By: Tom Forseman

While martial arts as a whole have seen a popularity boost in recent years thanks to organizations such as the UFC, there are some that appear to be especially impactful. One such art is Judo, a form of grappling that has seen an influx of practitioners thanks to fighters like Ronda Rousey and Kayla Harrison’s success in the UFC. This 19th-century martial art developed in Japan has experienced notable growth over time and seems to have a promising future ahead, with many new changes taking place in competitions over the next few years.

Isac Bispo dos Santos Jr. has been practicing and competing in Judo since his youth. Originally from Brazil, dos Santos Jr. has performed on the international stage, achieving podium finishes while representing his home country. During his time practicing Judo, he has observed its continuous changes in popularity and watched as the sport has gradually evolved. Now, working closely with Jimmy Pedro, he has been able to train with Olympians and help them prepare for the biggest stages.

Starting young, Isac joined his local Judo club as a way to improve his physical health. From there he evolved much like the martial art and started competing on bigger and bigger stages. Along the way, he has noticed, “Judo has been constantly evolving, and with each passing day, the level of high-performance athletes increases even more.” As the level rises, so too does the interest in the sport.

This interest happens on multiple levels, from those tuning into events all the way down to having more people sign up for classes or join clubs. This, in turn, creates new superstars who burst onto the scene and can further grow the sport. “The fact that it is present at the Olympic Games allows it to become more popular by bringing it to more people’s screens,” he says. While the levels are at their highest every four years, we’ve also seen remarkable performers outside of the Olympics.

The two most notable names who have put Judo into the public spotlight are Ronda Rousey and Kayla Harrison. “Rousey became a household name, and it opened the door for more people to learn about the sport,” explains dos Santos Jr. Through her title run in the UFC, becoming its biggest star over a five-year period, she demonstrated that Judo is a highly effective martial art for both self-defense and competitive fight sports.

To build on this increased popularity, the sport has had to evolve and make some changes. Isac points to the recent rule changes as an example of this. “I believe the new rules will make the sport more popular again,” he begins. “They should help make it more digestible for the layperson.” He is optimistic about how the next wave of competitions will play out in 2025 given the rules update and how the athletes respond to them.

As Judo is an Olympic sport, the highest level of athletes are those who have achieved a medal. Dos Santos Jr. is currently working with one such athlete turned coach, Jimmy Pedro, a bronze medalist in Judo and the coach of the aforementioned Kayla Harrison. “Working with coach Pedro has been a real joy; he has a specific way of teaching that is so fun to watch.”

Despite hailing from Brazil, where some of the premier Judo athletes are, dos Santos Jr. is aware of the evolution that is happening around the world. “With more attention to things like dietary needs and the use of technology, the level is only going to continue getting higher.” Through his training in the United States, Isac himself has evolved to incorporate this newfound knowledge, helping him to improve his own students significantly.

Looking even further into the future, dos Santos Jr. is enthusiastic about the 2028 Olympics, which are being held in Los Angeles. Through his partnership with sensei Jimmy Pedro, he will have access to help those hopefuls get a spot on the US National team. “I believe that I can be instrumental in helping out not only my friends but also the new wave of Olympians,” he says, a goal that could further solidify his contributions to the sport.

Isac dos Santos Jr. has had quite the journey, from a humble upbringing in Brazil to training Olympic hopefuls. It is all thanks to his first love, Judo, a martial art that he practiced long before its rise in popularity. Isac has enjoyed watching the sport grow, reaching new heights and continually improving. As he looks to the future, he is excited to see the levels it can ultimately achieve. With the possibility of new tournaments and better training, Judo’s growth appears to have no limits.

Published by Iris S.