- ABOUT US
About Lawmen Black Belt Academy
Lawman’s Black Belt Academy is dedicated to advancing the defensive tactics capabilities of law enforcement officers through a structured curriculum rooted in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other effective grappling disciplines. Our goal is to equip officers with the skills, confidence, and control necessary to safely and efficiently manage resistant subjects while reducing the likelihood of injury to both officers and suspects.
Our training focuses on realistic, practical techniques that provide officers with effective solutions to the most common challenges encountered during physical encounters with resistant subjects. Every course emphasizes safety, control, and professionalism, ensuring that techniques are both tactically sound and appropriate within modern use of force standards.
Mission Statement
Lawman’s Black Belt Academy exists to develop law enforcement officers and trainers through structured training in submission grappling and practical combatives. Our mission is to inspire officers to pursue mastery of their profession and strive toward earning their black belt.
- Founder and Owner
Freddie Easter
Freddie Easter has been a sworn law enforcement officer since 2013. During his law enforcement career, he has served in several assignments including uniform patrol, a tactical anti-crime unit, and as a full time firearms and defensive tactics instructor. Freddie has developed and written numerous firearms and defensive tactics training programs and holds a variety of high liability instructor certifications.
Freddie is also a retired veteran of the United States Marine Corps, completing 20 years of honorable service and achieving the rank of Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt). During his military career, he deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and several other regions. While in the Marine Corps, Freddie earned his Black Belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) and served as a Marksmanship Instructor.
In addition to his professional background, Freddie has a long standing passion for combat sports and martial arts. For nearly two decades, he has trained in mixed martial arts, Muay Thai kickboxing, judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Freddie continues to pursue improvement as a martial artist and is dedicated to sharing the benefits of martial arts training with military and law enforcement professionals.
- Brazilian Jiujitsu Blackbelt Black Belt & Tactical Operator
Joe
“Joe” is a Florida native who has dedicated his life to service, both in the military and on the front lines of law enforcement. With 15 years of active duty and current experience as a SWAT Operator, “Joe” brings a high-stakes, real-world perspective to the mats.
A lifelong student of martial arts, Joe began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in 2012, viewing the art as a vital skill set for community service and personal safety. In June 2024, he earned his Black Belt under Professor Kevin Peterson. “Joe’s” philosophy is rooted in the practical application of technique, moving beyond the sport to master the “human chess” of high-pressure encounters. When he isn’t in uniform or in the academy, Joe is usually found on the Florida waters, recharging with his friends and family.
“It’s not how much you learn that counts; it’s how much you retain under stress.” – John Danaher
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt & Law Enforcement Officer
Jonathon Yuen
Jonathon Yuen is a law enforcement professional and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor with over 20 years of sworn law enforcement experience and more than eight years of dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. His career with the Clearwater Police Department includes extensive experience across patrol operations, community policing, burglary and misdemeanor investigations, intelligence-led policing, counterterrorism investigations with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the supervision of complex criminal and intelligence investigations. Throughout his career, he has been trusted with critical incident response, threat management, interagency coordination, and the development of investigative strategies, providing real-world experience in high-risk and rapidly evolving enforcement environments.
Jonathon is a Black Belt under Professor Kevin Peterson in Jiu-Jitsu with consistent training and competition experience at nationally and internationally recognized levels, including sanctioned events under the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the World Police & Fire Games (2025). His instruction emphasizes practical, control-based Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu adapted specifically for law enforcement, with a focus on arrest-based ground control, takedowns, weapon retention, fatigue management, and positional dominance while operating in duty gear and within legal and policy constraints. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu reinforces the ability to remain calm under pressure, control chaos through positioning, and make sound decisions when outcomes matter most.
His training philosophy is reflected in the quote, “In the chaos, look for the calmest person in the room. That’s your leader.” Through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Jonathon teaches officers how to develop that calm presence, maintain focus during physical confrontations, and apply disciplined decision-making in moments of stress.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of South Florida and maintains Florida state law enforcement certification. His service has been recognized through multiple departmental honors, including the Medal of Valor, Medal of Distinguished Service, Chief’s Unit Citations, and Detective of the Quarter recognition. Jonathon’s goal as an instructor is to provide officers with scalable and defensible techniques that perform under real-world stress, enhance officer safety, and reduce the risk of injury during physical encounters.
- Head Director
Caroline Portugal
Caroline Portugal brings an unparalleled foundation of elite discipline, competitive drive, and comprehensive leadership to her role as Head Director. Her career is built on success in high-stakes environments, transitioning seamlessly from a world-class athlete to an expert in corporate and personal empowerment.
As a former Professional MMA Fighter, Caroline has spent years competing in international and national tournaments across a spectrum of disciplines, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, XME Weapons, Obstacle Course, and Fitness Competitions, earning numerous Gold and Silver medals along the way. This background instills a deep, practical understanding of resilience, rapid tactical adaptation, and peak physical performance—all critical components of effective law enforcement training.
Beyond the competitive arena, Caroline leveraged her insights into human performance to launch her own successful Corporate Empowerment program for decades. Her expertise in this field is broad and vital, encompassing Personal Safety programs, Nutrition Programs, Art Therapy, and Positive Image Transformation Programs. This experience demonstrates her capacity to train not only the body but also the mind, focusing on holistic development and sustained positive outcomes.
Caroline’s close ties to the program’s foundation are strong; she and Co-founder Freddy Easter have trained in Mixed Martial Arts together since 2009 and have remained very close friends, ensuring the program’s leadership is built on a shared history of dedication and excellence.
- Testimonials
Real stories from officers who excelled
