We recently got the chance to speak to the founder of the UIJJ (Unione Italiana Jiu Jitsu) Dario Bacci in order to find out more about the huge steps that Italian Jiu-Jitsu has taken in recent years. Bacci has been one of the key figures behind the growth of the sport in Italy and along with the team around him, he’s been instrumental in getting Jiu-Jitsu recognised by the Italian government. He’s also coming off a huge moment earlier this year with the grand finale of the first Ocean BJJ Pro Championship, so we wanted to find where he plans to go in the future as well.
“I started stepping on the mat back in 1986, when I was 12. I got fascinated by the art of Kung Fu, that I kept practicing for over 20 years. I trained in China, in Beijing and in Shaolin with the Monks. I was always very keen to take part in competitions, so I became a seemingly professional fighter in Sanda, the Chinese kick boxing. This took me also to a long period of pure boxing training and competing.”
“Eventually I ended up meeting in London, UK, where I was living, an athlete that was an expert in grappling and Brazilian jiu jitsu. This is where I started training in BJJ, at Carlson Gracie Team in London. So, since 2002 BJJ entered in my life and it slowly became the only martial art I would practice, and also my job to this date.”
Could you tell us why you decided to create the UIJJ, what were your goals for the organization back then?
“I was living in London where I started practicing BJJ and in 2010 I moved back to Italy. I have been in touch with Master Federico Tisi, not only the first black belt in Italy but a real pioneer of the Italian movement and a true friend. So, when I came back to Rome, Federico and I opened an organization called UIJJ, tightly linked to IBJJF, with the aim to manage and develop BJJ in Italy. The initial goals were to regulate all belts, all titles and the whole agonistic calendar. As time passed and as we grew bigger, we developed a great referee team and a huge database of passionate practioners.”
“At the beginning Master Tisi was the President, and I was the vice-President. After one year he became honorary President, and I became the President of UIJJ. Ever since then, I have been committed to dedicate all my time, energy and effort to all possible ways to make BJJ a great challenging sport, a martial art and a profound experience for any athlete practicing it. To this date I’m still motivated to do BJJ myself, training nearly every day and working in UIJJ trying te elevate the highest professional approach possible.”
You’ve managed to get Jiu-Jitsu recognized by the Italian government now, could you explain a little about how that works?
”We have always been following the steps of IBJJF, collaborating and learning from the best and most authentic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu organization in the world. We represent IBJJF in Italy since 2012. One of the primary requirements, in Italy, for an organization to be recognized is to be referred to an international federation that is acknowledged by the International Olympic Committee. IBJJF has a different status, so we have always missed the possibility to apply for a recognition.”
“Lately in Italy things have changed, the political management of the sport has opened new possibilities, also our status has changed since, in 2022, we have been recognized by FIJLKAM, the Judo, Wrestling and Karate Official Federation. Therefore, we have managed to break through this resistance and finally got the recognition from the Government and kept our relationship with IBJJF tighter than ever.”
What does it mean for the future of the sport in Italy?
“We can say that now we formally exist. So, from being a movement of a lot of passionate practitioners, we have now the status of an organization with a strong legal structure inserted in a context recognized by the government and the Olympic Committee, with all the consequences that derive from it, including the possibilities of having funding and professional recognition.”
So what have you got planned for 2025 and beyond?
“So many things have happened and keep happening and if we look back to few years ago, we can see how much has been done. We are working in the best venues in Italy, our referees’ team has improved a lot and now we are working with the assistance of the VAR system in all competition. We have gone up to 16 events per year.”
“We have created the Jiu Jitsu Expo, a festival of about 30 different stores selling and displaying product and services related to BJJ, along with different Teams booth and an area for free seminars with the best Professors around. This Jiu Jitsu Expo happens during the Italian BJJ Open, at its 11th edition lasting 3 days with over 2000 athletes attending.”
“We have launched a new exciting submission grappling event called Ocean BJJ, which has already been included in the most important streaming platform in the world: FloGrappling. Now the Italian Government recognition. Next steps would be even just consolidating what we have achieved so far. But for sure we will come up with some interesting news soon.”
