Stepping into your first BJJ tournament is a wild mix of nerves and adrenaline. A lot of people find themselves thinking,“…what am I doing here?” And that’s exactly why you should do it. Competing is one of the fastest ways to level up your jiu-jitsu because it forces you into a pressure cooker where every grip, every scramble, and every tiny mistake actually matters.
BJJ competitions are unique compared to other grappling events because they blend your technique, strategy, and mindset all at once.
That combination reveals the truth about your game. Suddenly, you learn which throws actually work under resistance, whether your guard retention is as good as you think, and how hard it is to pass when someone really doesn’t want you to.
Why Competing Helps Your Jiu-Jitsu
When you sign up for a tournament, you set a deadline for yourself. You train sharper. You drill more. You show up on the days you would have skipped. And once you’re out there on the mats, you’ll realize rolling at the gym is nothing compared to competition.
Competing teaches you how to stay calm under pressure and how opponents move when there are real stakes. So whether you’re here to test your judo throws, sharpen your strategy, or just challenge yourself, BJJ tournaments are one of the best catalysts for growth in all of grappling.
How BJJ Tournaments Are Organized
Most BJJ tournaments run like a traditional bracket. Your bracket size depends on how many people signed up in your division. Sometimes it’s four people, sometimes it’s twenty, the process is the same: survive and advance.
Single Elimination vs. Double Elimination vs. Round Robin
Single elimination is fast and unforgiving, as once you lose, you’re out. In a round robin, you face everyone in your group, and the best overall record wins. NAGA tournaments use a mixture of double elimination and round robin. Two competitor divisions use a best 2 out of 3 format. Three competitor divisions use a round robin format. Four competitor and higher divisions use a double elimination – bronze match format, where if you lose, you still have a chance to compete for third place.
How Many Rounds Will You Fight?
This totally depends on the bracket size. In a small division, you may get 2–3 matches, while in a big division, you could fight up to six times or more to win gold.
Fair fights matter, so tournaments break competitors down by:
- Age
- Belt level
- Weight class
Weight Classes and Divisions
Age, Belt, and Weight Breakdown
NAGA runs divisions for every age, skill level, and weight, and keeps brackets fair by matching athletes as closely as possible.
Age Divisions
- Children: 13 & under
- Teens: 14–17
- Adults: 18–29
- Masters: 30–39
- Directors: 40–49
- Executives: 50+
Children & Teen Divisions (Skill Levels)
- Novice: Under 6 months
- Beginner: 6–18 months
- Intermediate: 18 months–3 years
- Advanced: 3–5 years
- Expert: 5+ years
Adult No-Gi Skill Levels
- Novice: Under 6 months
- Beginner: 6 months–2 years
- Intermediate: 2–5 years
- Expert: 5+ years
Adult Gi Belt Divisions
- White
- Blue
- Purple
- Brown
- Black
Weight classes are slightly different across NAGA, IBJJF, and Grappling Industries, but you’ll always be matched with opponents close to your weight.
What Is the Absolute Division?
In the absolute division (or “open class”), there are no weight classes or size advantage. Anyone can enter – featherweights, heavyweights, giants, technicians – and everyone fights everyone. For that reason, the absolute division isn’t something you jump into. If you show up unprepared, you might walk away with a tough lesson instead of a medal.
Rules of BJJ Competition
Point System: How Matches Are Scored
Most BJJ tournaments use a point system to reward dominant positions. You typically get points for:
- Takedowns
- Sweeps
- Guard Passes
- Dominant Positions
- Submissions
Some rulesets also award points for strong submission attempts to encourage constant offense instead of stalling.
Common Fouls and Illegal Moves
Here are some universal no-nos across most tournaments:
- Slams with intent to injure
- Neck cranks
- Small joint manipulation
- Spinal locks for beginners
- Certain leg locks depending on belt level
Kids and teens have even stricter rules, with many submissions completely banned until a higher age or experience level.
IBJJF vs. NAGA vs. Local Tournaments
IBJJF is very structured, has strict uniform rules, traditional scoring, and belt-specific technique restrictions. There are no points for submission attempts, and only positions and finishes matter.
NAGA is more aggressive and action-oriented. No-gi divisions award points for submission attempts, allow a wider variety of positions to score, and generally encourage constant engagement. Gi divisions follow a more IBJJF-style structure but still maintain NAGA’s emphasis on action and safety.
Local tournaments can vary a lot. Some blend rulesets, some simplify scoring, and others prioritize mat time over strict competition structure.
