Why isn't Jiu Jitsu in the Olympics?

By Steve Ramos

2/28/2026

 

 

    Jiu Jitsu, commonly translated as “the gentle art,” is widely   recognized as one of the most effective forms of self-defense in the

 world.

 

Over the past decade, sport jiu jitsu has exploded in popularity. Yet despite its global reach, professional athletes, and growing spectator base, it remains absent from the biggest stage in international sport: the Olympic Games.

This absence raises an obvious question.
Why has a worldwide phenomenon like jiu jitsu not earned a place in the Olympics, while newer and less combat-relevant disciplines have? Wrestling itself nearly lost its Olympic status in 2013 — a reminder that even historically foundational sports are not immune to replacement.

When it comes to jiu jitsu, one reason stands out above the rest: the community cannot agree on a standard ruleset.

What Is the Best Ruleset?

With multiple organizations — IBJJF, ADCC, EBI, and others — each operating under different rules and crowning different champions, it becomes difficult to determine not only which ruleset best represents jiu jitsu, but also who the best overall grappler truly is.

Without standardization, comparison becomes subjective — and Olympic inclusion requires clarity, consistency, and consensus.

The Case for Points Fighting

Points-based competition is common across many combat sports, including wrestling, judo, and karate. It rewards athletes for positional control, transitions, and dominance, offering a clear structure for determining a winner when no submission occurs.

The primary criticism of points-based jiu jitsu, however, is that it can incentivize athletes to prioritize scoring positions over submission proficiency. Some competitors become exceptionally skilled at controlling and winning exchanges without ever developing a dangerous submission game — a concern for those who believe submissions are the essence of jiu jitsu itself.

The Rise of Submission-Only

At the opposite end of the spectrum lies submission-only competition, where positional dominance is irrelevant, and the match is decided solely by a tap. In theory, this restores submissions to the center of the art.

Critics argue, however, that this ruleset ignores a fundamental reality of real-world combat: position matters. In a self-defense scenario, remaining underneath an opponent — even while hunting submissions — can expose a practitioner to strikes or environmental dangers. By removing positional consequences, submission-only formats risk drifting away from jiu jitsu’s roots as a practical fighting system.

Hybrid Solutions

Several organizations have attempted to bridge this divide.
• ADCC employs a hybrid format: the first half of the match is submission-only, followed by a points-based period, encouraging early aggression while preserving positional accountability.
• Combat Jiu Jitsu goes a step further by allowing palm strikes on the ground, forcing defensive players to respect exposure and reinforcing the importance of position — even without traditional scoring.
• UWW Grappling uses a point system more closely aligned with wrestling, prioritizing control and top position. Though it notably excludes heel hooks — arguably the most powerful submission in modern jiu jitsu.

Each of these approaches attempts to preserve submissions while acknowledging the realities of combat and competition.

The Olympic Question

Jiu jitsu is one of the most technically sophisticated and dynamic martial arts in existence, and it deserves serious consideration as a future Olympic sport. However, Olympic inclusion requires a unified international ruleset, much like wrestling and judo have established.

No matter which rules are chosen, someone will be unhappy. But the true challenge isn’t pleasing everyone — it’s answering a more critical question:

How do we create a ruleset that stays true to the art of jiu jitsu?

Whatever that answer is, it is the one the sport must eventually agree upon.

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Steve Ramos is a plant based healer, national team member and coach based in Arizona