Comparative analysis of rapid weight loss among Brazilian and European Brazilian Jiu-jitsu practitioners of different levels

Introduction: Combat sports are defined by two individuals engaged in individual competition. Tournaments are divided into categories and in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ), competitors perform rapid weight loss (RWL) in different ways and at different levels, and the level of different competitors can impact RWL. Objective: analyzed the frequency and volume of RWL in different regions of the world (Brazil vs. Europe) and its different grades. Methodology: This is an observational study, with 234 (77.7% M, 22.3% F) BJJ competitors. The RWL questionnaire (RWLQ) was applied using the Google Forms platform during interviews that were conducted in national-level competitions in Brazil, Ireland and Italy between the years 2022 and 2023. They were asked about weight loss history, frequency and percentage of RWL. Frequency and percentage were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test to compare weight loss, habits and routine of BJJ practice. The significance level applied was p ≤ 0.05. Discussion: The results indicate that in Brazil there are more black belts (35.4% vs. 23.3%), more professionals (24.5% vs. 11.6%) and the greatest weight loss was also seen in Brazil (8.4 kg vs. 5.2 kg). In Brazil, 67.3% are engaged in strength activities other than BJJ, while in Europe 44.2%. Conclusion: We can conclude that there is no significant difference between the regions regarding the frequency and volume of RWL, however, the level of specialization of the sport, greater weight loss and graduation show a tendency to perform RWL.