Jiu Jitsu & Surfing: A Comprehensive History
At first glance, surfing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) might seem worlds apart. One plays out in the ocean, where surfers ride waves produced thousands of miles away as they collide with the shore. The other takes place on the mats, where two fighters go head to head in a physical chess match. For a growing number of athletes, the two are inseparable. Their shared emphasis on balance, timing, flow, and resilience has forged a unique cultural crossover that continues to expand globally.
Origins: From Polynesia to Brazil
Surfing traces its roots back thousands of years to ancientPolynesia, where it evolved as both a sport and a spiritual practice. Surfing was a sacred ritual, a connection to nature, community, and the divine. BJJ, meanwhile, originated from Japanese Judo, which arrived in Brazil in the early20th century through Mitsuyo Maeda, eventually evolving into the grappling-focused martial art that would become Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under theGracie family. Both disciplines were shaped by geography and philosophy. Hawaiian surf culture emphasizes flow and harmony with the ocean. BJJ focused on leverage, patience, and the ability to remain calm and strategic under pressure. Despite their different mediums, they each offered a path toward personal mastery that involved mastering flow and harnessing a force bigger than ourselves.
The First Crossovers
The earliest cultural intersections between BJJ and surfing began in Brazil, particularly in Rio de Janeiro and Florianópolis, where surfers and jiu-jitsu practitioners often mingled. Many Gracie family members were avid surfers, and some credited their wave-riding instincts for improving their grappling performance. In Hawaii and Southern California, where both cultures flourished, cross-training between the two became more common in the late 1990s and early 2000s. By the early 2000s, it wasn't uncommon to find surfers in BJJ gyms and grapplers heading to the beach after morning rolls. A subculture had formed: the surf-and-roll lifestyle.
Shared Physical and Mental Foundations
What links surfing and BJJ most powerfully is their shared emphasis on rhythm, timing, and adaptability. In surfing, the wave dictates your movements; in BJJ, your opponent does. You learn to flow, to feel, and to respond without panic.
Both sports develop:
- Balance and core strength
- Breath control under stress
- Improvisation in unpredictable scenarios
- Mental clarity and humility
There's also a deeper connection: in both, you spend a lot of time failing. You wipe out, or you get tapped over and over again, but you learn to love the process.
The Lifestyle Connection
It's not just physical. Surfers and grapplers often share a minimalist, travel-oriented lifestyle. They value presence, experience, and consistency. Many surf towns now have at least one BJJ gym, and vice versa.Places like Nosara (Costa Rica), Sayulita (Mexico), Santa Teresa (Costa Rica),Byron Bay (Australia), and Playa Venao (Panama) are emerging as "surf& roll" hubs. BJJRetreats, like the ones we host in Playa Venao, offer packages that combineBJJ instruction with surf coaching.
Notable Figures and Influence
The list of prominent surfers who train jiu-jitsu is extensive. Surfers like 11x world champion Kelly Slater and longboard world champion Joel Tudor are just a few standouts. Tudor is a jiu-jitsu black belt under Rodrigo Medeiros, who was highly active in jiu-jitsu at a competitive level during the late 2000s and early 2010s, earning many notable wins, including the American National Championship.
The appeal is obvious. Both sports challenge your ego and force you to adapt. They reward patience and consistency. In an age where athletes are increasingly interested in mindfulness, functional strength, and holistic living, surfing and BJJ offer a potent combination. They also help prevent burnout. BJJ gives surfers something to train on flat days. Surfing offers grapplers a way to decompress and connect with nature.
Whether you discovered BJJ after a surf trip to Panama or picked up surfing to balance out your training, the crossover between these two practices is more than a trend— it's a lifestyle. Check out our latest jiu jtsu retreats and offerings and start planning your next trip!
