In a recent episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, host Stephan Kesting made a compelling point about the inherently political nature of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
These comments and the birth of this podcast comes a month after Kesting went viral for his criticism of John Danaher. John Danaher faced controversy after appearing on Jake Shields’ podcast. Kesting accused Shields of promoting extremist views, particularly aligning with right-wing ideologies, and argued that Danaher’s appearance on the podcast amounted to implicit endorsement. This controversy has highlighted a divide within the BJJ community, with some defending Danaher’s neutrality and others questioning whether his silence inadvertently supports extremist views.
“Jiu-Jitsu has never been free of politics,” Kesting stated during a conversation with fellow martial arts instructors Steve Kwan, Jeff Shaw, and Jesse Walker. “There’s a reason that Helio Gracie didn’t spend and his brothers didn’t spend decades in jail after ambushing a catch wrestler that they’d lost to in the ring, jumping on him four or five to one, beating the crap out of him with brass knuckles, and then when he’s unconscious, breaking his arm, getting arrested, going to jail, and then getting bailed out because of political connections to the Brazilian military.”
Kesting is referring to the infamous pardon Helio Gracie and brothers received.
In 1931, wrestling instructor Manoel Rufino dos Santos and jiu-jitsu pioneer Carlos Gracie faced off in a highly anticipated match at the Fluminense Football Club in Rio de Janeiro. Tensions were high leading up to the fight, with disputes over attire and prize money almost causing a cancellation. During the match, Rufino appeared to dominate early on, but in the third round, Gracie attempted a chokehold, leading to a controversial moment where Rufino was thought to have submitted. However, the referee allowed the fight to continue. After a fierce argument, Santos was declared the winner, but the Gracie brothers were displeased, with Carlos later provoking Rufino publicly. In retaliation, the Gracie brothers allegedly attacked Santos in an ambush, leading to legal action and their eventual conviction in 1934. Despite this, a public campaign led by influential figures resulted in the Gracie brothers receiving a pardon from the Brazilian government as documented by Globo.
This statement challenges the common refrain heard in gyms across the world: “keep politics out of Jiu-Jitsu.” The podcast examined how this seemingly neutral stance often serves to silence progressive voices while allowing right-wing perspectives to flourish unchallenged within combat sports communities.
Kesting further noted the historical context, pointing out that “Helio Gracie was part of a fascist movement in Brazil in the 1930s,” highlighting that the political entanglements in Jiu-Jitsu stretch back to its very foundations.
The conversation touched on how the current political climate has exposed divisions within the Jiu-Jitsu community that were perhaps always present but less visible. Steve Kwan observed that the prevailing wisdom in Jiu-Jitsu has always been to “keep politics out of the gym,” which idealistically sounds like creating “this magical walled garden playground where we can all forget our worries and train.” However, he noted that “the reality is that for a lot of people, you can’t do that because their existence is to some extent made political by someone else.”
Another host shared a personal anecdote about the moment he realized the political undercurrents in Jiu-Jitsu: “I remember the day I was at a weekend workshop and it was during the Ferguson riots… and I overheard people that I had trained with for years… hoping that the police did this and that to the protesters. I was like, ‘Holy, I’m surrounded by racists and I had no idea.’ That day changed everything for me.”
The podcast hosts made claims on how combat sports in general seem particularly vulnerable to radicalized thinking. Kesting observed, “If you take a look at the situation in MMA, it’s hard to believe that there’s a space more fascist and right-wing than Jiu-Jitsu, but I will give you MMA.”
The participants also discussed the challenge of building community while maintaining their values.
