Luís John, vice-president of the Ju-Jitsu African Union (JJAFU) and president of the Angolan Jiu-Jitsu Federation, recently met with João da Costa Alegre Afonso, vice-president of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), at a local hotel. During the meeting, they discussed the future of Ju-Jitsu as an Olympic discipline and strategies to strengthen its presence on the African continent.

Representing JJAFU, Luís John highlighted the organization’s ambition to join ANOCA, a key step to achieve the inclusion of Ju-Jitsu in the Olympic program. For his part, João da Costa Alegre Afonso underlined the benefits of ANOCA membership, even for sports that are not yet part of the Olympic Games, mentioning initiatives such as ‘Olimpangui‘, which support emerging disciplines.

JU-JITSU AT THE AFRICAN YOUTH GAMES

Another central theme of the meeting was the possible participation of Ju-Jitsu in the African Youth Games. According to Afonso, there is the possibility of including this discipline as an exhibition sport, with Morocco and Algeria showing interest in participating. However, he clarified that the final decision on this proposal rests with ANOCA.

The inclusion of Ju-Jitsu in the African Youth Games would be an important step to increase its visibility and encourage its development in the region. It would also allow interested countries to demonstrate the potential of this discipline on an international stage.

ACNOA’S SUPPORT AND COOPERATION PLANS

João da Costa Alegre Afonso reaffirmed his support for the Ju-Jitsu African Union, stressing the importance of working together to promote the sport in Africa. During the meeting, plans to sign a cooperation protocol between ANOCA and JJAFU in the near future were also discussed.

This collaboration agreement seeks to strengthen the relationship between the two organizations and establish a solid foundation for the growth of Ju-Jitsu on the continent. With ANOCA’s support, JJAFU hopes to advance its goal of positioning Ju-Jitsu as a key discipline in the African sports landscape.