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Grappling with trauma: could martial arts ease first Responders' stress?

NCT ID NCT07783516

Symptom relief Sponsor: Sam Houston State University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Aug 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 28, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study explores whether an 8-week Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) program can help first responders—like police, firefighters, and EMS—manage trauma-related symptoms. Participants will attend beginner-friendly BJJ classes one to two times per week, while tracking their mood, stress, and well-being through daily and weekly questionnaires. The goal is to see if this physical, movement-based activity offers supportive benefits for emotional regulation and overall wellness, without replacing professional mental health treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
An 8-week Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) program with beginner-level, instructor-led classes focusing on controlled movement, breath regulation, and partner-based training.
What this could lead to
If beneficial, BJJ could offer first responders a non-clinical, movement-based option to help manage trauma-related stress and improve emotional regulation.
What could go wrong
This is a very small study (8 participants) with no control group, so results may not apply broadly. It is not a treatment for PTSD and does not replace professional mental health care.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 8 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Aug 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

May 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Current first responders (law enforcement, fire fighters, EMS, dispatch) * Adults (18+) * Experiencing trauma-related stress * Able/willing to attend BJJ classes twice per week * Able/willing to complete daily and weekly measures * Located in Montgomery County or nearby areas Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals younger that 18 years of age * Individuals who cannot safely participate in physical activity * Individuals who cannot complete daily/weekly measures * Individuals who are not current first responders * Individuals who need a higher level of care

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

acute stress disorder Emotional Regulation occupation-related stress disorder Occupational Stress post-traumatic stress disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Anger problems Avoidance, anger/irritability, somatic regulation, and relational connection Emotional regulation difficulties Irritability Occupational stress Occupational stress and emotional regulation Post traumatic stress disorder PTSD Posttraumatic stress symptoms (observational focus only) Relational problems Trauma and stress related disorders Trauma-related symptoms among first responders

How to take part

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  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Research Site

    RECRUITING

    Conroe, Texas, 77304, United States

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