An Open Letter..
To the Jiu-Jitsu Community
For nearly the last fourteen years of my life, I’ve trained and taught Jiu-Jitsu. During the course of my career I’ve seen quite a bit of change.
For example, when I started we didn’t have streaming instructional videos. There was no pro scene, Instagram wasn’t even a thing yet, and Leg Locks were frowned upon.
Like I said, quite a bit was different.
The country itself was also different back then. No where near perfect, by any stretch of the imagination, but definitely different.
In the last few years, many of us have noticed an undercurrent of Right Wing propaganda and personalities infiltrating both Jiu-Jitsu and MMA gyms. As someone who’s worked both blue and white collar jobs, everything from call centers to warehouse, I’ve worked with liberals and conservatives alike and have never really had an issue.
The current issue, as much as it saddens me, is fascist in nature.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term, Fascism is generally described as a political movement that’s centered around extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of the nation itself over the individual. This is in contrast to something like liberal democracies which support individual rights, competitive elections, and political decent.
Fascist leadership will often talk about supporting the common man, ultimately aligning themselves around their business interests.
Sound familiar?
With that being said, a collection of us have banded together in hopes of establishing a segment of the community that will continue to support each other and those who need it most.
The same way that I’ve been an unwavering voice against toxic or cultish leadership and behavior, I will also emphatically lend my voice to this growing issue.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE JIU-JITSU COMMUNITY
Hello Jiu-Jitsu friends,
We are a collective of Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, gym owners, and coaches who love this sport and know firsthand the life-changing benefits it can offer. The combat sport community has always been home to an array of colorful and controversial fighters. Recently, however, far-right rhetoric has become normalized in some parts of the Jiu-Jitsu community.
Many in this sport will surely disagree with our assessment, and they have the right to do so. For the rest of us, we need to be honest about what we are seeing, true to our principles, and speak out as a united front.
As a community of like-minded individuals, we believe in leveraging our resources to empower, protect, and make space for those who may be isolated or disempowered in the current environment.
If you share this vision, please let us know and consider joining our community. We support our friends in need and we believe in standing firm against extremism in all its forms. We are also soliciting ideas on how best to support the Jiu-Jitsu community. What would you like to see your gym or favorite Jiu-Jitsu brands do right now?
Please share your ideas on events, sponsorships, fundraisers, alliances, and any other idea that help ensure that Jiu-Jitsu remains accessible to all.
Connect with us:
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DFM Coaching is dedicated to helping you overcome mental hurdles and achieve your full potential in BJJ. Whether through in-person instruction, seminars, private lessons, remote coaching, or video analysis, I provide personalized support tailored to your needs. Keep pushing forward, and let’s grow together!
Wow - would love to have your group on my podcast The Sound of Listening if you're interested! No debate, no argument - just listening with genuine care