In recent years, the grappling world has witnessed a significant shift towards NoGi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with the discipline gaining tremendous popularity among practitioners and spectators alike. Wrestling standout Bo Nickal recently shared his perspective on this growing trend.
“NoGi jiu-jitsu is becoming big and it’s becoming popular now because younger people were like we’re gonna go hard,” Nickal explained. “NoGi jiu-jitsu and like we’re gonna promote it and do this and that. Older people that were ingrained in that culture was like they’re stuck in the gi and it’s kind of dying right.”
Nickal points to a generational divide, noting that the innovative energy behind major NoGi competitions comes from younger organizers: “The people running like ADCC, CJI, the big tournaments, it’s like younger guys.”
This observation aligns with insights from other prominent figures in the grappling community. B Team’s Owen Jones recently highlighted how NoGi creates more competitive scenarios even when skill levels differ significantly.
“If you roll with a black belt NoGi, you can do stuff there if you’re big and strong, you’re athletic and you push him around,” Jones said during an appearance on the Grappler’s Perspective podcast. “You like he’s trying to secure something and you do a big explosive movement where you jump on a leg or you jump an arm you could actually get something.”
Jones contrasted this with the more technically demanding gi training: “If you fought Adam Wardzinski for example if you train with him in the gi you’re going to do nothing he’s just going to beat you up for 10 minutes like you won’t be able to get anything going.”
The accessibility factor seems to be a significant driver of NoGi’s increasing popularity. “That’s another reason why people will find it more enjoyable and like to train and more like to watch him because matches become more competitive when they probably shouldn’t be,” Jones elaborated.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Andre Galvao has also weighed in on the NoGi momentum, particularly regarding its Olympic potential. Galvao believes NoGi grappling would be more suitable for Olympic inclusion than traditional gi BJJ.
“It’s challenging for Jiu-Jitsu to be included in the Olympics, possibly due to complex rules or the lack of high-level practitioners in some countries,” Galvao explained. “NoGi grappling would be more dynamic, and athletes from various grappling backgrounds could participate.”
The multiple-time world champion in both BJJ and ADCC emphasized that NoGi’s faster pace and more explosive nature would make it more viewer-friendly – a crucial factor for Olympic sports.
“Our sport is becoming very professional without the need to be in the Olympics,” Galvao noted. “We have many excellent championships and events. If BJJ were in the Olympics, these events might cease to exist, and many gyms could close.”
The debate continues as rising star Kade Ruotolo expressed optimism about BJJ’s Olympic future while acknowledging hurdles: “I think there’s a day for sure that it does make it in. The main thing is finding a ruleset that everybody can agree upon, that’s exciting, fair, and digestible for a worldwide audience.”
As Nickal suggests, the energy and promotion from younger grapplers and organizers appear to be propelling NoGi BJJ forward, potentially shifting the balance in the grappling world away from the traditional gi-centered approach that dominated previous generations.
