- 860-537-3686
- [email protected]
Registering for a NAGA grappling tournament, is an easy process that requires just a few steps, once you have found the tournament you want to register for.
Smoothcomp has a tutorial with graphics here https://support.smoothcomp.com/article/88-how-to-register-for-a-competition.
This is the basic way to register for a NAGA grappling tournament. There are other FAQs that provide information about registering multiple family members, coaches registering students, etc. Please use these FAQs if they apply to you.
Smoothcomp is a tournament management system NAGA uses that handles the registration and payment for an event, and generates the brackets for the event. The Smoothcomp website will keep you updated on what time and which mat you will be competing, all in real time. You will need a Smoothcomp account in order to compete in a NAGA event. There is no charge to create a Smoothcomp account. If you have competed in a Smoothcomp event in the past you can login to Smoothcomp with those login credentials and register for an event. If this is the first time you are using Smoothcomp you will need to create an account by going to naga.smoothcomp.com. Creating your account is easy and quick. If you are not with a team (being with one is not a requirement) please see the FAQ concerning that. If you are a parent or coach creating multiple profiles under your account please refer to the FAQ concerning that.
Learn how to use your Smoothcomp account
Yes we do. NAGA has divisions for all ages and all skill levels. NAGA has had Expert level 6 years old compete and Novice level 50 year olds compete. We have a division for everyone. For more information, click the red DIVISIONS tab located on the page of the event you are interested in.
All the information about skill levels and weight classes can be found in Rules & Divisions.
Here are the time limits for NAGA matches:
Kids & Teens Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced – 3 minutes
Kids & Teens Expert – 4 minutes
All Masters, Directors, Executives Divisions (regardless of skill level) – 4 minutes
Adult Men & Women No-Gi Novice, No-Gi Beginner, Gi white belt, Novice/Beginner Absolute, White Belt Absolute – 4 minutes
Adult Men & Women No-Gi Intermediate, Gi blue belt, Intermediate Absolute, Blue Belt Absolute – 5 minutes
Adult Men & Women No-Gi Expert, Gi Purple, Brown, Black Belt, Expert Absolute, Purple Absolute, Brown/Black Absolute – 6 minutes
NAGA offers multiple weigh-in options. Competitors can weigh-in the night before the event and the day of the event. The time and location for the night before weigh-in can be found on the event page of the tournament that you are competing in. The venue where the event is being held is typically where the weigh-ins take place. The time is typically in the early to mid evening (6-8pm). You will not be able to weigh-in until the weigh-in session opens, and the scales are not available to check your weight.
On tournament day(s), children and teens will have a specific timeframe where they must be weighed-in by. These times are found on the event page. Adults can weigh-in any time up until 90 minutes before their scheduled division start time (found on Smoothcomp).
Events that are split over two days will have a different weigh-in schedule. For all events, please check the schedule on the event page for all the details regarding weighing-in.
The following divisions winners are award championship belts:
Adult (including master, director, executive), no-gi expert.
Adult (including master, director, executive) purple belt, brown belt, black belt.
Children & teen no-gi & gi expert.
Adult absolute intermediate, expert, purple belt, brown/black belt.
One belt can be won per tournament unless you win the absolute(s). If you win your adult no-gi expert division, purple belt, and absolute expert you would be awarded two belts. If you won expert no-gi and purple belt, you would be awarded one belt and a gold medal for the other win.
Non-Expert Division Winner Awards
Non-expert children winners receive a sword (one per event). A gold medal will be awarded for any additional division wins.
Adult non-expert, white belt, blue belts, novice/beginner absolute, and white belt absolute winners receive a gold medal.
All athletes that place 2nd receive a silver medal.
All athletes that place 3rd receive a bronzer medal.
Due to changes in your weight or just a simple mistake of entering the incorrect weight or skill level when registering, you may need to change them. You can do so from your Smoothcomp account. Instructions to do this can be found here https://support.smoothcomp.com/article/70-i-want-to-change-my-weightclass.
