SafeWrap is a proprietary restraint system originally developed to safely manage mental health crises in healthcare settings. Since its creation, it has expanded across all sectors of public service, from law enforcement to fire/EMS to education and beyond. Designed to maximize control without the use of joint locks or choke holds, SafeWrap prioritizes free breathing and minimizes panic, making it one of the most humane and effective restraint solutions ever created.
Get certified on behalf of your organization or as an Independent Instructor. Watch this video to learn more…
THE PROBLEM
While prone restraint be necessary and appropriate in some instances, when it’s the only option available during a physical encounter, it can inadvertently increase risks, which may result in injuries, legal liabilities, and public scrutiny.
Escape Power
When the subject is placed on their stomach, they are optimally positioned to push off the ground, which may enable them to stand up and escape or cause harm to others.
Hidden Hands
Prone subjects typically hide their hands to avoid extraction for handcuffing. This often frustrates restrainers, causing an escalation of force that increases liability for the organization.
Weapon Access
Because their hands are hidden, the subject may be able to access a concealed weapon in their waistband, and by the time others become aware of the threat, it may be too late.
THE SOLUTION
When all members of an organization are SafeWrap certified, teamwork is optimized and the probability of injury to all parties is reduced to the absolute minimum.
With all staff members certified in the SafeWrap system, communication and teamwork are highly optimized.
The simultaneous upper and lower body controls significantly reduce the subject's escape potential and their access to weapons.
A simple procedure that allows for safe and effective application of handcuffs while keeping the subject on their side for the entire process. For healthcare applications, where handcuffs may not be used, an equally simple and safe option exists for 4-point restraint application.
By avoiding joint locks, chokes, and strikes, the system reduces liability by minimizing the chance of injury to all parties.
Full visibility of the subject’s face gives restrainers the opportunity to read emotional cues and communicate more effectively to enhance verbal de-escalation throughout the entire encounter.
By holding the subject on their side, restrainers can more effectively monitor the subject for medical distress, by observing non-verbal facial cues, and immediately render aid in case of an emergency.
The gentle control and benign appearance of SafeWrap reduces the likelihood of public backlash after an incident.
FIELD APPLICATIONS
A COMPLETE SYSTEM
De-Escalation
SafeWrap
SafeDown
Prone Entry
Turtle Entry
Intervention Entry
Seated Entry
SafeSwitch
Lateral Handcuffing
4-Point Restraints
Restraint Chair
WrapStrap
Solo Survival
In a moment of crisis, SafeWrap users are taught to use verbal de-escalation to reduce the intensity of the conflict and avoid physical intervention, if safe and feasible.
If verbal de-escalation is not safe or feasible, the SafeWrap system is designed to restrain a person with the lowest probability of injury to all parties when compared to any other existing system in the world.
While takedowns can be dangerous, through teamwork and technique, the SafeDown reduces the risk of injury during descent to the absolute minimum.
If the subject is lying on their stomach, the Prone Entry can be used to turn them to their side for SafeWrap application.
If a grounded subject attempts to get up on their hands and knees, the Turtle Entry can be used to regain control before they escape.
If a staff member is being assaulted on the ground, the Intervention Entry can be used to neutralize the aggressor and initiate the SafeWrap system.
If a non-compliant subject is seated and needs to be restrained or taken into custody, the Seated Entry can be used to take control.
If a SafeWrap user needs relief during an encounter, another certified user can easily step in and take over without compromising subject control.
Conventional grounded handcuffing requires the subject to be placed in prone position, but this may give the subject several tactical advantages including escape power, hidden hands, and weapon access. With the Lateral Handcuffing Procedure, handcuffs can be safely and effectively applied with the subject on their side for the entire process.
In healthcare settings, aggressive patients regularly need to be secured to the hospital bed or stretcher using four-point restraints. This process often requires 6-10 staff members and injuries are extremely common. With SafeWrap, the patient can be secured and safely restrained with as little as three staff members.
While restraint chairs are common in behavioral health clinics and corrections facilities, the process of getting a resistant subject into the chair is often chaotic and dangerous. Using SafeWrap, the process can be completed with the fewest number of staff members and the lowest probability of injury to all parties involved.
Oftentimes a handcuffed subject needs to be further restrained to prevent them from fleeing the scene, or to facilitate transport. The WrapStrap is a compact and simple device that can be used to temporarily bind the subject’s legs together to prevent escape and/or to greatly simplify the process of placing a resistant subject into a vehicle.
