Stephan Fox believes the dissolution of GAISF will not harm ju-jitsu's Olympic aspirations ©Getty Images

Former Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) vice-president Stephan Fox believes that the body's dissolution has had no impact on ju-jitsu's Olympic ambitions.

Fox, who is also President of the Alliance of Independent Members of Sport (AIMS), insists that it should be an individual effort for governing bodies trying to achieve recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"I think that [the dissolution of GAISF] has nothing to do with anything," Fox told insidethegames at the Ju-Jitsu Asian Championships here in Bangkok.

"We are together but at the end of the day we are also rivalling each other for a place in the Games.

"At the end of the day, the dissolution of GAISF has nothing to do with the individual development of sports.

"GAISF was an umbrella body and we still have the umbrella bodies like AIMS, Association of International Olympic Committee Recognised International Sports Federations, Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, and Association of Winter Olympic International Federations which are very important and obviously ju-jitsu is part of AIMS.

"So, I think the development must be done by their own sports.

"If they want to have an Olympic dream then they need to think like an athlete, you have to really work towards excellence on all levels to get there.

"What we preach to our athletes we have to do in the Federations ourselves."

Stephan Fox feels ju-jitsu is making impressive strides to achieve IOC recognition ©JJAU
Stephan Fox feels ju-jitsu is making impressive strides to achieve IOC recognition ©JJAU

The disbanding saw GAISF's CHF5.66 million (£4.9 million/$6 million/€5.74 million) fortune distributed to SportAccord after delegates voted to dissolve the body.

It also meant that AIMS and ARISF become members of SportAccord along with the ASOIF and the AIOWF as part of the restructure.

"The journey is as important as the destination," Fox said.

"I know everyone wants to be in the Olympics but on the way to the Olympics there are so many events we can conquer and pick up, doesn't matter if it's the World Combat Games or the World Games or the FISU Games and so on.

"We all want to be in the Olympics.

"It's a far away dream for everyone but we have to believe in our dreams.

"If we stop dreaming then life would be very boring.

"The next important step is to get recognition from the IOC so that they can actually apply to get into the summer programme and I think they are doing very well.

"What ju-jitsu has done in the last six to eight years, not just in Asia but around the world, but especially in Asia is exceptional."