BJJ in 2024 Olympics? Please God no!

Has anyone heard about this. Is this fake?

https://www.jiujitsutimes[...]-olympics/

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I just noticed the article date. 1st of april. Facepalm. Nevermind.

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Maybe I’m a stick in the mud, but I hate all April fools posts.

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Maybe I’m a stick in the mud, but I hate all April fools posts.

Agree. Think the whole holiday is kind of dumb.

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I love April Fool's day. This was obviously fake.

Christian Graugart

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Also never happening. Perhaps in a different format like submission wrestling or something. But as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with IBJJF etc., never.

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I love April Fool's day. This was obviously fake.

Obviously fake and super corny.

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Also never happening. Perhaps in a different format like submission wrestling or something. But as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with IBJJF etc., never.

I agree. I think the closest we'll get is if the IJF modifies their rule set to include more newaza/ground work. They've been doing this at our local tournaments here in the US, at least to an extent, to try and entice some of the BJJ practitioners to compete in Judo as well... albeit with mixed results. Honestly, we're just going to have to reconcile our differences with the Judo guys if we want to get anywhere near the Olympics.

Bridget Jack Jeffries

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The pole dancers have a better chance of getting their "sport" into the Olympics.

Coachpotato

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They shouldn't publish those posts when it's already April 2nd (nearing the 3rd) somewhere else. Gave me a bit of a scare. I don't want the olympics to ruin this sport. Some loudmouths like the self-proclaimed "king" are already doing it.

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I agree. I think the closest we'll get is if the IJF modifies their rule set to include more newaza/ground work. They've been doing this at our local tournaments here in the US, at least to an extent, to try and entice some of the BJJ practitioners to compete in Judo as well... albeit with mixed results. Honestly, we're just going to have to reconcile our differences with the Judo guys if we want to get anywhere near the Olympics.

Does that even work in america? In Germany, you can't participate in a Judo tournament unless you have achieved 7Kyu (the second rank in Judo here) and have a judo pass and are an active member of a Judo Club.

Either way, I really hope this doesn't ever happen. But BJJ is too decentralized for it to happen any time soon.

Slideyfoot [jun]

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Has anyone heard about this. Is this fake? https://www.jiujitsutimes[...]-olympics/

Ha ha - yeah, super fake. Like I said on the same post on r/bjj, I am fairly confident the absolute failstorm that makes up the supposed 'international governing bodies' of BJJ will prevent BJJ getting anywhere near the Olympics, ever.

The IBJJF (a for-profit company that has somehow managed to convince a significant proportion of BJJ people that it is a governing body, which it most definitely is not: it's just a company that likes to force people to pay over the odds to enter their comps) is far more concerned about money than the sport. Which in this case actually works in BJJ's favour, as the Olympics would destroy BJJ. I'm therefore pleased BJJ's total lack of a proper governing body (among numerous other factors) means BJJ is highly unlikely to become an Olympic sport any time in the next few decades, if ever.

But yeah, variations on the question "why isn't/when will BJJ be in the Olympics?" has been popping up on BJJ internet forums ever since I first got into grappling in 2003. At least this thread is a bit different in that it's an April Fools prank. ;)

Joemoplata

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I sincerely hope BJJ is never added as an Olympic sport.

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Does that even work in america?

It sort of works. Depends on the ref. If the ref lets me work on the ground for just a little bit I can usually sub or pin my opponent.

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I sincerely hope BJJ is never added as an Olympic sport.

Those seems to be a popular opinion. What's your reasoning?

Slideyfoot [jun]

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Those seems to be a popular opinion. What's your reasoning?

I can't speak for Joe, but my answer to that would be:

1. Becoming an Olympic sport ruined judo. Many throws were banned (often because the IJF was scared of looking too similar to wrestling), plus loads of silly rules were added based on wanting spectators (hence why newaza was heavily de-emphasised in favour of high amplitude throws, seen as more spectator friendly)

2. IF BJJ was in the Olympics, that would mean there was an actual governing body with some power. You'd probably have to get a license to teach, with restrictions on how you teach. Most likely lots of other nonsense like "Official Olympic BJJ Approved" uniforms you need to wear, etiquette to follow. Essentially, it could mean that every club would have to be run like a GB school to be 'approved'.

