The four Home Country Sports Councils have made a unanimous decision following a Recognition Review
The Home Country Sports Councils have found the British Ju Jitsu Association (BJJAGB) does not meet the Sports Councils Recognition Policy criteria to be the recognised National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport in the United Kingdom.
Following a comprehensive Recognition Review conducted by Sport England in line with the criteria, the Board’s of Sport England, sportscotland, Sport Wales and Sport Northern Ireland unanimously decided to accept the Review’s findings and proceed to derecognition of the BJJAGB.
The BJJAGB must now demonstrate they are fully compliant with the recognition criteria by October 1, 2023 or derecognition will come into immediate effect.
Following derecognition, neither the British Ju Jitsu Association (BJJAGB), nor the sport of Ju Jitsu, would be eligible for public funding from Sport Wales or the other national Sports Councils. A martial art, or any sport designated as high risk, cannot receive public funding in Wales without a recognised National Governing Body.
Sport England, along with the other Home Country Sports Councils, launched a Review into the BJJA on 3 November 2022 after receiving information regarding the governance of the organisation and behaviour of individuals at the governing body.
The Review, which examined nine criteria, found the BJJA failed to meet these in six areas:
- Constitutional structure
- BJJAGB failed to demonstrate it has an up to date or fit for purpose constitution.
- Governance structure
- BJJAGB’s equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-doping policies do not meet the recognition requirements. Furthermore, the organisation did not provide any safety management information.
- Organisation history
- BJJAGB failed to provide minutes of its annual general meetings for the past two years.
- Governing body influence
- BJJAGB did not make a case made for it being the most influential NGB in its sport.
- Organisation vision and development
- BJJAGB did not provide a sport or NGB development plans(s) as part of the Review process.
- Sporting development
- BJJAGB did not provide a sport or NGB development plans(s) as part of the Review process.
The Home Country Sports Councils wrote to the BJJA this morning to convey this decision and formally begin the derecognition process.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu clubs, projects and associations will continue to be eligible to receive grants from Sport Wales providing they are affiliated to the UK Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association (UKBJJA). The UKBJJA is the recognised national governing body for Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is separate to the BJJAGB.