In a thought-provoking interview about combat sports evolution, ADCC bronze medalist and renowned coach Lachlan Giles shared his perspective on how wrestling could potentially overtake jiu-jitsu in popularity with a simple but significant change: ditching the traditional singlets for modern NoGi gear.
Giles, who has established himself as one of the most respected figures in the grappling world through his competition success and coaching excellence at Absolute MMA St Kilda, believes that wrestling’s fundamental appeal as a spectator sport is already superior to jiu-jitsu.
“I think wrestling should wrestling as a sport, I think, is like more exciting than jiu-jitsu and like in terms of like things happening and very understandable to the audience,”
Giles explained during a recent podcast appearance.
The Australian grappler’s observation touches on a crucial aspect of sports entertainment: accessibility to casual viewers. Wrestling offers clear, dynamic action that requires little explanation for spectators to understand and appreciate. The constant movement, takedowns and scrambles create an inherently more engaging viewing experience compared to the often subtle, technical battles that characterize high-level jiu-jitsu matches.
However, Giles identified what he sees as wrestling’s primary barrier to mainstream acceptance: the sport’s traditional uniform.
“So, I don’t know why that’s not more popular. I think they get need to get rid of the the leotards and they need shorts and rashies,”
he stated, suggesting that modern athletic wear similar to what’s used in NoGi jiu-jitsu competitions would make wrestling more appealing to contemporary audiences.
This isn’t merely about aesthetics. The evolution of combat sports presentation has shown how visual elements can significantly impact audience perception and engagement. NoGi jiu-jitsu has benefited from its modern, accessible image, with athletes competing in board shorts and rash guards that align with current athletic fashion trends. This contemporary presentation has helped distinguish NoGi competition from traditional gi-based jiu-jitsu and contributed to its rapid growth in popularity.
Giles‘ perspective comes from someone deeply embedded in the grappling world who has witnessed the dramatic evolution of NoGi jiu-jitsu over recent years. The sport has seen a surge in viewership, prize money and mainstream attention, partly due to high-profile events like the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), where Giles served as head coach for the Australasia team.
The suggestion that wrestling could benefit from borrowing NoGi jiu-jitsu’s presentation model reflects broader trends in combat sports marketing and athlete branding. Modern audiences gravitate toward sports that feel contemporary and relatable, and traditional wrestling’s uniform requirements may inadvertently create a barrier to broader appeal.
Wrestling’s technical superiority as a spectator sport, combined with the visual accessibility that NoGi gear could provide, might indeed create a formidable combination. The sport already possesses the action-packed, easy-to-follow format that jiu-jitsu sometimes struggles to deliver to casual viewers. With updated presentation elements, wrestling could potentially capture the momentum that NoGi jiu-jitsu has built in recent years.
While Giles‘ suggestion might seem simple, it represents a deeper understanding of how small changes can have significant impacts on sports evolution.
