FLEOA 111 Project

IMAGES & TRAINING EVALUATIONS

Huge thanks to everyone who traveled to train with us at the FLEOA 111 Project Jiu-Jitsu for Law Enforcement Seminar in Roanoke, Virginia, hosted by the U.S. Probation Office for the Western District of Virginia. 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:

“I absolutely enjoyed this training, and the instructors were outstanding! This experience was truly unlike any other training I’ve attended.”

“The instructors communicated clearly and explained each technique in a way that was easy to understand and apply. They took the time to observe us closely, provide helpful feedback, and make corrections when needed.”

“10/10 training! Hope to attend another one soon! My only complaint is that the training was only two days.”

“Great training! I learned a TON and am excited to bring it back to District for future ORT trainings.”

“This was a great seminar and I truly enjoyed it. I appreciated not only the encouragement of the instructors but also from the participants as well. It was a very welcoming environment.”

“Amazing training from someone with no prior experience in this area.”

“Everything was excellent as always.”

“I liked everything: instructors, materials, safety, methodology, teaching style.”

The FLEOA 111 Project Jiu-Jitsu for Law Enforcement Seminar in Roanoke, Virginia, hosted by the U.S. Probation Office for the Western District of Virginia, was a huge success.

Thirty officers from across the country took part in two days of instruction led by Vice President Felecia Bowers and Lead Instructor Brian Bowers. Co-founder Dave Balsamo was also on hand for the event to provide critical support. Students brought a wide range of experience; many were physical tactics instructors, some had years of mat time, and others had no experience whatsoever.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Chief Falatic and the Western District of Virginia for their exceptional hospitality and support of the FLEOA 111 Project. We also thank the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association for their continued support, along with our sponsors, Federal Injury Centers and ProFeds.

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

Agencies or individuals interested in hosting a seminar may contact [email protected] or visit:
https://fleoa111project.org/export-training/

Stay tuned to our social channels for photos and video from the seminar: https://linktr.ee/fleoa111project

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this amazing event.

Physical tactics training and martial arts are important layers of protection for federal law enforcement officers, but so are legal representation, advocacy, and benevolence. That is why we are proud of our affiliation and partnership with the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). This partnership brings together training, legal advocacy, and member support so officers have protection both on and off the mats.

This week, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) and the FLEOA 111 Project attended the Federal Probation and Pretrial Officers Association’s (FPPOA) 12th National Training Institute in Palm Desert, California. Having trained more than 200 officers from this incredible agency, we were proud to network with attendees and represent our shared goals. Like other federal law enforcement agencies, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services officers face safety and liability challenges because their mission frequently requires high-risk interactions in dangerous environments. This reality underscores the critical value of FLEOA membership, a message that resonated with many attendees and contributed to a successful recruitment effort.

Felecia Bowers, FLEOA 111 Project Vice President and FLEOA Agency President for Probation and Pretrial Services, led recruitment efforts. She was joined by Brian Bowers, Lead Instructor for the FLEOA 111 Project and FLEOA Chapter 33 President, who assisted with recruitment, shared training opportunities, and promoted jiu-jitsu as a vital tool for improving use-of-force outcomes, reducing agency liability, and enhancing officer wellness.

As statutorily required partners in every federal criminal case, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officers are essential to the federal law enforcement mission and benefit greatly from FLEOA protections and FLEOA 111 Project training.

To learn more about FLEOA, visit fleoa.org. New members can enroll for half off their first year. After the first year, membership remains extremely affordable, especially considering the numerous benefits.

To learn more about the FLEOA 111 Project, visit fleoa111project.org.

New merch dropping soon! AND we're giving a new hat to the person who is the first to comment with correct answers to each of these four questions:

Who is the model in this photo?

What is her nickname?

What are her TWO official roles with the 111 Project?

What is her current BJJ rank (belt color)?

We'll announce the winner in the comments!

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/

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.

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.

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.”

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

https://fleoa111project.org/subscribe/