The Dominant History And Modern Demographics Of BJJ

Jiu Jitsu is a natural way of defense for a shorter person to take down larger opponents using specific techniques. It became highly popular and dominant in the 20th century, playing a central role in the formation of modern mixed martial arts and top promotions like the UFC. As the name suggests, BJJ originated in Brazil and proved its effectiveness against every other primary martial arts style in challenge matches hosted by the Gracie Family in Rio de Janeiro.  

The factor that made BJJ so famous was its effectiveness against opponents of larger sizes. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is based more on technique than strength, which helped UFC pioneers like Royce Gracie take down larger opponents proficient in other fighting styles, including boxing, Muay Thai, karate, and wrestling. Several MMA legends like Georges St-Piere, Anderson Silva, and BJ Penn have dominated the combat sports world with their proficiency in BJJ alongside other styles and consider BJJ an essential part of modern martial arts success. 

The Historical Origins of BJJ

Kano Jigoro was a Japanese educator and athlete who discovered jiu-do, later named Judo, and significantly contributed to the development of martial arts. Tomita Tsunejirō was the first to learn and master Judo from Jigoro and spread it to several disciples. In 1904, Tomita sent one of his best students, Mitsuyo Maeda, overseas to spread Judo as an effective style to different parts of the world. Maeda was highly skilled in the art and visited several countries, demonstrating his skills through challenges from wrestlers, boxers, savate fighters, and other martial artists. 

Judo’s Arrival in Brazil

Maeda had made a prominent name in Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. He arrived in Brazil on November 14, 1914, where he performed for many traveling fairs and shows before meeting the head of the Gracie Family, Gastão Gracie. Gastão was a business partner of the American Circus in Belém and helped Maeda establish a Japanese immigrant community. As an expression of his gratitude for Gastão’s assistance, Maeda accepted his eldest son, Carlos Gracie, as his student. Carlos had watched Maeda’s Kano jiu-jitsu demonstration at the Da Paz Theatre in 1917 and was inspired to learn.    

The Birth of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

As Carlos Gracie learned and mastered Judo under Maeda, he shared the art with his brothers Oswaldo, Gastão Jr., George, and Hélio. Hélio was shorter in height, making it challenging for him to perform many Judo throws. To adapt, he focused more on ground fighting and leverage, emphasizing the principles of ne-waza (ground techniques). Hélio modified several Judo techniques, making them more practical for smaller fighters against larger opponents.

In 1925, led by Carlos, the Gracie brothers opened Brazil’s first jiu-jitsu academy, marking the birth of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. They refined the art through several public challenge matches, testing their skills against practitioners of several other combat styles. Their confidence was so high that they advertised open challenges in newspapers, stating, “If you want a broken arm or rib, contact Carlos Gracie.” Several fighters from across the globe accepted the Gracie Challenge only to come to Brazil and lose.  

The name ‘Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’ was normalized when the Gracies went to America to further cement their legacy and spread their unique fighting style.   

Rise to Recognition in the 1950s

The 1950s saw significant recognition of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as an influential and dominant style. Hélio Gracie participated in several high-profile challenge matches against renowned champions of the time.

• In 1951, he faced Yukio Kato twice, with the first bout ending in a draw and Hélio winning the second by choke.
• Hélio faced the great Masahiko Kimura in Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, where Hélio fought bravely but lost via the Kimura armlock.

Although he lost the fight, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu gained high prominence among audiences for giving tough competition to the widely considered greatest Judoka of all time. 

