Multiple-time world champion Ffion Davies recently voiced her opinion on the topic of the inequality women face in the sport of Jiu-Jitsu.
With accolades from ADCC, Worlds, Pans, and Europeans under her belt, Davies has a front-row view of how the sport treats female athletes.She emphasized how the lack of exposure, media attention, and prize money for women’s divisions creates a demotivating cycle for aspiring competitors:
If she can’t see it, she can’t be it.There’s a lack of drive because you can’t see yourself there.
This doesn’t exist yet…How could I be motivated to achieve something that doesn’t exist yet?
She pointed to the stark contrast in how men’s and women’s divisions are marketed, particularly in high-profile events like ADCC:
They have these storylines built with the road to ADCC 66 division, 77 division, where they go for each athlete.They didn’t have that for the women, so how can we possibly be invested in them in the same way?.
Critics often cite lower viewership numbers for women’s matches, but Davies argues that this is a manufactured problem, not a reflection of actual interest:
They don’t get the views, they don’t get the views – I just don’t agree.If you don’t have a reason to… I’m not going to sit and watch the whole thing if I don’t know who anyone is.
She believes the burden of progress shouldn’t rest solely on women’s shoulders:
To not have women on your show is discrimination.Call a spade a spade… It’s discrimination.
Other sports don’t do that.Look at the Olympic sports – they have equal men’s divisions and equal women’s divisions and prize money.
She argues that Jiu-Jitsu should be an ideal sport for women, given its technical and strategic nature – but systemic issues keep that potential from being realized:
For our generation, you grow up being told that this is not something you should be doing in the first place.You have to give it time and you have to give it the space in the first place, otherwise you can’t expect people to turn up.”
Davies praised her coach JT Torres for helping shift the narrative in a more inclusive direction.Rather than sticking her with the token women’s class, he had her teaching advanced gi sessions:
JT was like: “Oh yeah, teach advanced gi.”
I was like: “What do you mean? Are you going to throw me with the kids? Are you going to give me a women-only class at 8 p.m. on a Sunday that no one can attend?”
Not only did Torres support her role, but he also attended her classes himself.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.
