FLEOA 111 Project

05/18/2026

Last week, the FLEOA 111 Project had the privilege and honor to attend the Knife Control Concepts law enforcement program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. It was four days of intense, meaningful knife defense training with Aaron Jannetti and Eli Knight, who are amazing, knowledgeable, and passionate instructors. They even took time away from knife training to privately share some of their favorite jiu-jitsu techniques with us.

We are grateful for this experience and highly recommend visiting their website to attend a class. You will not regret it.

https://www.knifecontrolconcepts.com/

05/03/2026

Did you know that in a galaxy far, far away, Darth Vader is a legit BJJ black belt? His instructional is on sale now at BJJ Fanatics for $299. Get it before the IBJJF bans these high-level submissions.

It's true. All of it. And while many of us at the FLEOA 111 Project believe that May 4th, Star Wars Day, should be a national holiday to commemorate the rebellion, it is not. So go train. May the Fourth be with you.

04/30/2026

Like jiu-jitsu techniques, teaching is a skill that must be learned, practiced, and continuously improved. A martial artist’s jiu-jitsu talent has no bearing on their ability to teach beyond establishing credibility and a robust knowledge base.

Fortunately, decades of social science, psychology, and neuroscience research provides practical teaching strategies to enhance learning. This six-part series will apply the research to jiu-jitsu instruction and empower instructors to achieve optimal learning with maximum memory retention.

Parts 1 and 2 explain the importance of applying science to instruction, identify the types of learners instructors must address, and apply the science to create a teaching methodology — a systematic process for delivering techniques. Parts 1 and 2 are available now at this link:

https://fleoa111project.org/2026/04/23/the-science-of-teaching-jiu-jitsu-parts-1-2-mass-appeal-and-methodology/

Parts 3 through 6 will be released in upcoming weeks.

04/20/2026

IMAGES & TRAINING EVALUATIONS

Huge thanks to everyone who traveled from across the country to train with us at the FLEOA 111 Project Jiu-Jitsu for Law Enforcement Seminar in South Carolina at Chango Brazilian Jiu Jitsu! We are grateful for the opportunity to share jiu-jitsu with fellow law enforcement officers. Here are some photo highlights from the mats, plus real feedback from the student training evaluations:

“The instruction was literally the best I’ve ever experienced.”

“The instructors were amazing, probably the best jiu-jitsu instruction I have ever received.”

“I had more fun than I could have ever imagined.”

“The instructors, and instruction, were far beyond my expectation. I was beyond hesitant about attending this training. Your training has made me a better instructor. For that, I am eternally grateful.”

“Outstanding seminar in every aspect. Brian and Felecia were great individually and as a team. They played off each other very well, making the classes fun and interesting. Their enthusiasm for jiu jitsu was infectious.”

“This seminar truly altered my life for the better. I never thought about joining a BJJ gym until attending the first seminar in Indiana. Now, for the past 15 months I have actively participated in training at minimum 3x a week. It’s almost an obsession at this point.”

“One of the most enjoyable trainings I’ve attended. Brian has been an incredible instructor and Felecia’s ability to specifically connect with the female students was truly impressive. You could see how much they respect her. As a team, you all are inspiring.”

“The facility was great, the instructors were FANTASTIC, and the curriculum was very helpful to my job.”

04/18/2026

The April 2026 Newsletter is available now! To receive your copy, subscribe here:

https://fleoa111project.org/subscribe/

04/10/2026

💥 Seminar Announcement 💥

The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the Western District of Virginia is hosting the FLEOA 111 Project for a two-day jiu-jitsu seminar in Roanoke on September 2 and 3, 2026.

This FREE training is open to agency physical tactics and safety instructors. No jiu-jitsu experience is required, as our students range from complete beginners to black belts. All are welcome!

Training runs 0830-1700 daily at the U.S. Courthouse in Roanoke. This training was carefully planned to be budget-friendly; the training venue is within walking distance of the hotel and local restaurants, and the airport is only a short Uber ride away.

Join us for an informative, physically challenging, and fun training experience.

Register soon! Spots are limited!

