Ju-Jitsu IF approves reforms package

The reforms include moving the headquarters of the JJIF from Switzerland to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, and a 25 per cent female representation on the JJIF board. A management team already works out of Abu Dhabi but a new headquarters will be constructed next year and directors of various departments, such as sports, finance and administration, will be recruited.

Mr Theodoropoulos described the EGA as a big step forward on the road to being recognised by the International Olympic Committee because all the mechanisms would be in place to meet the requirements of the IOC.

However, he emphasised that “we have a lot of work to do” in making the necessary changes and setting ju-jitsu on the road to the Olympic Games – a target which is more achievable thanks to the Olympic Agenda 2020 roadmap of IOC President Thomas Bach offering more flexibility to the sports programme.

He also thanked the OCA President, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, and the Ju-Jitsu Asian Union for their support and promotion of the sport through OCA events, and described ju-jitsu’s appearance at the 4th Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand, last November as a “great success”.

In order to gain IOC recognition, the delegates were told that ju-jitsu must be developed across all continents, as only Europe and Asia were regarded as strong and well-organised confederations at this time. “We want the others to follow,” said the President.

Regarding the technical aspects of the sport, he said they had developed three disciplines  - fighting, ne-waza and duo - and all three were promoted equally by the JJIF, even though National Federations were free to focus on one, two or all three categories.