Hélio’s legacy was carried by his nephew, Carlson Gracie, who emerged as the leading fighter in the family. The most notable was Carlson’s four-fight series and heated rivalry with Waldemar Santana, who had already beaten Hélio Gracia in 1955. Carlson and Santana fought four times in no-hold-barred matches, with Carlson winning two and the other two ending in draws. This victory made Carlson a big name and fueled his determination to fight and win several more battles. He opened his branch of Gracie School in Copacabana, Rio De Janeiro, and trained several students who would perform remarkably in the emerging Jiu-Jitsu tournaments held in Brazil in the 1970s and 80s. Carlson Gracie is credited with having played a significant role in the technical development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

Rolls Gracie | The Bridge Between Old and Modern BJJ

As Hélio continued teaching at the Gracie School, his 12 year old nephew named Rolls Gracie showed extreme determination and will to learn the art. He was also very close to his elder brother Carlson, who also taught him a great deal. Rolls had the privilege to visit many countries where he learned Judo, Sambo, and Greco-Roman Wrestling. He was a fast learner and determined young man, becoming a black belt at just 16. 

As jiu-jitsu was spreading rapidly across Brazil, the military rule from 1964 to 1985 put a sudden stoppage to it. The political unrest in the country disturbed social life, and media coverage was also reduced. Rolls Gracie was not only with extreme combat skills, but was also a charismatic personality with great leadership skills. He influenced an entire generation of young men and women towards practicing jiu-jitsu and adopting a healthy lifestyle. 

Development of Modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Master Carlos Gracie Jr. describes his elder brother as the link between old jiu-jitsu and the jiu-jitsu we practice today. Rolls Gracie had an open mind and a desire to innovate, which allowed him to learn new techniques and modify his already diverse arsenal. He believed that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu wasn’t a completely developed art and pushed his students to learn other skills like boxing, sambo, and wrestling, which would allow them to creatively enhance their techniques. 

The test of skills happened when a Karate instructor challenged Rolls Gracie to a vale-tudo match after questioning the effectiveness of jiu-jitsu. To the challenger’s surprise, Rolls and his students clean-sweeped the Karate team. Rolls Gracia finished the Karateka in the night’s main event with a rear naked choke within a few minutes of the fight.    

Following the footsteps of his masters, Rolls also opened his own Gracie School, and upcoming generations cemented the tradition. He could only teach a few lucky students due to his untimely death in a hang gliding incident in 1982 at just 31. He was the teacher of: 

• Rickson Gracie
• Carlos Gracie Jr.
• Royler Gracie
• Maurício Motta Gomes
• Márcio Stambowsky
• Rigan Machado 
• Romero Cavalcanti

Although he lived a short life, Rolls Gracie was the most influential person of his era. He achieved more in a short span than what several failed to accomplish in a long life. He is considered the father of modern jiu-jitsu and the Gracie Family’s greatest fighter. 

BJJ Goes to America and the Formation of UFC 

The Gracie brothers including Rorio and Royce Gracie, led by Carlos Gracie went to America in the 1970s to establish Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as an effective and dominant combat style, and teach the art to several fighters. Rorion was well versed in both studies and jiu-jitsu, a lawyer by degree and one of the very few in the world to hold a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His goal was to blend the Gracie Family’s art with the American culture and spread it across the world as an effective combat style. Rorion achieved this goal as he is widely recognized as the key figure responsible for introducing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to the world. 

Rorion and his brothers brought their family legacy of vale-tudo challenge matches to the United States. They challenged fighters from several martial art backgrounds and proved the effectiveness of their jiu-jitsu against the opponent’s techniques, convincing more students to join them.

Rorion also worked with the Lethal Weapon movie series, which helped him make several social links and showcase the Gracie jiu jitsu techniques on the big screen. He used the resources and skills he had mastered to create a documentary on jiu jitsu and opened an academy along with his brothers in 1989. 

UFC Changes the Fight Game

Impressed by the idea of Gracie Challenges, Rorion and business executive Art Davie created the Ultimate Fighting Championship(UFC). Davie always wanted to create an establishment where fighters from different disciplines could come face to face to determine the better one. Rorion Gracie’s goal was to prove that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the most effective fighting technique that can take down opponents of any size and weight. 

