Competing in IBJJF tournaments is a priceless and incomparable experience for any BJJ practitioner. In addition to the excellent rewards, the competitive events help to disseminate the jiu-jitsu sport and enable all levels of practitioners, whether beginners or advanced, to grow in this martial art.
If you want to compete in IBJJF contests or enjoy watching Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions, this article includes the most pleasing IBJJF BJJ tournaments worldwide that you should attend or watch.
What Are the Most Prestigious IBJJF Competitions?
Competitions will help jiu-jitsu practitioners to improve and deepen their grasp of various techniques and transitions, allowing them to be more successful when employing them. As a result, Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes strive to participate in many events each year.
Consequently, they schedule their goal contests early in the season to concentrate on training and preparation. So, if this is your way of competing, consider adding the following prestigious IBJJF competitions to your schedule.
World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship
The IBJJF World Championship (also known as the Worlds or Mundials) is one of the top exceptional global jiu-jitsu tournaments. It is a Gi contest that attracts top-tier competitors more than other events thanks to its amazing prizes and high competitive level.
Consequently, most intelligent BJJ competitors (from blue to black belts) eagerly await the IBJJF World to demonstrate their abilities yearly.
Since its start in 1996, the IBJJF Worlds has been held in Brazil until 2007 before it relocated to Long Beach, California.
In 2016, the IBJJF Mundials implemented a pay scheme that awarded $4000-$7000 for each class champion and $10,000 for the open weight category winner.
While it is not the most profitable tournament compared to the ADCC World Championship, it is undoubtedly among the most popular BJJ events.
Related: Discover the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi for competition. We examined the comfortable, long-lasting, and high-quality BJJ competition gis market. Click here to find out more!
IBJJF World No-Gi Championship
The No-Gi World Championship is one of the best IBJJF tournaments. It is regarded as the second most appealing No-Gi event after the ADCC World Championship.
As a result, it is a high-level competition that attracts the best no-gi grapplers worldwide (blue, purple, brown, and black belts). Winning a medal here is every BJJ practitioner’s dream.
IBJJF No-Gi World, like its Gi counterpart, is held each year in Long Beach, California. However, cash prizes are not given out. But don’t worry; it will likely begin awarding winners in a few years.
European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Regarding IBJJF tournaments, only the Worlds could surpass the IBJJF Europeans. It is hosted yearly every January in Lisbon, Portugal. Otherwise, the European jiu-jitsu championship attracts many big names jiu-jitsu athletes.
This IBJJF tournament comprises weight and age divisions for white, blue, purple, brown, and black belt fighters.
Typically, contestants from the United States and South America travel to Lisbon to compete. However, the sheer size of this tournament puts it ahead of the Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Even more intriguing, in 2015, the European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship set a new record for the world’s largest BJJ event, with 3,400 contestants.
Although it is not as prominent in terms of prize money compared to the IBJJF Worlds. Even year after year, the IBJJF European Championship brings out new talent, mainly blue, purple, and brown belts.
Related: The Ultimate BJJ Competition Training Plan for Dominance
Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship
The IBJJF Pan Championship is the North American equivalent of the Europeans. It did, however, exist long before the establishment of the IBJJF organization in 1996.
In terms of numbers, the Euros recently surpassed it. Regardless, the Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship remains North America’s second-largest competition.
The Pans have been one of the most prominent tournaments in jiu-jitsu history since their beginning in 1995. Expect high-level black belt matches due to the concentration of skill in North America.
Aside from that, the IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship is held in October. Nonetheless, the IBJJF Pan Gi Championship is held in April.
Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Since its inception in 1996, the Brazilian Nationals has been, without a doubt, the world’s most prestigious jiu-jitsu tournament.
While it may not be the most popular today, winning a BJJ Brazilian National medal is undoubtedly the most challenging feat in the jiu-jitsu circuit.
Like winning the World Championships, winning the Brazilian Nationals is perhaps more difficult even for top-ranked competitors.
The Brazilian Nationals event is full of tough Brazilian athletes. Until 2012, the tournament was held in Rio de Janeiro, but it moved to Barueri, So Paulo, Brazil.
Related: Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most remarkable grappling martial arts to learn. Therefore, I’ve created a lengthy post on how to begin practicing jiu-jitsu correctly. Click here to read more!
Conclusion
Competing in BJJ competitions is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for each practitioner. Several excellent IBJJF Gi and No-Gi tournaments can help serious students improve their skills.
Participating in contests can improve your BJJ martial art level, whether you are a novice or an advanced practitioner. Indeed, its prestigious accolades will assist you in advancing in this fighting sport.
In this article, I highlight the top prestigious IBJJF jiu-jitsu tournaments that you should compete in now or in the future; here is a list of them:
- World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- IBJJF World No-Gi Championship
- European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship
I hope this article was helpful! Have a superb BJJ competing experience.
Related: Discover the best submission-only BJJ tournaments by clicking here.
