Carjitsu, a new game where fighters brawl inside the cramped quarters of a sedan, is revving up to be the next big thing. Players make use of seat belts, dashboards and other car accessories to subdue their opponent. ADVERTISEMENT The sport was originated by a Russian grad student at Kansas State University named Vik Mikheev, in the United States to earn his Ph.
D. in mathematics. A black belt in judo and Brazilian jiujitsu, he first came up with the idea of competitive grappling inside a vehicle in 2020.
The rules are simple but brutal. Two fighters start buckled in their seats and once they unlock it’s game on. If there’s no winner after two rounds the action moves to the backseat.
The sport is currently averaging five million views weekly and catching the eye of many famous celebrities. Even ESPN couldn’t resist airing it on The Ocho, their showcase for the weird and wonderful. Fighters love the unpredictability of the game.
As Kyron Bowen, a Carjitsu contender said, “Some of it isn’t even jiu-jitsu—it’s just surviving in there.” There are also other added challenges like seat belts that lock at the worst moment or the sweltering heat with no AC. The sport’s appeal lies not just in its spectacle but also in its raw reality.
With the rise in car-jackings, Bowen sees a practical side noting “Uber drivers and taxi drivers need to be watching this, UFC legend Mark Coleman agrees, calling it a useful skill for anyone who drives for a living. So, next time you�.