Davie hired seven professional martial artists from distinctive disciplines to participate in the fighting tournament inside an octagonal steel cage structure with a no-holds-barred setting. Rorion chose his younger brother Royce Gracie to represent the family. Royce was relatively slim and shorter than the other contestants, making this the perfect opportunity to prove a point. He dominated the entire competition, taking down every opponent one after another in the event named UFC 1, which witnessed 90,000 pay-per-view buys. The event was a huge success, marking the beginning of BJJ’s global popularity, and paved the way for future such competitions. 

The Dominance of BJJ in the UFC

Royce won the first, second, and fourth edition of UFC in single-elimination martial arts competitions. His consistent victories and dominance in the octagon showcased the effectiveness of BJJ as he overcame several larger opponents skilled in various fighting styles, including boxing, shootfighting, Muay Thai, karate, wrestling, and taekwondo.

Royce Gracie’s success in the UFC revealed the critical importance of ground fighting in mixed martial arts (MMA) to the entire combat world. His ability to control and submit opponents on the ground demonstrated the effectiveness of BJJ techniques, revolutionizing the approach to combat sports. As a result, BJJ has become an essential aspect of MMA training, emphasizing the significance of ground fighting in achieving victory.

Global Expansion of BJJ

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu steadily grew in popularity after its initial success in the UFC and other MMA events. The Gracie family’s style of jiu-jitsu became widely referred to as Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and the likes of Royce Gracie became UFC’s first ever hall of fame inductee. 

In 1996, the first-ever BJJ world championships, commonly known as the Mundials, took place in Rio de Janeiro. This was followed by the formation of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) in 2002. By 2007, the Mundials moved to California, where they have grown in size and prestige, with over 6,000 competitors participating in the tournament in 2022.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continues to grow and evolve, constantly introducing new techniques and moves. New academies are opening worldwide, making BJJ accessible to an ever-expanding audience. Today, almost every large town has at least one place to train, reflecting the martial art’s widespread appeal and enduring legacy.

Fighting Style and Techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Initially, BJJ was a modified form of Judo taught by Mitsuyo Maeda to the likes of Carlos Gracie. As the fighting style developed and reached upcoming generations, several techniques and previous ones were added to increase the effectiveness of takedowns and ground techniques. The primary purpose of BJJ is to neutralize an opponent’s strength or size advantage and execute submissions.

Wrestling techniques have significantly influenced BJJ, particularly takedown skills. Rolls Gracie added Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling techniques, such as single-leg and double-leg takedowns, to BJJ, making it a more effective overall moveset.

Primary Ground Positions

BJJ training involves practicing takedown and ground fighting techniques adopted from several disciplines and enhanced to certain standards.

Guard

The guard position involves the practitioner on their back using their legs to control the opponent. It allows for numerous counter-attacks, submissions, and sweeps.

• Closed Guard: The legs are wrapped around the opponent’s hips, and the ankles are locked together.
• Open Guard: The legs are not locked, and the practitioner uses their legs or feet to push or pull the opponent.
• Half Guard: The bottom grappler controls one of the top grappler’s legs, preventing them from advancing to a more dominant position.

Side Control

In side control, the practitioner pins the opponent to the ground from the side, applying pressure with their body weight. This position allows for various submissions and transitions to other dominant positions.

Full Mount

This position has the practitioner sitting astride the opponent’s torso, controlling them with body weight and hips. This position is highly advantageous for applying armlocks or chokes.

Back Mount

It is one of the most effective moves in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The practitioner attaches to the opponent’s back, often using leg hooks or a body triangle. This position is ideal for applying chokeholds and neutralizes the opponent’s ability to defend effectively.

North-South Position

This position occurs when the practitioner lies on top of the opponent with their head over the opponent’s chest. This position allows for submissions such as the North-South choke.

Knee on Belly

In the knee on belly position, the practitioner controls the opponent by placing one knee on their torso while the other leg is positioned for balance. This mobile pin allows for strikes and transitions to more dominant positions.

