Ju-Jitsu at Asian Games 2026: Fighting and Ne-Waza Disciplines

Ju-Jitsu at the 2026 Asian Games

Ju-jitsu (also spelled jujitsu or jiujitsu) has been at the Asian Games since 2002. The sport combines throwing, joint locks, and ground-fighting techniques from the traditional Japanese martial art. It is governed by the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF), which distinguishes it from Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), which uses the same name root but has separate competition rules and governing structure.

The Asian Games programme includes two competition categories: Fighting System (combat between two athletes) and Ne-Waza (ground-fighting). Athletes from Iran, Kazakhstan, the UAE, and Japan consistently dominate the podium.

Fighting System vs Ne-Waza

In the Fighting System, two athletes compete across three phases: standing (throwing and striking to score), transition (from stand to ground), and ground (joint locks and strangles to force submission). Points are awarded for controlled techniques in each phase. In Ne-Waza, both athletes start on the ground. The objective is to control the opponent and force submission through joint locks or strangles. This discipline shares similarities with wrestling’s ground work and BJJ grappling — though under JJIF rules, which differ from both.

Duo System

Some Asian Games editions also include the Duo System, in which pairs of athletes — one attacker, one defender — perform a set of pre-defined attack-and-defense sequences. Judges score on the quality and realism of the techniques. It is a demonstration-style category rather than direct competition.

Leading Nations

Iran and Kazakhstan have the deepest rosters across multiple weight categories. The UAE funds a professional training system that has produced several world champions. Japan, as the art’s country of origin, competes but does not dominate — the more heavily codified competition format has diverged from traditional Japanese jujitsu and rewards athletes from nations with strong grappling traditions like wrestling-heavy Kazakhstan and Iran.

Key Facts

Official source: Olympic Council of Asia