The idea is simple. Combine Brazilian ju-jitsu with the confined space of a Toyota Prius and you have a bizarrely addictive spectator sport. 

Never again will you associate a seatbelt with safety. The steering wheel is not your friend and it may be advantageous to throw the seat back and create more space but be mindful of getting a finger caught in the commotion. 

From the mind of Russian martial artist Vik Mikheev, the aptly named car-jitsu evokes the tension and dread felt when watching iconic action movie scenes. The hallway fight in Old Boy for example, or the lift scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. 

But reality hits different. Unlike the competitors; they grapple and choke different, with a ferocity that makes it hard to watch and even tougher to look away. 

Mikheev reportedly hit on the winning formula during the covid pandemic and quickly saw its popularity rise in Russia to the point where it spawned its own championship. 

Car-jitsu sees two opponents battle to submit their opponent in the confides of a road car

Participants compete in up to three three-minute rounds to determine the victor

Competitors are allowed to use anything in the car to gain an advantage over their opponent and win the bout

That demand shows no sign of abating, with the sport now replicated in the United States under the Car Jitsu Championship banner. 

Like regular ju-jitsu, points are earned for positional dominance and submissions are the preferred method of victory. Competitors begin in the front seat of the vehicle, seatbelts on, hands on knees, waiting for the signal to commence. 

When it does, a flurry of activity ensues as each person attempts to free themselves often while simultaneously trying to maintain the restriction on their opponent. Competitors battle it out in three-minute rounds and swap driver and passenger seats in between. 

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Anything in the car can be used to gain an advantage, especially the seatbelt. Often, control of the safety harness is control of your destiny. Mikheev, via The Sun, told RollingTimesMag in 2020 that the sport has enabled him to better understand the martial arts discipline. 

‘Since October of 2020, I and my friends run small tournaments of Car Jitsu to study the aspects of jiu-jitsu application in such a confined space.’ He said. 

Indeed, it’s easy to see how improvement can be found when you’re no longer able to create separation from your opponent, or instead of attempting to escape from a rear naked choke, the task is to claw a fastening seatbelt away from your neck. 

Admittedly, it is slightly odd to attribute utility to this bonkers activity. Plainly, it is mad. And that’s the appeal. The Car Jitsu Championship social media channels are flooded with fans open-mouthed at the spectacle. 

‘Idk how I got here but I’m grateful,’ commented one user on Instagram to a post of the Championship bout between competitors Q Davidson and the self described ‘Seatbelt Assassin’ LaRoy Davis. 

Davis ended the clash within a minute by mounting his opponent and chocking him with, you guessed it, his seatbelt. ‘This my friends looks like a crime in progress’, remarked the commentator, who struck an uneasy tone.

After unbelievably breaking free from the restraint, Davidson was helpless to stop Davis’ second attempt and wisely tapped out to end the contest. 

The Car Jitsu Championship is an American tournament set up by the Pro League Network

Spectators on social media have offered a myriad of takes on the sport, ranging from shock to delight to disgust

‘This is the stupidest s*** I ever seen in my LIFE,’ said another user on social media, while a third asked: ‘How do I participate in this.’

‘The f***? What is going on with the world? What’s next bathroom UFC?’ Commented another. Among the ocean of takes on the clash, the most notable cosign came from two-time UFC champion Jon Jones. 

The 36-year-old posted eyes and two raised hands emojis to signal his approval of the unorthodox application of the martial arts discipline. Jones’ recognition is a clear indication of the fact that, however bizarre, car-jitsu’s exposure is growing. 

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Its founder Mikheev has a Youtube channel dedicated to the sport, which has accrued millions of views on the platform. The components of his display are slightly altered, more crude. 

The standardised Prius of the American showcases are replaced with a variety of vehicles which provide their own unique slant to battles. But in truth, it’s the sheen of the Stateside production that could see the sport gain credibility. 

Last year, Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson featured car-jitsu in their comedy round up of 2023. ‘What are we watching?’ said a shocked Hart. Thompson replied: ‘I thought he was going to kill him.’

Shock and intrigued has proved to be a winning formula for fringe sports in recent years. UFC boss Dana White put his money and influence behind the controversial Power Slap League in 2022. 

That too began its life in Eastern Europe, gaining popularity in 2020 with a series of viral videos starring 370-pound Russian sensation Vasiliy Khamotiskiy.

Known as ‘Dumpling,’ Khamotiskiy was seen in one video knocking a massive opponent unconscious to win 30,000 rubles, which was about £380 at the time. Other viral videos show Dumpling training by squashing watermelons and flipping tractor tires.

Shock and intrigued has proved to be a winning formula for fringe sports in recent years

UFC champion Jon Jones was one of the fans to comment on a social media post of car-jitsu

Time will tell whether this bizarre sport will stay a gimmick or continue to grow in popularity 

The spiritual sibling to car-jitsu is another sport making waves in Russia, the similarly effectively-named phone booth boxing. Two fighters step into the time capsule and duke it out until one person surrenders or is knocked out. They seem to have a thing for fighting in confined spaces over there. 

What will become of any of these endeavors is anyone’s guess but in 2024 there is clearly an appetite for the brash, outlandish and surreal content sports like car-jitsu produce.