Submissions

BJJ includes several joint locks and chokeholds, which force the opponent to tap out or risk injury. Some common submissions are:

• Armbar: Hyperextends the elbow joint.
• Kimura: A shoulder lock.
• Triangle Choke: Uses the legs to choke the opponent.
• Rear-Naked Choke: Applied from the back mount to choke the opponent.

Grading System in BJJ

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) ranking system uses colored belts to show a practitioner’s skill level and technical knowledge. Up to four stripes can be added to each belt to indicate progress within that belt level.

• White Belt: Everyone begins as a white belt, focusing on learning basic techniques and principles. It typically lasts 1-2 years with consistent training.
• Blue Belt: Practitioners at this level understand fundamental techniques and start developing their own game. The blue belt usually takes 2-3 years to master and move to purple.
• Purple Belt: This is the advanced stage where practitioners refine their skills, learn more complex techniques, and often start teaching beginners. Advancement from purple to brown belt typically takes 1.5 to 2 years.
• Brown Belt: At this level, the practitioner knows all the moves and focuses on perfecting them before moving to the black belt level. The brown belt is generally held for one to two years.
• Black Belt: Achieving a black belt indicates high skill and knowledge in BJJ. It often takes around 10 years of consistent training to reach this level. Black belts can earn additional degrees based on time spent training and contributions to the art.

Youth Belts

For children, the belt system includes additional colors to signify progress:

• Grey Belt: Indicates progress between white and yellow belts.
• Yellow, Orange, and Green Belts: These belts represent increasing skill and knowledge levels for young practitioners.

Weight Classes in BJJ

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) has established weight classes for gi and no-gi competitions to ensure fair competition among athletes of different sizes. :

IBJJF Gi Weight Classes

Male Weight Classes:

• Rooster: Up to 126.5 lbs (57.5 kg)
• Light Feather: Up to 141 lbs (64 kg)
• Feather: Up to 154 lbs (70 kg)
• Light: Up to 167 lbs (76 kg)
• Middle: Up to 181 lbs (82.3 kg)
• Medium Heavy: Up to 195 lbs (88.3 kg)
• Heavy: Up to 208 lbs (94.3 kg)
• Super Heavy: Up to 215 lbs (97.5 kg)
• Ultra Heavy: No maximum weight

Female Weight Classes:

• Rooster: Up to 107 lbs (47.5 kg)
• Light Feather: Up to 115 lbs (52.2 kg)
• Feather: Up to 125.5 lbs (57 kg)
• Light: Up to 138.5 lbs (62.8 kg)
• Middle: Up to 152 lbs (69.1 kg)
• Medium Heavy: Up to 167.5 lbs (76.1 kg)
• Heavy: Up to 181.5 lbs (82.3 kg)
• Super Heavy: No maximum weight

IBJJF No-Gi Weight Classes

Male Weight Classes:

• Rooster: Up to 122.5 lbs (55.5 kg)
• Light Feather: Up to 136 lbs (61.5 kg)
• Feather: Up to 149 lbs (67.5 kg)
• Light: Up to 162.5 lbs (73.5 kg)
• Middle: Up to 175.5 lbs (79.5 kg)
• Middle Heavy: Up to 188.5 lbs (85.5 kg)
• Heavy: Up to 202 lbs (91.5 kg)
• Super Heavy: Up to 215 lbs (97.5 kg)
• Ultra Heavy: No maximum weight

Female Weight Classes:

• Rooster: Up to 103 lbs (46.5 kg)
• Light Feather: Up to 114 lbs (51.5 kg)
• Feather: Up to 125 lbs (56.5 kg)
• Light: Up to 136 lbs (61.5 kg)
• Middle: Up to 147 lbs (66.5 kg)
• Middle Heavy: Up to 158 lbs (71.5 kg)
• Heavy: Up to 169 lbs (76.5 kg)
• Super Heavy: No maximum weight

Official Rules of BJJ

The IBJJF also defines the general rules of BJJ that must be followed by every major promotion and professional event. 

