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Today in the our Rickson Interview Series: What’s in the JJGFs Code of Ethics

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BJJ Legends: The Jiu-Jitsu Global Federation has a code of ethics… coming off of these things that you were talking about. Can you explain to us what the code of ethics is for? And what gives the Jiu-Jitsu Global Federation the authority, morally, to impose a code of ethics on those that participate within the federation?

Rickson Gracie: I think in order for us to have confidence to portray a good federation, a good institution for the benefit, we had to be involved in the educational aspect. We cannot just expect people to do it. We have to guide them how to do it, because that’s the way, how you go in a university and start to lecture. You have to learn first.

So we have to expose for many of those instructors and school owners what Jiu-Jitsuu is about, from the roots, from our beginning, and allow them to learn that concept. I think this is crucial for us. With that education, also coming what we believe is a code of ethics for any professional, in Army, in Jiu-Jitsu, in politics, or any other institution, we should have a code of ethics which, as the guy at least reads that, as the guy agree with that, he put himself in a position where he represents that kind of entity. He represents that kind of force, positive force.

If the guy has no ethics, how I can validate him as a person if one day or another, he starts to be a pervert or be a… So he can be for anything he promised. Okay. I have my integrity. I have my values. I agree with everything has been said here. I don’t impose to nobody because that’s not something I impose, but I like to make sure he’s reflecting about it, and he’s agreed.

We’re in a positive environment. We are in a positive idea to enhance the community. Anyone who disagrees with that, from the beginning, should not participate at all because from the perspective of a school owner, a teacher, a competitor, a practitioner, or even independent promoter, I think any of them are supposed to have a code of ethics, because that’s just crucial in any situation to preserve the integrity and the positive vibe.

Tomorrow: Rickson talks about the belt system in BJJ.