We understand that things come up at the last minute, injuries happen, and so on, that may cause you to miss an event for which you already registered. If you need to cancel your registration you will be issued a coupon code in the amount of what you paid that can be used at any NAGA event. The coupon code is automatically created and stored in your Smoothcomp profile.
You will go to the NAGA front desk to collect your registration cards and any spectator passes you purchased. Next you will go to the weigh-in station. After weighing in, you will proceed to the Referee Interview table. The referee will make sure you are in the correct division and all information is correct, then will approve you (check you in) in Smoothcomp. You will be able to check your estimated match start time and mat assignment by logging into your Smoothcomp account at the event.
Instructions on how to check your start time and mat assignment
Spectator tickets can be purchased at the front desk. Adding additional divisions on event day may be possible (example: someone decides they want to now do Gi in addition to No-Gi). Please inquire at the NAGA front desk at the event.
Any NAGA tournament that was run using Smoothcomp, the results can be found on the Smoothcomp page for that event. Click the RESULTS link and they can be found there. A direct link to an event’s results can also be found in the introduction paragraph of each event on this website.
You will be able to check your estimated match start time and mat assignment by logging into your Smoothcomp account at the event.
Instructions on how to check your match time and mat assginment
You do not have to be on a team in order to compete at a NAGA event. When you create your Smoothcomp profile you will still need to list something in the School field. If you do not have a team affiliation, type in NO TEAM, choose that entry and you will satisfy that part of the profile creation.
Spectator passes can be purchased online at naga.smoothcomp.com. To purchase passes online, you must have a Smoothcomp account, or create one. Once you are on the tournament page for the tournament you want to attend, continue as if you are registering. At the page where you select a division, you will see the option to purchase spectator passes. Complete the process and pay. The passes can be picked up at the front door desk of the tournament.
Spectator passes for NAGA events are also available for purchase at the door. Children 8 & under passes must be purchased at the door.
Parents/guardians do need spectator passes.
Coaches, please see the specific FAQ concerning passes.
When registering online using Smoothcomp, the forms of payment accepted are:
Please note that when entering the expiration date for a credit card, it must follow the format xx/yy, it must include the slash. If not, the transaction will not complete.
Cash for registration can be accepted at the door at the night before weigh-in session. If you go this route, you still need to have a Smoothcomp account and need to be registered for this event ahead of time. When registering, you can choose the option to complete (pay for) the registration later.
The NAGA Merchandise Booth accepts cash and credit card (only Vis, MC, or Discover).
Checks, even those from schools/businesses are not accepted.
At every ring there will be a coaches chair for each competitor. Anyone coaching the competitor can sit here. They are the only coach allowed matside, all others must remain behind the barricades (or scorer’s table if no barricades). The referee may stop the match and give a warning (followed subsequently by penalty or DQ) if this rule is not followed.
Coaches are considered as those who own the school or are instructors at the school.
Coaches who bring at least 4 students are allowed entry without payment. Those with larger teams will be allowed multiple coaches (without payment). Coaches can check in at the front door the day of the event and receive their entry wristband. If you have any questions please contact us at 860-537-3686 or [email protected].
Parents can coach from the coaches chair matside. Parents need to pay the spectator fee to enter the venue (parents can coach but are not considered a coach unless they meet the criteria mentioned earlier).
Any coupon codes you have from tournaments where you cancelled your registration, will be stored in your Smoothcomp profile. To use this code or any code given to you (over the phone, by email, etc.), copy the code and enter it into the coupon code field when checking out. Click the APPLY link and the amount of the coupon will be deducted from the fee owed. If the amount is $0 then the transaction will be completed. If money is still owed then a credit card/PayPal/Stripe will be needed to pay the balance and complete the transaction.
Only one coupon code can be used per transaction.
Coupon codes are not emailed to you when you cancel a registration, they are stored in your profile.
If you think you should have a coupon code and you do not see it, please contact NAGA at [email protected]
Once you register for a tournament, you are no longer able to change the team name that shows for that tournament. You can change it in your profile for future registrations.