How Matches Work
Time limits depend on age and belt level, but most beginner matches fall in the 4–6 minute range. Higher belts get longer rounds as they tend to have greater endurance and experience.
Overtime, Sudden Death, and Referee Decisions
Some tournaments use overtime or sudden victory if regulation time ends in a tie. Other events skip overtime entirely and go straight to a referee decision.
Common overtime formats:
- Sudden victory: First person to score ANYTHING wins.
- Positional overtime: Similar to submission-only formats, where you start from a control position and try to escape or finish.
- Tie-breaker points: Some tournaments track “advantages” or “near scores” to determine the winner.
If the ref has to decide, they usually look at who was attacking more, controlled the pace, and was closer to finishing or scoring. If nobody taps, the match is decided by one of three things:
- Points: Whoever scored more gets the win.
- Advantages: Used in IBJJF to reward “almost” moments like near sweeps or near submissions.
- Referee Decision: For ties, stalling matches, or weird scrambles where no one clearly pulled ahead.
Beginner’s Guide to BJJ Tournaments
Your first tournament is loud, fast, and full of adrenaline – and that’s all part of the fun. Expect nerves, chaos, and to learn a ton. Everyone makes mistakes at white belt, so don’t stress about being perfect.
How to Register and Pay for a Tournament
- Get to know Smoothcomp.com. This is the tournament management system NAGA uses. Go to naga.smoothcomp.com, create an account (or login to your existing account), and follow steps 2-6.
- Pick your event
- Choose your division
- Register early to guarantee a spot.
- Double-check your weight class.
- Complete any required paperwork
Tips for Handling Nerves and Preparing Mentally
Everyone gets nervous before competing; the trick is making those nerves work for you, not against you. Here are some battle-tested tips to help your mindset:
- Keep a simple game plan.
- Breathe and warm up early.
- Expect adrenaline and don’t panic when it hits.
- Focus on effort, not perfection.
- Reset quickly after mistakes.
Most importantly, remember that you belong on those mats. Showing up is already a win.
Winning and Awards
Tournaments reward winners in all kinds of ways, and every event has its own flavor. Most divisions hand out medals. But some organizations keep things spicy with championship belts, giant medals, or even swords for certain skill levels or advanced finals. A few tournaments also offer cash prizes, but those are generally reserved for expert-level or professional divisions.
Even though medals and trophies are awesome (and honestly, who doesn’t want a giant sword?), winning isn’t the only thing that matters. Most competitors walk away with something way more valuable: real experience. Testing your game under pressure, discovering what actually works, feeling the adrenaline hit, and learning where your holes are make you sharper back in the gym.
Preparing for a BJJ Tournament
The last 4–6 weeks before a tournament should focus on sharpening your A-game. Practice your best takedowns, guard passes, escapes, and submissions. Increase training intensity, mix in specific sparring rounds, and build your cardio so the adrenaline dump on competition day doesn’t catch you by surprise.
Not everyone cuts weight, and beginners often shouldn’t. But if you do decide to cut, start early. Lose most of the weight slowly through diet and hydration rather than a last-minute water cut.
Tournament Day Checklist
- ID and registration confirmation
- Gi and/or no-gi gear (bring backups if possible)
- Belt, rashguard, and shorts
- Snacks such as fruit, granola bars, honey packets, simple carbs
- Water + electrolytes
- Tape for fingers and grips
- Mouthguard
- Flip-flops
- Headphones
- Phone charger
Common Questions About BJJ Competitions
Do BJJ Tournaments Pay?
White belts and hobbyists usually compete for medals, belts, or swords. Some advanced divisions, invitationals, or pro brackets offer cash prizes, but you typically need to be at the expert level to qualify.
How Long Do BJJ Tournaments Take?
Plan on being there most of the day. Even if your actual match time is only 5–10 minutes, tournaments run on rolling schedules. You’ll weigh in, warm up, wait for mat assignments, and possibly compete in multiple matches if your division has a larger bracket.
How Do BJJ Fights Work?
Matches start standing, and you score points by achieving dominant positions or by sweeping from the bottom. Submissions end the match instantly. If no one taps, the winner is determined by points, and if the points are tied, the ref may award the win.
Ready to Test Your Game?
Win or lose, every tournament teaches you something real. You find out what works under pressure, where your holes are, and just how far you can push yourself when the adrenaline hits.
If you’re feeling that itch to compete, listen to it. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need the willingness to show up and trust your training. The rest comes with experience.
NAGA has tournaments happening all year long, so wherever you are in your BJJ journey, there’s a bracket waiting for you. So gear up, tighten your belt, and step onto the mat!