In a revealing conversation on the JAXXON PODCAST with legendary jiu-jitsu master Rigan Machado, UFC icon Rampage Jackson made a bold declaration that has sparked debate in martial arts circles:
“Jiu-jitsu has had a bigger impact on America than boxing.”
Jackson’s assessment comes from observing a fundamental difference in how these two combat sports have integrated into American culture. “Boxing has been the number one comeback sport in the world for over 100 years now,” Jackson noted, acknowledging boxing’s historical significance. However, he pointed out a critical distinction in how people engage with each discipline.
“You don’t see a lot of kids watching De La Hoya, Mayweather, Mike Tyson and then going to the gym training boxing,” Jackson explained. “They’re big fans of boxing, but they don’t go to the gym and become boxers themselves.”
In contrast, jiu-jitsu has created a participation culture that transcends spectator status. Since its introduction to America by the Machado and Gracie families, jiu-jitsu has experienced explosive growth, transforming from an obscure Brazilian martial art to a mainstream fitness activity practiced across all demographics.
Machado, one of the five brothers who brought jiu-jitsu to America, provided historical context to this phenomenon.
“Jiujitsu is now in over 200 countries. It’s the second biggest sport in Brazil behind soccer. In America, there are over a thousand schools,” he explained.
The accessibility of jiu-jitsu appears to be a key factor in its widespread adoption. Jackson observed that jiu-jitsu has democratized martial arts training:
“You see nerds doing jiu-jitsu and they’re killers. With jiu-jitsu, I feel like it’s changed the world.”
Machado attributes this partially to jiu-jitsu’s approachability.
“Jiu-jitsu opened the doors for a lot of different groups,” he explained, noting how celebrities like Dana White and actor Bradley Cooper have enrolled their daughters in jiu-jitsu for self-defense purposes.
Another critical aspect of jiu-jitsu’s accessibility, according to Jackson, is that “you can do a martial art without getting punched.”
“You can be just as effective and finish someone, make someone tap out, make someone give up without getting punched. A lot of people don’t like getting punched.”
The influence of jiu-jitsu on modern combat sports cannot be overstated. Through the UFC, which was initially created to showcase the effectiveness of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the art has fundamentally changed how people view fighting. Machado referenced Bruce Lee‘s vision of combining martial arts styles, noting that
“Mixed martial arts brought Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, boxing, kickboxing—everything to one style.”
The cultural impact extends beyond sports into entertainment and social media. Machado mentioned that tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg and celebrities like Tom Hardy now actively train and compete in jiu-jitsu, further legitimizing and popularizing the discipline.
What began as a specialized martial art brought to America by two dedicated families has transformed into a global phenomenon that, as Jackson asserts, may have indeed surpassed boxing in its cultural and practical impact on American society.