Referee Authority and Duties

Three referees are responsible for reviewing and judging professional BJJ bouts, one inside the ring and two seated on opposite corners. This is different from other combat sports with a panel of judges closely analyzing the fight and deciding a winner based on certain factors. BJJ judges have the following duties and authorities during a match:

• The referee is the highest authority, whose ruling on the match results can not be contested.  
• A referee must position the athletes in their respective corners, ensure that they are safely and correctly dressed, call the start, intervene when necessary, and call the end to the match.
• A referee’s decision can only be changed if he/she misread the score board, doesn’t notice an illegal technique by a fighter, or realizes an erroneous disqualification. 
• If the in-ring referee decides to disqualify a contestant, he makes the gesture defined in the rule book. The decision is confirmed if any of the seated referees make the same gesture. 
• When necessary, the IBJJF can use two extra referees with access to video replay. These referees will ensure fair distribution of points and help avoid any misconducts by the fighters or the referees
• A referee must announce the match’s result and raise the winner’s arm. 

Types of Decisions 

Submission

A submission is counted when a contestant taps the floor or opponent’s body twice with their hand or feet while inside a submission hold. It can also be counted if the contestant verbally declares defeat or screams highly in pain while inside a submission lock.  

Stoppage

A referee has the authority to stop the match under the following conditions:

• If a contestant doesn’t submit inside a submission hold but is vulnerable to severe injury.
• When a fighter’s bleeding can not be contained even after being treated twice by the doctor.
• If a contestant loses control of essential bodily functions or is too injured to continue as a result of legal moves by the opponent.  

Disqualification

A fighter is declared disqualified if he/she consistently commits fouls defined in the rule book.

Loss of consciousness

If a contestant loses consciousness due to a legal hold by the opponent or by accident, the latter is declared the winner.

Score

If both fighters survive the set number of rounds or get severely injured, the match is decided on points scored. Two to four points are awarded for every move and counted at the fight’s end to declare the winner. If the score is drawn, advantage points and penalties are counted to make a final decision.

Referee decision

The referees decide who wins if both athletes score the same number of points, advantage points, and penalties. They take notes throughout the fight and determine the winner based on the overall offense, potential submissions, and possible points scored by a fighter.

Random pick

If both athletes suffer an accidental injury during a final match, the score is tied, and they cannot continue; the winner is decided through random selection.

Points Awarding Criteria 

The IBJJF rules define different number of points for each technique as in the table below:

• Stabilizing Positions: Points are awarded when an athlete holds a position for 3 seconds. If escaping a submission hold results in leaving the match area, the athlete applying the submission receives 2 points.
• Repeated Positions: No points are given for voluntarily breaking and repeating a position if points were already awarded for it.
• Points During Submission:

• If a contestant is held inside a submission hold and comes in a point-scoring position, the points will only be awarded once they escape the hold.
• There are no points or advantages if the escape happens after losing the position.
• If a submission hold interrupts the 3-second count, an advantage is given for each position achieved.
• If an athlete is attacked with a submission hold and doesn’t escape before the match ends, they receive one advantage point.
• Cumulative Points: If an athlete progresses through multiple positions and holds the final position for 3 seconds, they are awarded points for the progressive positions.

Essential BJJ Gear and Apparel

Professional BJJ matches require contestants to wear a uniform, making competition more flexible and safe for both fighters. IBJJF also defines the essential rules for BJJ GIs that must be followed in every Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu promotion and event:

GI Material

GIs must be made from at least 90% cotton or similar cellulose fabric for the jacket and 55% for the trousers, not too thick or stiff to grip. Woven fabric is required for juvenile, adult, master, and senior divisions. Kimonos with EVA or similar materials inside the collar are allowed if they meet the size and rigidity standards set by IBJJF.