If de-escalation fails, and a staff member is attacked when they are alone, the solo survival skills will help them stay safe until help arrives.
THE WORLD IS WATCHING...
PRESSURE TESTED
LAPD on SafeWrap
When it comes to arrest and control tactics, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is recognized as one of the most progressive agencies in the nation. To evaluate whether the SafeWrap system should be implemented department-wide, LAPD’s lead arrest and control instructors participated in an intensive train-the-trainer course.
Here’s what they had to say about SafeWrap…
NYPD on SafeWrap
The New York Police Department operates under some of the most stringent use of force policies in the country, including clear prohibitions against applying body weight in a manner that could compress a subject’s chest or restrict their airway during ground restraint.
In response, the NYPD partnered with the Gracie family to train their defensive tactics instructors in the SafeWrap system.
Expert Medical Analysis
Dr. Gary Vilke, M.D., is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and UCSD professor specializing in prehospital care, cardiac arrest, and in-custody deaths. With over 70 peer-reviewed publications on topics like positional asphyxia, restraint techniques, and excited delirium, Dr. Vilke is a nationally recognized expert in restraint safety.
Watch the video to see how SafeWrap is improving outcomes across a wide range of public and private sector organizations.
"I have had the privilege of testifying as an expert in over 100 cases involving restraint-related deaths. After thoroughly reviewing the SafeWrap restraint system, I found no evidence of adverse effects on either the respiratory or vascular systems during its use. I strongly recommend SafeWrap adoption at any organization where physical restraint is required.”
Gary M. Vilke, M.D., FACEP, FAAEM
Medical Director, North County Dispatch JPA
Professor Emeritus of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Emergency Medicine Reports
What if She's Pregnant?
When interacting with a pregnant individual, the use of force or physical restraint must be a last resort. Federal, state, and institutional guidelines emphasize that any physical intervention must prioritize both maternal and fetal health, avoiding any technique that could lead to positional asphyxia or abdominal trauma.
The only problem is that no one has proposed a safer alternative to conventional restraint methods, until now…
Protecting the Children
In healthcare settings, even minor procedures on pediatric patients can feel like major challenges. When a child is scared or experiencing a behavioral episode, they can be very difficult to control leaving caretakers to resort to desparate measures that are traumatic and potentially injurious.
REDUCE STAFF
Traditional restraint methods require five or more staff. SafeWrap can be applied with as few as two.
MINIMIZE INJURIES
By removing harmful holds and reducing excessive bodyweight applied by restrainers, SafeWrap delivers maximum control with minimal risk.
AVOID SEDATION
With better control and communication among staff, sedation truly becomes the last resort.
INSTRUCTOR TYPES
Institutional
Instructors who will only be teaching SafeWrap to other members of their own organization. Pick from any of the certification pathways below to learn more.
CERTIFICATION PATHWAYS
SAFEWRAP STANDALONE
(2 Days)
For those seeking a standalone certification, SafeWrap instructor training is available in an intensive 2-day course. This path is ideal for Independent and Institutional Instructors who want to gain SafeWrap certification as quickly as possible.
ONLINE CERTIFICATION
(Self Paced)
For Independent and Institutional Instructors who cannot attend a live course, the online certification pathway provides maximum flexibility, with all instruction delivered through video and practical skills evaluated using our interactive video evaluation process.
CERTIFICATION PATHWAYS
SAFEWRAP STANDALONE
(2 Days)
For those seeking a standalone certification, SafeWrap instructor training is available in an intensive 2-day course. This path is ideal for Independent and Institutional Instructors who want to gain SafeWrap certification as quickly as possible.
GRACIE SURVIVAL TACTICS
(5 Days)
SafeWrap instructor certification is built into every Gracie Survival Tactics (GST) Level 2 course, making it the ideal path for law enforcement. This integration allows agencies to adopt SafeWrap as part of a complete defensive tactics solution, enhancing safety while reducing liability.
GRACIE MEDICAL DEFENSE
(5 Days)
SafeWrap instructor certification is included in every Gracie Medical Defense (GMD) course, making it the perfect path for healthcare professionals. This all-in-one workplace violence prevention program empowers teams with essential safety tools for verbal and physical de-escalation.
ONLINE CERTIFICATION
(Self-Paced)
For Independent and Institutional Instructors who cannot attend a live course, the online certification pathway provides maximum flexibility, with all instruction delivered through video and practical skills evaluated using our interactive video evaluation process.
