For decades, one of the most common ways BJJ has been marketed – especially to women – has been through fear. But Ffion Davies doesn’t agree with that approach.

During a recent appearance on the James Smith podcast, the Welsh ADCC champion argued that framing Jiu-Jitsu primarily as self-defense sends the wrong message and creates unrealistic expectations about both the sport and real-world violence:

I don’t like the narrative that women should start as a form of self-defense.
If someone’s trying to attack me, I’m just gonna try and run away. I’m not trying to scrap anyone.

Davies isn’t saying grappling has no real-world value.
According to her, Jiu-Jitsu is first and foremost a sport – and pretending otherwise leads to confusion.

She regularly sees online comments claiming competitive techniques wouldn’t work outside the gym, but she doesn’t view that as a criticism:

People like to go on comment on my videos and be like that wouldn’t work in the street. I’m like, I know.
I’m doing a fun sport where we lay on the floor.

She also spoke candidly about the social reality many women face when they first enter a male-dominated training environment.
Early experiences often feel less about belonging and more about navigating acceptance:

It’s like a survival thing. I have to laugh along with the hurtful sexist jokes because then I’ll be accepted.
I have to prove that I’m here for the right intentions, whatever that means.

Davies believes Jiu-Jitsu should be promoted for what it actually offers – competition, learning, and enjoyment – rather than worst-case scenarios meant to scare people into signing up:

I would like it to be more that’s the narrative as opposed to like, oh, you know, you don’t like it r*ped, right? You better get in here.

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