GI Color and Patches

GIs must be a uniform color, which can be white, royal blue, or black. Mixed-color GIs or with differently colored collars are not allowed. Painted GIs are banned unless the paint forms an academy or sponsor logo and is in allowed patch areas. If the paint marks the opponent’s GI, the athlete must change GIs. Patches must be cotton, properly sewn, and placed only in authorized areas.

Belt Requirements

Athletes must wear a durable belt, 4-5 cm wide, matching their rank with a black tip (except black belts with a white or red tip). The strap wraps around the waist twice and is secured with a double knot, leaving ends that hang 20-30 cm.

GI Measurements

The GI top should reach the thighs, and sleeves should end within 5 cm of the wrist when the arms are extended. Pants should be no more than 5 cm above the ankle bone. Inspections will check the lapel thickness (1.3 cm), collar width (5 cm), and sleeve opening (7 cm).

Other Requirements

Men cannot wear shirts under the GI top; women must wear a body-hugging shirt or one-piece swimsuit beneath the GI. No under-GI pants are allowed except for women, who can wear body-hugging shorts. Undergarments are mandatory, but thongs are not allowed. GIs must be clean, without mending or tears, and should not emit unpleasant odors.

No-GI Jiu-Jitsu Uniform Requirements

Shirts and Rash Guards:

Both men and women must wear skin-tight shirts covering the torso to the shorts’ waistband, in black, white, or a combination with at least 10% of their rank color. Entirely rank-colored shirts are also allowed. Black belts can have a small red area without altering the rank color.

Shorts for Men:

Men must wear board shorts in black, white, or rank color, without pockets (or with stitched pockets), buttons, drawstrings, zippers, or metal/plastic parts, covering at least halfway down the thigh and no longer than the knee. Compression shorts under board shorts are allowed in the same colors.

Shorts, Compression Shorts, and Pants for Women:

Women can wear shorts, compression pants, or compression shorts in black, white, or rank color, without pockets (or with stitched pockets), buttons, zippers, or metal/plastic parts. The shorts must cover at least halfway down the thigh and be no longer than the knee.

The Modern Demographics of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Since its inception in the 20th century, BJJ has significantly evolved as an effective and dominant style. Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an essential discipline to learn for anyone stepping into the MMA world. 

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the third highest earning discipline in the U.S., averaging $139,193 in annual revenue.
• Men outnumber women in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at a rate of over 4:1.
• FloGrappling is one of the top streaming channels for BJJ events that has experienced impressive growth since 2017. As of the time, FloGrappling’s subscriber count averages 1.75% growth every 30 days. 
• Google Trends visualizes the growing interest in BJJ  in the United States. The combat style averaged below 10% in 2004, reaching up to 100 search interests in June 2023, accounting for peak popularity.
• Among the 50,000 martial arts dojos in the USA, nearly 20% are BJJ gyms.
• 9,700 black belt BJJ experts are registered with the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
• There are 2,945,240 people practicing BJJ, and the average practitioner is a 30-year-old blue belt male who has been training for 3.5 years and trains 6 hours per week.

Distribution of BJJ Practitioners 

Finalstepmarketing.com has conducted surveys in North America and South Korea to determine the demographics of BJJ in those regions.

Demographics in North America

95% of BJJ practitioners in the region are male, while females fill the remaining 5% gap.

Belt Representation

• White:  23% with an average age of 28 and 5.98 training hours.
• Blue: 43% with an average age of 31 and 6.62 training hours.
• Purple: 22% with an average age of 33 and 7.65 training hours.
• Brown: 6% with an average age of 36 and 10.2 training hours.
• Black: 6% with an average age of 35 and 10.21 training hours.

