Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is making its national debut at the State Games of America, and a Central Pennsylvania gym is at the center of making it happen.
The State Games of America, a National Olympic Style Championship held every other year, draws roughly 14,000 athletes from across the country for 12 days of competition. This summer, the games are being hosted in Pennsylvania for the first time since 2013, and they will be held on the campus of Penn State University in State College from July 24th through August 2nd. Jiu-Jitsu competitions are scheduled for the first Saturday of the event.
Third-Generation Jiu-Jitsu, a gym with multiple locations across the mid-state, played a key role in organizing the inaugural BJJ tournament at the games. Owner David Brogan, who has been at the forefront of growing the sport in the region, saw the inclusion as a natural next step.
“We’ve had the pleasure of being the first people to spread Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu around Central Pennsylvania, so to have the opportunity to bring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into the Keystone Games and spread it throughout the Commonwealth, it was a huge honor and now we’re excited to do this at the national level,” Brogan said.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is widely regarded as one of the fastest growing martial arts in the United States, and its addition to the State Games of America reflects that growing presence. The sport joins a lineup of more than 50 events set to take place during the games.
“It’s pretty amazing. There’s going to be over 50 different sports participated. Everything from Badminton, to basketball, to ice hockey, to various martial arts, to track and field. And we’re bringing all the athletes together at Penn State University, one of the icons of sports in the United States, of what’s basically a mini Olympics here in Pennsylvania,” Brogan said.
For Pennsylvania, hosting the games for the first time in over a decade at one of the country’s most recognized university campuses adds significance to an already milestone event. For the Jiu-Jitsu community, it is a long-awaited recognition of the sport’s place among competitive athletics at the national stage.
The State Games of America is a biennial, Olympic-style championship organized by the National Congress of State Games, bringing together thousands of amateur athletes from across the United States.
Competitors earn their place by winning medals at their respective state games during the previous two years, making the event one of the country’s premier showcases for amateur sports. With athletes competing across more than 30 disciplines, from track and field and ice hockey to martial arts, the addition of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu marks another significant step in the sport’s growing recognition on a national stage.
