Why There Won't Be Jiu-Jitsu in the Olympics

A case study of Olympic grappling arts (and why BJJ isn't one).

Photo by Jacob Rice on Unsplash

Every 4 years, the Olympics comes around and I watch the wrestling and judo events with a bit of excitement and equally as much curiosity and jealousy.

I can’t help but wonder if Jiu-Jitsu, my favorite and preferred grappling art, will ever have the chance to be on display in the Olympics.

The Olympics are the biggest stage in sports, especially niche sports that no one really watches, and it’s only natural for me to want to see the Olympics of grappling be on the same stage as, well, the Olympics.

After a few minutes of fantasizing, however, I remember a podcast I listened to a few years ago with a former ADCC champion who talked about how actually, it might not be the best thing for Jiu-Jitsu to become an Olympic sport.

Today we’re talking about judo, wrestling, the Olympics, and where exactly Jiu-Jitsu stands when it comes to being displayed on the biggest stage in the world of sports.