State lawmakers have made an initial push to bring Brazilian jiu-jitsu into Hawaii’s schools.
House Resolution 124 and its companion, House Concurrent Resolution 190, were co-introduced Wednesday by Kauai Rep. Derek Kawakami and Oahu Reps. Ty Cullen and Calvin Say. The measures request the Hawaii Department of Education and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association examine the feasibility of establishing Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a sanctioned sport.
The DOE, however, opposes the idea.
In her written testimony, Superintendent of Education Kathryn Matayoshi said the department receives requests to start up activities as sanctioned sports on an ongoing basis. Recent examples include surfing, boxing, eight-man football and kayaking.
“At this time, the Department is unable to expand its sanctioned sports offerings given the budgeted resources for athletics,” Matayoshi wrote. “If additional activities are proposed and implemented, high schools statewide would require additional resources and personnel.”
By a unanimous vote Wednesday, the House Committee on Education supported that the resolution pass unamended. Rep. Clift Tsuji, D-Keaukaha, Hilo, was among the members who voted to move it on to the Committee on Finance.
Chad Hao, a jiu-jitsu instructor at Penn Fitness and Training Center in Hilo, supports the resolution and said the sport has many positives, including helping to give children a better outlook on life.
“I feel that the social side helps a lot, because you are in direct contact, most of the time, with complete strangers,” he said. “It helps the kids to have some confidence when it comes to making friends.”
Additionally, Hao said it keeps children, including his own son, active and gets them away from computers and iPad screens.
Chris Smith of Charles Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Hilo Academy called the resolution “great news.”
“With the rapid growth of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, it only makes sense to explore these possibilities,” he wrote in an email. “Listed as the fastest growing sport in the world, (it) is capturing the attention of athletes internationally. Knowing the commitment level of the island community in regards to sports and the high level of participation in BJJ among the island’s youth, the opportunity to compete in the high school system could be of great benefit.”
The resolution states that Hawaii students could benefit from having the contact sport as it teaches valuable life skills including hard work, dedication and focus.
“The overarching philosophy of Brazilian jiu-jitsu upholds the values of loyalty, integrity, humility, compassion, self-awareness, hard work, and physical fitness,” it reads.
If passed, the measure requests DOE to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the 2016 session.
Lyle Crozier, executive director of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, said funding is always the issue.
“The problem is now they’ve been trying to add sports like beach volleyball, rodeo, other sports, and the problem is the funds,” he said. “We’re not getting any more money.”
Transportation, especially interisland, comes at a pretty penny, according to Crozier. For example, taking a team from Big Island to Oahu for a state tournament, with transportation and accommodations, can cost upwards of $10,000, he said.
Email Chris D’Angelo at cdangelo@hawaiitribune-herald.com.