The Ju-Jitsu International Federation -JJIF- turned paired performance into an online challenge in which participants had to prepare, record and submit a self-defence demonstration. One partner performed a series of attacks while the other responded with ju-jitsu techniques as part of a choreography combining precision, coordination and creativity. The federation subsequently published the performances on social media, where the public response carried significant weight in the final outcome.
The challenge, which ran from 24 June to 15 July, was open to athletes of any age, ability level or nationality, representing either their country or club. Miloudi Abderrahmane and Rhesil Amine, from Algeria, finished first, ahead of Quintanilla Johnson Jr and Andrew C, from the United States. Another Algerian pair, Seba Oussama Mohamed Laine and Siga Abdelmounaim, completed the podium.
A self-defence choreography
The conventional Duo System brings together two athletes from the same team, with one performing the attack and the other responding through self-defence techniques. JJIF rules organise the actions into three main series: grips, embraces and chokeholds; punches and kicks; and simulated attacks with a stick or knife. The response may include controlled strikes, throws, takedowns, immobilisations, joint locks or chokeholds. Judges assess the technical quality, precision, control and realism of the complete sequence.
The digital format gave participants greater freedom. Although the results announcement refers to the event as the ‘Duo System Online Challenge’, the original invitation presented it as the ‘Duo Show Edition’. This discipline allows athletes to design their choreography freely and adds elements such as variety, aesthetics, creativity and overall presentation to the technical performance. The aim was therefore not to reproduce an official competition exactly as it would take place on the mat, but to create a performance specifically intended to be recorded and shared.
Algeria takes two places on the podium
The stage published across the JJIF’s social media accounts featured four performances from two countries. Algeria was represented by three pairs and the United States by one. In addition to the three prize-winning duos, the federation also shared the performance submitted by Algerians Djellab Mouad and Berbech Habib Allah.
The public response played an important role in determining the result. The federation considered the reach achieved by each performance through views and likes, allowing followers to participate in the development of the challenge. The prizes were due to be presented during the 2026 JJIF World Championships in Abu Dhabi, but not all the winners were able to attend. The awards will remain available for collection from the federation’s headquarters.
A competition designed for social media
The format allowed athletes to participate without travelling and brought a discipline built on coordination, trust and understanding between two partners to social media. The published stage was limited in size, with four pairs from Algeria and the United States, but it provided athletes with another platform on which to display their work outside the in-person competition calendar. Through video and public participation, the JJIF used the challenge as an additional way to introduce the Duo System to a wider audience and keep its international community connected.
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