Dr Degineh talks about: Jujitsu, Brazilian jiujitsu and amateur MMA in Africa and Ethiopia. Along with sport development challenges and solutions, innovation and technology in combat sports, reality television and Jujitsu for social inclusion and unity.

Combat Sports in Africa

Dr Tsegaye Degineh is the founder of the Judo & Ju-Jitsu Associations and Clubs in Ethiopia and is also the Vice President of the Ju-Jitsu African Union (JJAFU) and a member of the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) Ethics commission.

Dr Degineh answers the following questions:

1. What did you think of the Ethiopian team’s performance at the 2022 African Jujitsu Championship held in Luanda, Angola?
   
2. BJJ (Brazilian jiujitsu) is growing in popularity in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. How do you think the addition of this newaza focused grappling sport will impact the local and national martial arts community?
   
3. There are different styles of jujitsu, both in terms of style and competition rules. Can you give us a brief overview of the different International Jujitsu sporting organizations and how they different from each other?
   
4. Can you give us a brief overview of Jujitsu’s popularity and participation rate Africa?
   
5. In terms of combat sports development, which model is more effective and why (for developing a thriving combat sport community): a country/region that focuses on one particular combat sport (like say boxing or jujitsu) or a country/region that focuses on multi combat sports, at the same time (so boxing, jujitsu, freestyle wrestling and mixed martial arts)? Should the focus be on specializing, or keeping it general and wide (in scope/style)?
   
6. Let’s look ahead 10 years from now, which regions in Africa do you think could lead the way in producing future Jujitsu world champions?
   
7. In terms of emerging technology/innovation and the future of sports, we hear about how AI, Web3, Big Data and the Metaverse is changing the physical and virtual landscape of sports. But how relevant is this to amateur combat sports, particularly in Africa?
   
8. Moving on to the topic of “reality television”, what are your thoughts on Biniyam Shibre and his participation in mixed martial arts? For context, Biniyam Shibre is an Ethiopian martial artists and all around creative person who is featured on a reality tv series called the “90 day fiancé”.
   
9. Tell us about your recent Jiujitsu seminar in Berlin, Germany.
   
10. What are your thoughts on amateur mixed martial arts and it’s development and potential in Africa?
    

Combat Sports in Africa is hosted by Garmamie

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