The Prestige of BJJ Competitions /// By: Vincent Inoncillo

The recent topic of jiu-jitsu tournament medalists and how prestigious their accolades are is quite the conversation.  We all know it takes some heart to even step into the gym and begin your jiu-jitsu journey. It takes a braver soul to step onto the competition mats and test their skill. The competitor goes in knowing they will either have their hand raised or not. That’s what’s worth it for them to go in there to test what knowledge they’re able to apply in competition and accept the results. They will emerge or have to go back to the lab and work on their game and try again.

At these tournaments, there is the potential for there to be any given number of competitors for a particular weight and belt bracket to show up to compete that day. Anyone who competes in jiu-jitsu, from no names to the biggest names, could be at that tournament and in your bracket. It’s all possible. We do know that sometimes there’s only 3 or 4 people in a bracket so the likelihood of taking home a medal is higher as opposed to a 32-man bracket. Sometimes there are brackets with only 2 people in the division so someone is definitely going home with their hand raised. And every so often there is the bracket where no one shows up except for one person and that person is awarded gold after they make weight. These things all happen from the smallest to the biggest events. But let’s face it, even if there are only 3 people in a division at a “world championship” event, those 3 will be going home with the gold, silver and bronze. We can’t help who decides to compete on a particular day or at particular event. It’s just the way it is. If you’re a world champion and only had to win one match, then that’s what it is. Whether it’s in the adult or master’s division, that is what the results will bear.

IBJJF World Championships at California State University Long Beach

Jiu-Jitsu tournaments are all over the world for competitors from across the globe to compete with one another and test their skills. With the recent passing of the IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu World Championship earlier in the spring, American Nationals this past summer and most recently the ADCC (along with many other events in between), there is a tournament for everyone to compete in no matter how big or small. We all know that the IBJJF is regarded as the governing body in Jiu-Jitsu competition and many smaller organizations that have adopted the IBJJF’s tournament ruleset. One of the main aspects in the IBJJF’s rulebook is no knee reaping, slamming, or heel hooks, for example. They also allow certain submissions for certain belt levels. Other tournaments offer the same ruleset with the exception of the occasional “all submissions are legal” aspect. A couple newer organizations such as Jiu-Jitsu World League and Grappling Industries have IBJJF style rules except there are no advantages awarded at their event so that there is a clear winner by points or submission. Then there’s ADCC where points are not awarded until halfway through the duration of the match. This is done to promote action in the match and for someone to achieve a submission early.

Different tournaments and events have different rules for different reasons. Each event’s goal with their particular rulesets secondarily showcases their beliefs in how competition could and should be ran. It’s all a matter of preference as well. A lot of competitors compete only in the gi, some only do no-gi and then there’s some who do both. A good number of the guys that can be seen at the EBI (Eddie Bravo Invitational) events primarily do no-gi (and may or may not don the gi as much) and prefer that event’s particular rule set. Some compete heavily in the IBJJF circuit and whose Jiu-Jitsu games are point oriented. There are also competitors that compete at any type of event and adapt.

The real question at hand is which event is the best? Is it IBJJF, NABJJF, NAGA, Grapplers Quest or ADCC? The IBJJF Europeans, Pan Am, Brazilian National, World Championship along with ADCC are deemed as the most prestigious events to win. Is it because of who shows up to these events? Their rules? Or maybe it’s just because these are the events that everyone says are the best. What if Buchecha, Cyborg, Gordon Ryan, Keenan and other big names all showed up and competed at every Grappling X or NAGA and claimed titles at those events? Having those athletes compete at these events would definitely bring exposure and acclaim to their organizations. The prestige of a NAGA title would mean more. The equity of holding a Grappling X, NABJJF or any other title would go up.

Anyone can be a champion at any given event. Different factors such as rules, organization, money, travel, training, etc. help determine who’s going to be a champion or medalist at a particular event. The worth and value of an event and title have different meanings to different people. It all depends. Are you a 27-time Grapplers Quest champion or a 28-time IBJJF world champion? No matter what titles you hold at any organization, as long as they mean something to you, should be all that matters.