Hosted by the Western District of Virginia September 2 and 3, 2026 On September 2 and 3, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the Western District of Virginia will host a national ji…

04/07/2026

Federal Injury Centers is a major sponsor of the FLEOA 111 Project. Like us, they are strong advocates for federal law enforcement officers and other federal employees who are injured on the job.

Injured on the job as a federal employee? Federal Injury Centers specializes in helping injured federal workers secure the medical care and benefits they deserve.

They support federal employees with:

* Expert medical treatment for workplace injuries
* Free OWCP claims assistance and case management
* Help getting denied claims approved
* Support to return to work as quickly and safely as possible

Their experienced team understands the federal workers’ compensation system and is committed to providing respectful, high-quality care.

If you or someone you know has suffered a work-related injury, we highly recommend reaching out to Federal Injury Centers.

Visit: https://www.federalinjurycenters.com/

Thank you to Federal Injury Centers for their continued support of our mission and for helping federal workers when it matters most.

03/30/2026

It’s easy to look at a title like "Lead Instructor" and think you know the scope of someone's job. But when it comes to Brian Bowers and the FLEOA 111 Project, that title barely scratches the surface.

For the incredible seminar we just wrapped up in Charleston at Chango Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Brian was the engine keeping absolutely everything running. He isn't just teaching; he is the website designer, social media manager, head of marketing, program developer, government contractor liaison, payment processor, curriculum developer, and swag designer. Honestly, I’m sure there are a dozen other hats he wore that I’m forgetting.

Over the last six months, Brian has quietly poured full-time hours into making this event a reality. The simple truth is, this week in Charleston would not have happened without his relentless, behind-the-scenes dedication.

The gratitude and debt we owe Brian for his selfless service to the FLEOA 111 Project—and to the officers it serves—is immense and cannot be repaid.

Thank you, Brian, for everything you do.

Sincerely,

Felecia, Larry, and Dave

03/28/2026

The 2026 FLEOA 111 Project Jiu-Jitsu for Law Enforcement Seminar in Charleston, South Carolina, was a huge success thanks to the 50 state and federal law enforcement officers who traveled from all over the country to participate in two days of amazing training. President/co-founder Larry Cosme and co-founder Dave Balsamo managed a fantastic training led by Lead Instructor Brian Bowers and Vice President Felecia Bowers. Juan Cosme, a longtime 111 Project advocate, also provided tremendous support and encouragement.

Special thanks to Professor Chris Popdan and Chango Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for being amazing hosts and for providing support to the 111 Project, as well as coaching and encouragement for students. The success of the seminar owes much to your gracious and selfless contributions.

Thank you to the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) for their ongoing support, as well as our sponsors and partners who make these trainings possible:

Federal Injury Centers
ProFeds
FedImpact Retirement Workshops by ProFeds
Blauer

Our mission to promote jiu-jitsu among law enforcement officers depends on our generous sponsors, but success is only possible with the dedicated students who filled the mats this week.

If you or your agency would like to host a seminar, contact us at [email protected] and read more about it here:

https://fleoa111project.org/export-training/

Thanks to everyone involved!

02/22/2026

* ADDITIONAL SEATS AVAILABLE * for the 2026 Jiu-Jitsu for Law Enforcement Seminar

We reached capacity for the March 26–27, 2026, seminar in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina, but we are opening additional seats.

This two-day, no-gi training at Chango Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Summerville, SC) is designed specifically for sworn law enforcement officers. Led by experienced instructors, including a former federal law enforcement officer and BJJ black belt, the program introduces practical ground defense techniques to:

* Achieve and maintain a dominant position
* Safely control subjects in line with use-of-force policies and case law
* Reduce officer injuries and use-of-force incidents through leverage and body manipulation

No prior jiu-jitsu experience is required. Beginners and seasoned practitioners alike will benefit from hands-on training.

Registration is just $100. Registration closes on March 1, 2026.

IMPORTANT: The ONLY way to guarantee your spot is to register here:

https://fleoa111project.org/events/jiu-jitsu-for-law-enforcement-seminar-in-charleston-south-carolina/