Brave Challenge will pay men and women the same prize money: “There is no reason to pay differently”
The winners of the men’s and women’s tournaments each get $1,000 at the October 10 event in Maryland, says organizer Max Gimenis
Women and men will get the same prize money at Brave Challenge II, a jiu-jitsu event set for October 10 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Max Gimenis, the black belt who runs the event, told VF Comunica in an exclusive interview why he pays both the same.
“Women are delivering as much as men. There is no reason for us to pay differently. The girls are on fire, they are having very good matches and there are people who want to watch,” he said.
$1,000 for each winner
The event has two tournaments, one for men and one for women. In jiu-jitsu, this kind of tournament is called a grand prix, or GP: a small bracket where the athletes fight until only one is left. The winner of each GP takes home $1,000. The night also has superfights, which are single matches between two invited athletes.
Gimenis explained his thinking in one more line: “If they deliver the same thing, why would I pay differently? That is my idea.”
Who is Max Gimenis
Gimenis is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a black belt from GF Team, a well-known jiu-jitsu team from Rio, and he competes at super-heavyweight, the division for athletes up to about 221 pounds. He won the IBJJF Pan Championship in 2020 and finished second at the IBJJF World Championship in 2021. Those are two of the biggest tournaments in the sport.
Today he also fights in MMA, leads the Culture of Jiu-Jitsu Academy and organizes Brave Challenge.
Do you agree with him? Should jiu-jitsu events pay men and women the same? Tell us in the comments.
