To advocate the public support for Ju-Jitsu in Poland a meeting with the Ministry of Sport and Tourism was set up. JJIF General Director, Joachim Thumfart, and JJEU President, Robert Perc, together with Roman Zieliński and Tomaz Zakolski followed the invitation to discuss with Piotr Borys, Iwona Lotysz, and Piotr Markowicz the sport system, different support models event management and possible future sporting events in Poland.
The secretary of state, Piotr Borys, acknowledges that the structure for promoting and funding non-Olympic sports must be revised and they are already in the process. The contact to the international governing body is a crucial element and building trust.
A story of success, decline and warrior spirit
A decade ago, Poland claimed a leading role in international Ju-Jitsu competition and was at the top of the nation rankings in most competitions.
At the 2017 World Games held in Wroclaw, Poland, the Polish Ju-Jitsu team delivered a commendable performance, securing multiple medals across various categories. With 7 medals claiming the second place in the Nation Rank together with Germany.
The World Games 2017 - Team Poland
Gold Medals
- Jędrzej Loska – Men's Jiu-Jitsu 62 kg
- Tomasz Szewczak – Men's Fighting 94 kg
Silver Medals
- Maciej Polok – Men's Jiu-Jitsu 69 kg
- Rafał Riss – Men's Fighting +94 kg
Bronze Medals
- Emilia Mackowiak – Women’s Jiu-Jitsu Open
- Maciej Kozak – Men's Fighting 77 kg
- Mixed Team Competition
These achievements underscore the strength and depth of Polish Ju-Jitsu on the international stage.
Due to a change in the national strategy for sport support the federation lost all funding and the activities dropped down to zero. And Ju-Jitsu Poland became non-participation for long time.
Some athletes, officials and coaches didn’t want to accept the situation and actually formed a new federation running and financing the sport by themselves building new structures. Mr. Roman Zieliński took the lead as president and rebuild the Ju-Jitsu sport step by step just with the spirit of martial art.
The Polski ZwiÄ…zek Ju-Jitsu (PZJJ) is actively engaged in promoting and developing Ju-Jitsu across Poland. Their initiatives encompass organizing national competitions, supporting regional clubs, and fostering youth participation in the sport. In 2023 the Polish Sports Ju Jitsu Association became JJIF member and athletes came back in small numbers but reliable.
The future of Polish Ju-Jitsu appears promising, with a strong emphasis on youth development. At the 2025 European Championships in Cyprus, young talents from Jaworzno's Satori Sports Club, including Alicja Surowiak, secured podium finishes in both Ju-Jitsu Fighting and Jiu-Jitsu (Newaza) categories, highlighting the depth of emerging talent in the country
Poland's trajectory in Ju-Jitsu is poised for continued growth, with upcoming events such as the 2025 Balkan Open in Athens and the 2025 World Championships in Bangkok providing platforms for Polish athletes to showcase their skills on the international stage. The nation's commitment to excellence and development in Ju-Jitsu suggests a bright future for the sport in Poland.