Drew wrote a great article on the topic about a decade ago: https://web.archive.org/w[...]e-olympics

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There's also another level. If you look at Wrestling and Judo the focus is very heavy on children or youths, at least there in Germany. As these are government sponsored clubs, this isn't a profit issue. It's because their focus is on the Olympics because that's the only achievement that really matters. If you want to start them after 20, you're going to have a hard time. Judo Clubs are mostly focused on children's Training, and I've never found an adult wrestling club.

And lastly, we don't need it. For Grappling, the ADCC is just as prestigious as the Olympics, and it's open to all grapplers who qualify.

Joemoplata

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I can't speak for Joe, but my answer to that would be: 1. Becoming an Olympic sport ruined judo. Many throws were banned (often because the IJF was scared of looking too similar to wrestling), plus loads of silly rules were added based on wanting spectators (hence why newaza was heavily de-emphasised in favour of high amplitude throws, seen as more spectator friendly) 2. IF BJJ was in the Olympics, that would mean there was an actual governing body with some power. You'd probably have to get a license to teach, with restrictions on how you teach. Most likely lots of other nonsense like 'Official Olympic BJJ Approved' uniforms you need to wear, etiquette to follow. Essentially, it could mean that every club would have to be run like a GB school to be 'approved'. Drew wrote a great article on the topic about a decade ago: https://web.archive.org/w[...]e-olympics

What he said

Deepu

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The pole dancers have a better chance of getting their 'sport' into the Olympics.

Would become the most watched Olympic event ever! Might even beat the 100m lol

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Drew wrote a great article on the topic about a decade ago: https://web.archive.org/w[...]e-olympics

Thank you for the article. Just came back from the rabbit hole. Well written and makes a good argument. Although I don't agree with all of the assumptions made, I do agree that it will probably never become an Olympic sport. And personally, I don't really feel like it should, either. Good stuff, thanks again.

Bridget Jack Jeffries

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Would become the most watched Olympic event ever! Might even beat the 100m lol

My first husband gave me the "gift" of a month of pole dancing lessons. I never waste a gift, so naturally, I attended the lessons.

The pole dancers kept talking me up about how they were gonna get pole dancing into the Olympics. This was 10 years ago and obviously it hasn't happened.

In other news, (1) my first pole dancing lesson left me with bruises the size of baseballs on my inner thighs, and (2) we are divorced now. :-D

Edited 5 year(s) ago

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My first husband gave me the 'gift' of a month of pole dancing lessons. I never waste a gift, so naturally, I attended the lessons. The pole dancers kept talking me up about how they were gonna get pole dancing into the Olympics. This was 10 years ago and obviously it hasn't happened. In other news, (1) my first pole dancing lesson left me with bruises the size of baseballs on my inner thighs, and (2) we are divorced now. :-D

My wife has a birthday coming up...

Slideyfoot [jun]

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The pole dancers kept talking me up about how they were gonna get pole dancing into the Olympics. This was 10 years ago and obviously it hasn't happened.

IMO, pole dancing is a way tougher sport than BJJ. I've tried it a number of times, bloody difficult! ;)

Some of you on here may know my good friend Anna, she's at a lot of the European camps. She's been pole dancing for years: the stuff she could do on the pole at the club we go to during the Austrian Winter Camp, amazing. There were a few other incredible pole dancers at the 2020 Winter Camp. I was quite impressed by Charles Harriott's aerial acrobatics too, particularly considering he's not a pole dancer (although he is in great shape and an awesome breakdancer, so I guess some of that carries over). :D

In other words, I think pole dancing would be a pretty cool addition to the Olympics, as long as it stuck with the "wow, that's an impressive physical feat" side of things, rather than the "phwoar, she's hot!" side of the things, which unfortunately mars the coverage of sports like beach volleyball.

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