Welsh Jiu-Jitsu champion Ffion Davies has never been one to back down from a challenge, whether on the mats or in addressing the uncomfortable realities of sexism in martial arts. In a recent viral clip, Davies candidly shared her experiences with gender discrimination throughout her career, shedding light on the struggles female grapplers continue to face.
The Normalization of Sexism in Jiu-Jitsu
For Davies, dealing with sexist remarks and attitudes became an unfortunate norm.
“I was so used to hearing sexist jokes, sexist comments—things like, ‘this move isn’t for you, you’re a woman’—and just walking away from it,” she revealed.
Her words reflect an issue that many female athletes in combat sports have encountered: the casual dismissal of their abilities based solely on gender.
From being overlooked in training sessions to being denied equal coaching opportunities, Davies detailed how women in Jiu-Jitsu often find themselves fighting for recognition beyond their performance on the mats. She recalled instances where instructors would outright refuse to coach female practitioners, believing it to be a waste of time.
“No point coaching the girls,” was a phrase she heard all too often, illustrating the deep-seated biases that persist in some gym cultures.
Davies also noted that it wasn’t just instructors, but even some male training partners who refused to take women seriously.
“I’ve had guys outright refuse to roll with me because they didn’t want to ‘lose to a girl,’” she said.
Backhanded Compliments and Internalized Biases
One of the most telling aspects of Davies’s experiences was the kind of “compliments” she received.
“I’ve been told, ‘Oh, you don’t roll like a girl,’ as if that’s a compliment,” she shared. “As if to be taken seriously, I have to separate myself from other women.”
This kind of mindset reinforces the idea that female athletes must prove themselves beyond their male counterparts’ expectations in order to gain respect.
More troublingly, Davies admitted that these attitudes had, at one point, influenced her own mindset.
“I almost became like that myself, thinking, ‘Yeah, girls just aren’t as good,’” she reflected. “It’s so ingrained that you start to believe it too.”
She also described moments where she felt she had to diminish her femininity to be taken seriously in the sport.
“If I was too ‘girly,’ I wouldn’t be respected,” she said. “I had to be tougher, train harder, and prove myself constantly just to be seen as a serious competitor.”
A Turning Point in the Martial Arts Community
Davies’s decision to speak out comes at a crucial time when martial arts, and Jiu-Jitsu in particular, are facing increased scrutiny regarding gender equality. While progress has been made—evident in the growing number of female competitors and the rise of high-level women in the sport—there is still much work to be done in ensuring fair treatment and opportunities for all practitioners.
She emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive environment where female athletes receive the same level of respect and coaching as their male counterparts.
“If we want more women in the sport, we have to change the culture,” Davies asserted. “That starts with coaches, gym owners, and training partners taking us seriously—not as an afterthought.”
Her message serves as both a wake-up call and a source of inspiration. By openly addressing these issues, Davies challenges the status quo and encourages both men and women to advocate for a more inclusive environment in Jiu-Jitsu.
“At the end of the day, Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone. We all step on the same mats, we all train just as hard, and we all deserve respect.”
The conversation is far from over, but voices like Ffion Davies’s are crucial in pushing Jiu-Jitsu towards a future where talent and dedication matter more than outdated stereotypes.
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Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.