BJJ Practitioners by Age

• 16 to 20: 6%
• 21 to 25: 15%
• 26 to 30: 29%
• 31 to 35: 23%
• 36 to 40: 17%
• 41+: 10%

Demographics in South Korea:

93.01% of BJJ practitioners in the region are male, while females fill the remaining 6.99% gap. Most BJJ practitioners in South Korea practice 3 to 4 times per week, estimating around 51.1%. 28.8% practice once or twice weekly, while only 20.1% take time for BJJ 5 to 7 times weekly.

Belt Representation

• White: 43%
• Blue: 38.4%
• Purple: 13.5%
• Brown: 3.2%
• Black: 1.6%

BJJ Practitioners by Age

• 17 and Under: 1.6%
• 18 to 30: 51.6%
• 31 to 45: 45.2%
• Over 45: 1.6%

Worldwide BJJ Demographics

As of 2017, almost three million people were practicing BJJ. Considering the rapidly increasing population, the numbers have only multiplied in later years. The Brazilian combat style is of huge global interest, mainly in the US, Brazil, and Northeast Asia.  

Gender Ratio and Ethnicity of BJJ Practitioners

Men outnumber women by a vast majority of 84.4% as BJJ practitioners, gym owners, and employees. Compared to other combat sports, 15.6% is a decent number for women in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu discipline. The ethnicity is divided as follows:

• White: 60.7%
• Hispanic Or Latino: 25%
• Black Or African American: 10.7%
• Asian: 3.6%

English is the most commonly spoken language among BJJ practitioners and employees, considering the sport’s high popularity in the USA. Spanish is the most spoken foreign language, at 40%, followed by Mandarin, Portuguese, and Tagalog, at 20% each. 

Average Age of BJJ Practitioners and Employees

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is extremely popular among the young. 50% of worldwide BJJ practitioners are between the ages of 20 and 30, while 25% are below 18. The remaining 25% are between 30 and 40, accounting for a near-zero chance of a 40+ year old person actively practicing BJJ. 

Average Earnings and Practicing Duration 

While some people start BJJ as a recreational and fitness activity, more than one-third of practitioners stay in the discipline for over 11 years. Around the same percentage of employees and practitioners leave the profession within a few months to up to two years of joining.

Depending on certain factors, a professional BJJ fighter can earn between $4000 and $40,000 per competition. Retired professionals or those who must leave the sport for injury and personal reasons often establish BJJ gyms or start working as instructors. A BJJ instructor gets paid $30,000 to $100,000 annually.  

Market Size and Industry Analysis of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Studios in the US

• BJJ studios have enjoyed modest growth over the past five years. The revenue has increased at a CAGR of 0.1% to total an estimated $2.5 billion in 2024, including an estimated decrease of 0.2% in 2024 alone.
• As of 2024, 44,218 BJJ studios were registered in the US, representing a 6.1% increase from the previous year.
• The industry employs 65,146 people in 2024, a 2.3% increase from the previous year.
• The market share concentration in the BJJ studios industry is low, with the top four companies generating less than 40% of industry revenue.

Final Words: The Importance of BJJ in the Martial Arts World

Combat sports are becoming increasingly popular among the public on a global scale. While countries like the USA, United Kingdom, and Japan have been practicing and developing new martial arts styles for centuries, we have recently seen a significant influence from newer sports competitors. Brazil’s Gracie Family rocked in the late 20th century with their unique Jiu-Jitsu, derived from the Japanese art of Judo. Their mission was to dominate the combat sports circuit with their dominant and practical skill set, which they successfully achieved. Since its global exposure, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been of golden value to the martial arts circuit. 

Today, BJJ is a significant discipline one must know to become a well-versed Mixed Martial Artist. Even the world’s largest growing MMA promotion, the UFC originated as a BJJ-dominated series of tournaments. UFC legends like Anderson Silva, BJ Penn, and Demian Maia are among the most notable figures who have achieved everything the martial arts circuit had to offer and thank their impressive BJJ skill set for the great success. The discipline continues to grow today, as several MMA champions and notable fighters, including BJJ, have made BJJ a critical part of their vast move set.