Bring SafeWrap to Your Community
SafeWrap is rapidly becoming the standard for safe, effective restraint across healthcare, law enforcement, and public-facing industries, but the demand for training far exceeds the number of qualified instructors.
As a SafeWrap Independent Instructor, you can become the solution and get paid for your service. Watch this video and then click below to learn more…
BENEFITS
With SafeWrap certified instructors at your organization, your staff will have access to these benefits:
SafeWrap License
Once certified, organizations may obtain a license to use SafeWrap system to train end-users within the organization.
Online Video Access
Staff members get access to online videos covering all verbal and physical de-escalation skills.
Legal Support
Gracie University will provide expert witness support to certified staff if litigation arises over the use of SafeWrap techniques.
SafeWrap Executive Summary
Discover how SafeWrap can help organizations improve outcomes and reduce liability. Complete the short form below to receive immediate access to our interactive Executive Summary. Share it with your team to spark informed discussions and drive better decision-making.
What’s included in this free download:
- Full Curriculum Outline
- Testimonials & Use Cases
- Bonus Videos & Information
- Frequently Asked Questions
- End-User Training & More!
FAQs
SafeWrap is a proprietary system of restraint that is designed to maximize physical control while reducing the risk of injury to all parties involved in a use of force encounter. The system was created by Gracie University in response to inquiries from healthcare institutions that needed a way to safely restrain aggressive, suicidal, or emotionally disturbed patients in hospitals. With patient safety as the top priority, it was imperative that the system utilize no joint locks and no choke holds. The system was specifically designed to minimize compression of the diaphragm to facilitate breathing and reduce the potential of a panicked response in the restrained individual.
Yes. Under 35 U.S.C. § 101, the four categories of patentable subject matter are processes, machines, manufactures, and compositions of matter. A method of restraint may be patented if it meets the standard requirements of patentability, meaning it is novel, non-obvious, and useful.
SafeWrap is not a piece of equipment, it is a proprietary restraint method and training system. Because it is protected as a method and process, proper use is maintained through licensing and standardized instruction rather than the sale of a physical product.
The license provides clear authorization to use SafeWrap while ensuring the system is taught and applied consistently across all public service fields, improving safety, reducing liability, and strengthening legal defensibility should any litigation arise related to its use.
Yes. If a licensed agency faces litigation related to SafeWrap, Gracie University will provide expert witness support at no cost beyond verifiable out of pocket expenses, provided the agency maintains an active license and meets end-user certification requirements.
- Instructor Requirements The agency must ensure that all SafeWrap training is conducted by an actively certified SafeWrap instructor.
- Minimum Training Requirements The agency must adhere to the minimum annual training requirements (typically 4 hours for new-user certification, and 4 hours for annual recertification) when internally certifying end-users in the system.
- Refresher Video Requirements To maximize retention of the system, each end-user is required to watch a short refresher video (approx. 15-minutes) once every three months. This can be done individually or in group settings (i.e. briefings).
- Data & Record-Keeping Requirements The organization must keep records of all SafeWrap field applications and be willing to share these records with Gracie University upon request (provided agency policy permits such sharing).
The intellectual property (IP) rights associated with the SafeWrap system do not affect the personal practice of martial arts in any way, whatsoever.
Gracie University makes no claim to the Twisting Arm Control (aka “Gift Wrap”) position commonly used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), nor does it make any claim to any leg entanglements (aka “leg laces”) that are commonly used in grappling sports.
The IP rights afforded to Gracie University extend exclusively to the novel and inventive processes and components of the SafeWrap system with the objective of restraining an individual who poses a threat to themselves or others.
Furthermore, since the SafeWrap must be applied by at least two people against a single subject, there is no possibility that anyone engaging in regular 1-on-1 martial arts practice, BJJ or other, would be able to infringe on the IP associated with the SafeWrap system.
It does not. The IP rights associated with the SafeWrap system will have no effect on any processes or methods of subject restraint that existed prior to the creation of the SafeWrap system.
Any institution that has a method (or methods) of restraint, 2-on-1 or other, which they previously used or had success with, may continue to use those methods without any concern, whatsoever.
An institution only needs to obtain a SafeWrap license if it is specifically interested in adopting the SafeWrap system for the safety of its staff members and the people with whom they interact.
Unlike many existing restraint methods which are only reliable on the ground, the SafeWrap system is equally reliable whether the subject is on the ground or an elevated surface like a hospital stretcher, and it also has applications in other environments, including, but not limited to, seated applications.
Got Questions?
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