The idea is simple. Combine Brazilian ju-jitsu with the small footprint of a Toyota Prius and you have a strangely addictive spectator sport.
You will never associate seat belts with safety again. The steering wheel is not your friend and it can be advantageous to move the seat back and create more space, but be careful not to catch a finger in the commotion.
From the mind of Russian martial artist Vik Mikheev, the aptly named car-jitsu evokes the tension and fear felt when watching iconic action movie scenes. The hallway fight in Old Boy, for example, or the elevator scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
But the reality is different. Unlike competitors; They cling and suffocate differently, with a ferocity that makes it hard to look at them and even harder to look away.
Mikheev reportedly hit on the winning formula during the Covid pandemic and quickly saw his popularity rise in Russia to the point of spawning his own championship.
In Car-jitsu, two opponents fight to subdue their opponent in the confines of a road car.
Participants compete in up to three three-minute rounds to determine the winner.
Competitors can use anything in the car to gain an advantage over their opponent and win the fight.
That demand shows no signs of abating, and the sport is now replicated in the United States under the Car Jitsu Championship banner.
Like regular ju-jitsu, points are earned for positional dominance and submissions are the preferred method of winning. Competitors start in the front seat of the vehicle, with seat belts on and hands on their knees, waiting for the signal to start.
When it does, a flurry of activity ensues as each person attempts to free themselves while simultaneously attempting to maintain restraint on their opponent. Competitors fight in three-minute rounds and swap driver and passenger seats in the middle.
Anything in the car can be used to your advantage, especially the seat belt. Often, control of the safety harness is control of your destiny. Mijeev, via The SunHe told RollingTimesMag in 2020 that the sport has allowed him to better understand the discipline of martial arts.
“Since October 2020, my friends and I have been organizing small Car Jitsu tournaments to study the aspects of applying jiu-jitsu in such a small space.” He said.
In fact, it’s easy to see how improvements can be found when you are no longer able to create separation from your opponent, or instead of trying to escape a rear-naked choke, the task is to remove the seat belt from around your neck.
Admittedly, it is a bit strange to attribute utility to this crazy activity. Clearly, it’s crazy. And that’s the attraction. The Car Jitsu Championship’s social media channels are flooded with fans with their mouths open at the spectacle.
“I don’t know how I got here, but I’m grateful,” one Instagram user commented on a post of the championship fight between competitors Q Davidson and self-proclaimed “Seat Belt Killer” LaRoy Davis.
Davis ended the collision within a minute by mounting his opponent and choking him with, you guessed it, his seat belt. “This, my friends, looks like a crime in progress,” commented the commentator, adopting an uncomfortable tone.
After incredibly breaking free of the restraint, Davidson was unable to stop Davis’ second attempt and wisely tapped out to end the fight.
The Car Jitsu Championship is an American tournament organized by Pro League Network
Spectators on social media have offered a myriad of opinions about the sport, ranging from shock to delight to disgust.
‘This is the stupidest s**t I’ve ever seen in my LIFE,’ said another user on social media, while a third asked: ‘How do I participate in this?’
‘The F***? What is happening with the world? What’s the next UFC bathroom?’ Another commented. Among the ocean of opinions on the clash, the most notable co-signer came from two-time UFC champion Jon Jones.
The 36-year-old posted eye emojis and two raised hands to signal his approval of the unorthodox application of the martial arts discipline. Jones’ recognition is a clear indication of the fact that, strange as it may be, exposure to car-jitsu is increasing.
Its founder Mikheev has a Youtube channel dedicated to sport, which has accumulated millions of views on the platform. The components of his display are slightly altered, they are rougher.
The standardized Priuses of American display cases are replaced by a variety of vehicles that bring their own unique approach to battles. But in truth, it’s the brilliance of American production that could make the sport gain credibility.
Last year, Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson featured car-jitsu in their 2023 comedy roundup ‘What Are We Watching?’ Hart said surprised. Thompson responded: “I thought I was going to kill him.”
Shock and intrigue have proven to be a winning formula for fringe sports in recent years. UFC boss Dana White put his money and influence behind the controversial Power Slap League in 2022.
It also began life in Eastern Europe, gaining popularity in 2020 with a series of viral videos starring 370-pound Russian sensation Vasiliy Khamotiskiy.
Known as ‘Dumpling’, Khamotiskiy was seen on video knocking a huge opponent unconscious to win 30,000 rubles, which at the time was equivalent to around £380. Other viral videos show Dumpling training by crushing watermelons and flipping tractor tires.
Shock and intrigue have proven to be a winning formula for fringe sports in recent years.
UFC champion Jon Jones was one of the fans who commented on a car-jitsu post on social media.
Time will tell if this strange sport will remain a gimmick or continue to gain popularity.
The spiritual brother of car-jitsu is another sport that is making waves in Russia: phone booth boxing, with a similar name. Two fighters enter the time capsule and fight until one person surrenders or is knocked out. They seem to like to fight in close quarters there.
What will happen with any of these efforts is anyone’s guess, but in 2024 there is clearly an appetite for the daring, outrageous and surreal content that sports like car-jitsu produce.