Bia Mesquita, a 10-time jiu-jitsu world champion now competing in the UFC, has opened up about the deeply troubling issue of misconduct within Brazilian jiu-jitsu culture, suggesting that a longstanding pattern of impunity has enabled ongoing problems in the sport.
Speaking on the Direto de Vegas podcast, Mesquita reflected on recent cases that have come to light across different academies and instructors, ranging from harassment to more serious offenses. While emphasizing that she personally never experienced such situations during her own career, she acknowledged the painful reality faced by many others in the sport.
“I think the fact that some people got away with these things may have allowed others to continue committing these kinds of abuses. There needs to be real accountability and consequences. Someone has to say, ‘My brother, this isn’t right. This can’t be allowed.’ That’s how it should be.”
The Brazilian champion, who began training at age five, credits her early instructors with creating safe environments. Her first coach had a daughter who also trained, and Mesquita describes him as a great father figure who maintained proper boundaries.
Throughout her career training with various male instructors, she encountered a culture where coaches would tell her:
“When you step on the tatami mat, that’ll turn into a man,” referring to the expectation of equal treatment in training.
However, Mesquita believes the recent wave of accusations represents a crucial turning point for the sport.
“I’m happy today having the girls managed to express, to bring this to light so that people can change,” she said. “This is not the whole story. We have to clean and remove the rotten apple so that jiu-jitsu can continue to be a place where people go there to be happy.”
The fighter considers the tatami mat her “happy place” and wants to preserve that sense of safety for future generations. For Mesquita, jiu-jitsu provided not just self-defense skills but the confidence and posture that shaped who she is today. She wants others to experience that same positive environment without fear.
While acknowledging this is a deeply personal and sensitive subject for those who have experienced misconduct, Mesquita emphasized the importance of creating accountability systems.
She discussed the need for proper channels where people can report problems safely, suggesting structures independent of federation control where anonymous complaints can be filed.
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated and edited for clarity and readability.]
