State of Illinois has the fix in to protect boxing and it's friends
I am obviously greatly disappointed with the new legislation, especially as it is basically written to protect boxing in Illinois from MMA and any other combat sport that might remotely compete with boxing. This legislation serves as nothing more than to be a vehicle to line the pockets of boxing promoters, boxers, and politicians who are associated with boxing. Despite the fact that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not a "competitor" of boxing, this bill in one fell swoop covers in a very broad stroke, any "full contact combat sport" which obviously would include BJJ.
The unintended consequence for the State of Illinois is preventing a large amount of income from entering the state. The IBJJF summer open alone would have garnered tens of thousands of dollars for local businesses like hotels, restaurants, parking venues and the like. Not to mention revenue on taxes for all of this. This is just for one event, in one location for this summer. Other events, like NAGA, and others will look to move their venues to other states (hopefully Michigan) like Indiana, Ohio or others.
I am obviously going to continue to train hard in the hopes that this legislation is repealed or otherwise modified in anticipation that the IBJJF summer open will be back on at some point. I'll also be looking for another tournament to compete in, in the interim. Here's hoping the State of Illinois, who has a long history of corruption behind it (three Governors in prison in the last 35 years and several others in some amount of legal difficulty), can come to it's senses in time for aficionados of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and other grappling sports to avoid further negative impact.
