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ABOUT US

A STRONGER
TOMMOROW THROUGH 

BETTER TRAINING

Adopt A Cop BJJ is a nonprofit program of a 501(c)(3), dedicated to helping law enforcement officers access high-quality brazilian Jiu-Jitsi raining, We invest in officers, strengthen communities, and promote safer outcomes for everyone.

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OUR MISSION

INVESTING IN OFFICERS.
STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES.

Our mission is to make consistent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training accessible to frontline law enforcement officers across the country, regardless of whether their department has the resources to provide it. Adopt A Cop BJJ partners with BJJ academies nationwide to provide eligible officers with free or reduced-cost training through the rank of blue belt. With the support of our affiliate gyms, donors, sponsors, and communities, we work to remove financial barriers and connect officers with high-quality training that develops practical skills in positioning, control, escapes, takedowns, restraint, and composure under pressure.

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We believe better-trained officers are better-prepared officers. Beyond physical technique, consistent Jiu-Jitsu training builds confidence, discipline, fitness, problem-solving, stress management, humility, and the ability to make sound decisions in difficult situations. Our mission is bigger than earning a belt—it is about giving officers more tools and more options when seconds matter, helping create safer interactions, stronger communities, and a culture where ongoing defensive tactics training is treated as an essential part of professional development. Train more. Control more. Protect more.

OUR STORY

HOW IT STARTED

Adopt A Cop BJJ was founded in 2020 by Mitch Aguiar, a professional mixed martial artist and former head combatives instructor for the Navy SEALs, with a simple belief: law enforcement officers need greater access to consistent, practical, high-quality training. While police academies provide an important foundation, ongoing defensive tactics training can vary widely between departments due to budget constraints, staffing demands, limited training time, and access to qualified instruction. AACBJJ was created to help bridge that gap.

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By partnering with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies across the country, Adopt A Cop BJJ began connecting eligible frontline officers with free or reduced-cost training so they could build practical skills, confidence, composure, and more options for managing difficult physical encounters. What started as one idea has grown into a nationwide network of officers, academies, donors, and supporters united by the belief that investing in better training can make a meaningful difference for both law enforcement and the communities they serve.

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THE NEXT CHAPTER

WHAT'S NEXT FOR AACBJJ

In September 2026, Adopt A Cop BJJ entered a new chapter under the leadership of North Hills First Responders Corporation, with Ish Lopez and Kate Califano helping guide the organization forward. While the leadership structure changed, the purpose of AACBJJ did not. The focus remains on expanding access to consistent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training for law enforcement officers while strengthening the partnerships that make the program possible.

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This next chapter is about building on the foundation established in 2020, improving how AACBJJ supports officers and affiliate academies, expanding opportunities nationwide, and creating a stronger, more sustainable organization for the future. The program will continue to evolve, but the mission remains clear: make high-quality BJJ training more accessible to the officers who serve our communities every day.

OUR VALUES

WHAT DRIVES US

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SERVICE

We support the men and women who serve and protect our community.

GROWTH

We believe in continuous improvement on and off the mats.

PARTNERSHIP

We work with gyms, departments, donors, and communities to create opportunities.

SAFER COMMUNITIES

Better-trained officers lead to safer outcomes for everyone.

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LEADERSHIP

THE TEAM BEHIND THE MISSION

Adopt a Cop BJJ is operated under the North Hills First Responders Corporation (NHFRC), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our leadership, board, and volunteers are committed to building a sustainable program that supports officers across the country.

Ish Lopez

Executive Director

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Kate Califano

Program Director

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"BETTER TRAINING GIVES OFFICERS MORE OPTIONS, MORE CONFIDENCE, AND A SAFER WAY FORWARD."

- Adopt a Cop BJJ team

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