The gentle art of force : Brazilian jiu-jitsu and institutional change in American policing

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dc.contributor.advisorSierra-Arévalo, Michael
dc.creatorKrasnicki, Daniel
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-01T23:49:31Z
dc.date.available2024-04-01T23:49:31Z
dc.date.created2023-12
dc.date.issued2023-12
dc.date.submittedDecember 2023
dc.date.updated2024-04-01T23:49:31Z
dc.description.abstractThis thesis explores the dynamic relationship between institutional reform, technology adoption, and cultural influences, using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) as a lens to investigate its integration into policing practices to mitigate excessive force incidents. Beginning with the context of recurrent crises of legitimacy in American policing, particularly highlighted by the tragic murder of George Floyd in 2020, the research examines the emergent trend of training officers in BJJ as a reformative measure. Drawing from extensive qualitative data, the study demonstrates that the existing cultural norms within police departments act as formidable barriers to the effective implementation of BJJ. This thesis unveils how BJJ, heralded for its potential to mitigate use of force, encounters challenges within the entrenched cultural frameworks of law enforcement. Despite proponents' arguments citing BJJ's holistic approach to physical and psychological factors influencing force usage, the research highlights the struggle of institutional culture to absorb this technology without distortion. Instead of catalyzing significant institutional change, BJJ tends to adapt to prevailing norms, resulting in a modified version termed Police Jiu-Jitsu (PJJ). This adaptation, tailored to address the emphasis on lethal violence within policing, dilutes the potential benefits of BJJ, undermining its intended purpose of reducing police violence. Ultimately, the research underscores the complex interplay between technology adoption, institutional culture, and resistance, shedding light on the limitations of technological reform within deeply entrenched social institutions like policing. The study's insights bear significant implications for both theoretical discourse surrounding policing, culture, and technology and practical policy considerations aimed at addressing police misconduct and use of force.
dc.description.departmentSociology
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.uri
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2152/124545
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/51151
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectViolence
dc.subjectCulture
dc.subjectTechnology
dc.subjectPolicing
dc.titleThe gentle art of force : Brazilian jiu-jitsu and institutional change in American policing
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialtext
thesis.degree.departmentSociology
thesis.degree.grantorThe University of Texas at Austin
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts
thesis.degree.programSociology

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