Whilst Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will always be synonymous with Brazil for obvious reasons, it’s fair to say that it has since spread to a global martial art. Even though it’s still growing, there are definitely some countries where BJJ is more popular than others.
In this article, we shall assess the countries where training BJJ is most popular. This also serves as an example of how much BJJ has grown in recent years as it fast becomes the most popular martial art in the world. So, if you’re a BJJ globetrotter then it may be time to get your flights booked!
Table of Contents
Brazil
Undoubtedly, BJJ is still the most popular in Brazil. Whilst certain other countries are now rivaling it for popularity, BJJ is still most loved in Brazil. Whether it’s in the richest parts of the country or in the favelas, BJJ is trained by all.
Arguably, Brazil still favors the gi more than no gi. This is interesting, seeing as no gis popularity has spread in other parts of the world yet the gi is still the main way of training in Brazil. Also, whilst many of today’s superstars come from countries such as America, don’t let this fool you – Brazil still has its fair share of elite competitors, who are sometimes not shown as much in the media spotlight.
USA
After Brazil, the USA is the second biggest country for BJJ. In fact, you could argue that one day it will even surpass Brazil in terms of popularity. At least, it seems to be on this course at the moment. This has led to splinter cultures such as American Jiu Jitsu and other names for their own brand of grappling.
Overall, it’s not too surprising that the USA loves BJJ, seeing as it also loves wrestling which is similar to no gi. As a result, you can easily find a BJJ gym on most street corners. Even in the most obscure towns in the USA, there’s probably a BJJ gym somewhere.
UAE
Such is the love of BJJ in UAE, which is that it’s taught as part of their school’s curriculum. Furthermore, it’s also part of their military training. Understandably, this means that BJJ is a big part of their culture. In fact, this is where Abu Dhabi is located, which is what ADCC stands for (Abu Dhabi Combat Club). First founded in 1998, ADCC has grown into the biggest competition in the world and is incredibly famous.
What’s also worth mentioning is that the UAE was only founded as a country in 1971. With this in mind, we can expect to see BJJ grow a lot more in the future as far as the United Arab Emirates is concerned.
UK
Moving to Europe, the United Kingdom is a very popular spot for BJJ. Whilst it’s not as big as the likes of Brazil or the US, the good news is for British grapplers is that there are still loads of different gyms to choose from, in major cities and towns.
The UK has also stamped its own mark on BJJ culture, bringing the world competitions such as Polaris and producing talents like Ffion Davies. Like many countries on this list, BJJ is still relatively new in the UK, so it will be even more interesting to see what the scene is like in the next ten years.
Australia
Another country that has come a long way in a short time is Australia. Just a few decades ago, BJJ was relatively unknown in Australia, now it is a big hotspot with some of the world’s best competitors coming from there.
Part of this success has been due the likes of Craig Jones and Lachlan Giles who helped wave the BJJ flag for the Australian community. Now, there are multiple gyms in every major city. It’s not just sport BJJ where Australia has found success either, in MMA and the UFC it has also been quite successful too. What’s more, Australia doesn’t have the biggest population, to begin with either. As a result, BJJ in Australia is something of a dark horse.
Japan
Due to Japan’s contribution to grappling and martial arts as a whole, it’s no surprise that BJJ is very popular over there. Without the likes of Judo and Japanese Ju Jitsu to begin with, BJJ probably wouldn’t exist.
In fact, the Japanese have been grappling longer than many parts of the world and were some of the first to use BJJ-type moves in MMA. Known for their technical ability and tough mentality, they’ve certainly proved that BJJ is global. Training BJJ in Japan is incredibly easy. Not just because of its popularity, but this is also due to its brilliant public transport system which makes it easy to get around.
Poland
If ever you’ve met a Polish person, you’ll know that their country loves martial arts and BJJ in particular. It’s unknown why Poland loves BJJ more than other parts of Eastern Europe – but it does. Not only is it quite cheap to train there, you’re also in for some firm but fair rounds. Plus, the people are notoriously tough.
Wherever you go to in Poland, you’ll be able to do BJJ. Due to the part of the world that Poland is located in, it also has its fair share of decent wrestlers too.
