FULL STORY

How was CUJA founded?

The Canadian Universities Jiu-Jitsu Association (CUJA) was founded to address a clear gap in Canadian university sport: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu clubs were growing on campuses across the country, but there was no national organization connecting them.

Student-run clubs were largely operating independently, without a common platform to collaborate, compete between institutions, share resources, or build a broader pathway for university-level jiu-jitsu in Canada.

CUJA was founded by Shervin Akhlaghi, who began reaching out to university jiu-jitsu clubs across Canada with the goal of bringing them together under a shared national network.

The development of CUJA was also strongly encouraged and supported by the Ontario Jiu-Jitsu Association (OJA). Through early discussions and guidance, the OJA helped inspire the creation of a more organized university jiu-jitsu structure and supported the idea of bringing Canadian post-secondary clubs together through a dedicated federation.

The first group brought together programs from Toronto Metropolitan University, Queen’s University, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and Wilfrid Laurier University. As more clubs became involved, the network continued to grow, shaped by the participation and collaboration of student leaders and jiu-jitsu communities from across the country.

CUJA was subsequently incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in Ontario, creating a formal structure through which the growing network could continue developing university jiu-jitsu nationally.

A major milestone came on March 14, 2026, when CUJA organized the inaugural Canadian Universities Jiu-Jitsu Championship (CUJC) at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre. The championship, sanctioned by the OJA, brought together 170 competitors representing 15 universities and colleges from across Canada.

CUJA’s work also reached the international university sport stage in 2026, as Canadian student-athletes participated in jiu-jitsu at the FISU World University Championship Combat Sports in Brasília, Brazil.

What began as an effort to connect university clubs has grown into a national organization built through the involvement of students, athletes, university programs and supporters of the sport, with the shared goal of developing a stronger and more connected future for university jiu-jitsu in Canada.

OJA's Support and Backing

The Ontario Jiu-Jitsu Association (OJA) has played an important role in the development of CUJA from its early stages.

The OJA supported and encouraged the idea of creating a dedicated university jiu-jitsu federation and provided guidance as CUJA developed from a network of university clubs into a more formal national organization.

That support continued with the creation of the Canadian Universities Jiu-Jitsu Championship, with the inaugural CUJC in 2026 being officially sanctioned by the OJA.

OJA sanctioning provided the championship with an established framework for competition, officiating and athlete safety while allowing CUJA to focus on building a competition specifically designed around Canadian universities and colleges.

Our Vision & Goals

CUJA’s vision is to establish a sustainable national system for university-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Canada.

We believe students should have the opportunity to begin training on campus, represent their university or college in competition, connect with athletes at other institutions, and pursue opportunities beyond their individual club.

Our long-term goals include:

Grow the Canadian Universities Jiu-Jitsu Championship:

Continue developing the Canadian Universities Jiu-Jitsu Championship as Canada’s national university-level jiu-jitsu competition, bringing together student-athletes from institutions

across the country.

Build a Truly National Network:

Expand CUJA’s presence across Canada by connecting existing university and college jiu-jitsu programs and supporting the creation of new clubs where none currently exist.

Support University Clubs:

Provide club leaders with resources, connections, knowledge and guidance that can help their programs develop and remain sustainable as student leadership changes from year to year.

Create Opportunities for Student-Athletes:

Give Canadian university jiu-jitsu athletes opportunities to compete, represent their institutions, develop their skills and receive recognition for their accomplishments.

Develop National and International Pathways:

Build stronger pathways connecting campus-level jiu-jitsu, Canadian university competition and opportunities within the broader national and international university sport system.

Create a Path Toward Scholarships and Athlete Support:

One of CUJA’s long-term ambitions is to help university jiu-jitsu reach a level of recognition where student-athletes may one day be able to receive scholarships, financial awards and other forms of institutional support because of their achievements in jiu-jitsu.

As university programs, national competition and athlete pathways become more established, CUJA hopes to help create an environment where excellence in jiu-jitsu can contribute not only to athletic opportunities, but also to a student’s educational future.

Our goal is to help move university jiu-jitsu toward a future where talented athletes can pursue both their education and their sport without having to choose between the two.

Want to get involved?

Get in touch so we can start working together.