How Much Do Professional Jiu-Jitsu Competitors Make Annually?

Jiu-jitsu is a martial art that has been practiced for centuries, yet it has only recently begun to gain recognition as a professional sport. While there are only a few jiu-jitsu competitions and events compared to other disciplines, the monetary rewards given to the winners have been steadily increasing. Which begs the question: how much do jiu-jitsu professionals earn every year?

Although there's no average rate, most jiu-jitsu athletes earn between $4,000 and $40,000 per win, depending on which competitions they participate in. Of course, this figure could vary based on many factors, including how frequently they compete and how often they win.

Some of the best Jiu-Jitsu fighters around the globe earn more than $5,000 per year. For instance, Gordon Ryan, one of the top grapplers, has made more than $100,000 in cash prizes.

If you're trying to start a professional jiu-jitsu career, you could make some decent money by participating in jiu-jitsu tournaments. Keep in mind that your financial success will be determined by the frequency you compete and how often you emerge victorious.

According to an article by Forbes, the average jiu-jitsu athlete earns $50,000 per year. But this amount can change based on various factors, like the country in which they compete and their level of experience.

For instance, a recent study found that American jiu-jitsu competitors make an average of $36,000 per year. However, Japanese jiu-jitsu competitors make an average of $120,000 per year.

If you're considering becoming a professional jiu-jitsu athlete, there is the potential to earn a decent income!

Roger Gracie is one of the highest-paid jiu-jitsu competitors in the world. A multiple-time world champion, Gracie is frequently regarded as one of the most skilled jiu-jitsu practitioners ever. He also has fought in mixed martial arts, emerging victorious over some of the most famous MMA athletes in the world. Because of his achievements, Gracie requests a lot of money for his appearances and seminars. He is estimated to earn about or above $400,000 annually.

Roger Gracie’s Income

Per Year: $ 4,00,000

Per Month: $ 32,000

Per Week: $ 8,000

Another top earner is Marcelo Garcia, a four-time world champion who has been regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in jiu-jitsu. Like Gracie, he has also participated in and won matches in mixed martial arts against famous competitors. Garcia's earnings are estimated to be around $50,000 to $70,000 per year.

In terms of the amount BJJ athletes earn in tournaments, let's take into consideration the sum Gordon Ryan claimed he was earning in an Instagram post last fall:

He claims that, according to his current victory rate, he is expecting to make around $200,000 before tax over the course of about 10-12 events.

He is reputedly the highest-paid athlete in the field by far, therefore we can conclude that his rivals similar to him earn less.

Since a victory in competition is not paid out to a small fraction of participants, I would wager that there are some decently paid athletes, and then a sharp decrease to the point where athletes get nothing for participating and not winning and could even lose money from travel costs.

Edwin Najmi Brazilian black belt in Jiu-Jitsu is widely recognized as to be one of the top grapplers of his time.

He is among the most popular celebrities to be born in the city in the United States, Edwin Najmi's birthplace was in the United States, where He was born on December 22nd in 1992. He is one of the Richest MMA Fighter.

The net worth of Edwin Najmi ranges from $3-4 million.

Mackenzie Dern is the UFC's number five rated female strawweight fighter.

Mackenzie Dern is an American MMA fighter and the highest-ranked woman in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Aside from that, she is well-known for beating Katherine Roy in the sixth Legacy Fighting Alliance tournament in 2017.

A recent estimate puts Mackenzie Dern's wealth at about $1 million. This was mostly amassed from her extensive history as a skilled BJJ practitioner and her MMA career.

The UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Holland winner received $164,000 for her recent victory against Nina Nunes. In terms of money, it was her best month ever.

Erberth Santos is a well-known Martial Artist. Erberth was born on the 17th of February 1994. His place of birth in Brazil. Erberth is also known as a Jiu black belt in Jiu-Jitsu who has been recognized as one of the top in the world through his victory at his first IBJJF World Championship.

Estimated Latest Income/Salary

Per Week: $8,000, Per Month: $32,000

Annually: $3,80,000

In the end, Xande Ribeiro is another Jiu-Jitsu competitor with an expensive fee.

Although there are numerous jiu-jitsu tournaments, the most popular ones that usually come to mind are the IBJJF World Championships and ADCC World Championships.

The IBJJF World Championships are an annual event open to black belts who have participated in at least one IBJJF competition within the same year.

With the rising popularity of professional jiu-jitsu competitions, many athletes are considering switching to or starting a career focusing solely on this martial art. Most jiu-jitsu professional athletes’ income comes from sponsorships and prize money.

A lot of jiu-jitsu athletes rely mainly on sponsorships as a source of income. The exact amount of money earned will differ according to the athlete's performance and fame, but some of the highest-earning jiu-jitsu athletes are said to make six-figure sums through sponsors alone.

In professional jiu-jitsu tournaments, how much you earn varies depending on your performance. Competitors with only a few wins or who compete in smaller competitions only earn a few hundred dollars per year, while others with multiple victories, a well-known reputation, or who compete in larger tournaments can earn thousands of dollars. The average earnings for jiu-jitsu professionals are about $1,500 per year.

It is no secret that the top jiu-jitsu athletes in the professional jiu-jitsu world earn lots of money. But how much do they earn each year? Estimates put their yearly income at about or above $100,000, but a precise figure is difficult to pin down.

Who are some of the top athletes in the professional jiu-jitsu profession? A few well-known names include Marvin Silva, Roger Gracie, and Fabricio Werdum. There are also new stars who are making their mark and earning vast sums of money.

If you are interested in becoming a professional jiu-jitsu competitor, here are the steps you must follow:

1. Find and train at a top BJJ institution: A reputable academy will have knowledgeable instructors who will guide you on your journey to learn strategies and techniques.
2. Train hard: Once you enroll in a good BJJ school, you must commit to training regularly.
3. Compete in tournaments: Participating in tournaments gives you the chance to evaluate your skills, determine how much progress you've made, and what you need to work on.
4. Find sponsors: You'll need sponsors to cover your costs. There are a lot of companies that offer sponsorship to jiu-jitsu fighters and you should look for sponsorship opportunities from companies that would be interested in you.

Jiu-jitsu athletes earn an impressive amount of money each year, with the top fighters having well over six-figure incomes. However, it's important to remember that jiu-jitsu fighters have to perform exceptionally well to make a decent living, and many earn only a few hundred dollars per year. Although it is feasible to earn a living as a jiu-jitsu fighter, you should be realistic regarding how much money you can potentially earn.

Photo Credit: evolve-mma, mmafighting, ufc