Officer Training
Weekly and monthly sessions for sworn officers who want to keep their skills sharp. Delivered at partner academies or on-site at the department, and built around the realities of the job: body armor, tight spaces, and a subject who does not want to be controlled.
- Weekly evening classes at host academies, free with a badge
- Quarterly department-wide skills days on site
- Scenario-based rounds in duty gear
- Progress tracking for command staff
Open mat
First Responder Open Mats
Open, coach-led training sessions for every first responder discipline. No experience needed, no gi needed, no cost. Firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers train alongside officers, and the bonds built here carry over onto the scene.
- Saturday open mats at every partner academy
- Beginner-friendly fundamentals track
- Loaner gis and rash guards available
- Family members welcome at monthly community sessions
Cohort
Instructor Certification Pathway
A 12-month track that prepares experienced officers to teach control tactics grounded in jiu-jitsu. Graduates return to their agencies certified to run in-house training, so the program keeps going long after our coaches leave the building.
- 12-month cohort with monthly intensives
- Coaching methodology, safety, and curriculum design
- Supervised teaching hours at partner academies
- Certification recognized by our partner agency network
Your First Month
How it works.
- 01
Show up
Bring a badge or department ID, a t-shirt, and shorts. That's it. Loaner gear is at the desk.
- 02
Learn the fundamentals
Your first sessions are coached technique only: falling, standing up safely, and one control position.
- 03
Train live
When a coach says you're ready, you start live rounds, at your pace, with partners who know how to work with beginners.
- 04
Keep showing up
Two sessions a week is the sweet spot. That's where the injury and use-of-force numbers start to move.
FAQ
Straight answers.
Everything an officer, chief, or donor usually asks before they get involved. Still have a question? We answer every email within two business days.
No Belt Required is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the safety of law enforcement officers, first responders, and the communities they serve through continued martial arts and defensive tactics training. Our mission is to provide practical, ongoing training that builds confidence, improves physical skills, supports mental wellness, and helps first responders better prepare for real world situations.