To fix this, someone from NAGA will need to manually edit the entry. Once we do, any team points you earn will be allocated to that team, and the bracketing algorithm will not match you up with a teammate.
Please contact us before the event to take care of this.
Coaches, please be sure your team knows the exact name of the academy so they register correctly.
All competitors need to have a Smoothcomp profile but not necessarily a Smoothcomp account. Smoothcomp allows for multiple profiles to be created under one account, perfect for families. A parent can create their Smoothcomp account and then create profiles for their children and/or other family members so everything can be managed from one account.
Instructions on how to manage different profiles from one account
When registering multiple competitors using Smoothcomp, you have to register each competitor individually. There is currently not an option for individuals to register multiple competitors, checking out once instead of multiple times.
Coach/Manager accounts can do this if the students are listed under their account.
If you have not already registered for an event, you can go into your profile and edit the name.
If you have already registered for an event, the above solution will not work for the name shown for the tournament which you registered. You will need to contact [email protected] to have them fix it. There is nothing NAGA can do to fix this, before, during, or after an event.
Coach accounts are a great option available in Smoothcomp. The coach manager account gives coaches options to register, edit and pay for all the fighters that belongs to the academy. The first coach to register an academy will automatically be appointed as coach manager.
NAGA team points are calculated by the affiliation not the academy. Smoothcomp define Academy and Affiliation as: Affiliation= One team/affiliation that have several clubs representing the team/affiliation in competition Academy= One academy/school/club with students training for one (or more) instructors in one local place. The affiliate must be set up by the affiliate itself, it is not set up automatically.
Example: If John’s Jiu-Jitsu is a Gracie Barra affiliate, their points will go towards the Gracie Barra affiliate’s team total.
NAGA is asking that all schools make sure their affiliation within the Smoothcomp system is in order or to create one. We want to make sure that the team points are accurate without the need for post event auditing. This will allow us to give out the team awards at the end of the event once all results are published.
Affiliations must be created by Smoothcomp. an Affiliation owner, manager, director can contact Smoothcomp directly to have it created. NAGA is unable to assist with creating an affiliation. Anyone can create an academy. Please be sure there is only one instance of your academy in Smoothcomp and let your students know the exact name. There are instances where there are two names for the same school. For example John’s Jiu-Jitsu – West may also be listed as John’s Jiu-Jitsu – Westside. They are the same, just created by two different users. “West” may already be part of the affiliation while “Westside” is not. Anyone registered under “Westside” would not have their team points allocated correctly….
More information on creating an affiliation or academy
Instructions on how to connect your academy to an affiliation
Smoothcomp has a terrific support section on their website that can typically answer most of you questions and instruct you how to resolve the problem. Typical questions concerning how to cancel registrations, editing your profile, merging two accounts, editing/changing school name, how to check brackets, and more, are all answered on the support page.
If you are having a problem where the website is not working correctly (buttons not working, payment not going through, pages hanging, etc.) please make sure you have a solid connection to the Internet and that your browser is up to date. Google Chrome has shown to be the most reliable browser to use when using Smoothcomp, so you may want to try that if you have not already. If all of this has been done and you are still having issues then email [email protected].
Any questions regarding the tournament itself, text on NAGA event pages, team/individual results, any non-technical issues with the website, NAGA should be able to assist you. Please contact us at 860-295-0403 or [email protected]
NAGA team points are calculated by the affiliation not the academy. Smoothcomp define Academy and Affiliation as: Affiliation= One team/affiliation that have several clubs representing the team/affiliation in competition Academy= One academy/school/club with students training for one (or more) instructors in one local place. The affiliate must be set up by the affiliate itself, it is not set up automatically.
Please see the FAQ titled “How do I set up an affiliation in Smoothcomp?” for more information on setting up academies and affiliations in Smoothcomp.
Competitors in higher skill levels are awarded more team points. An expert competitor receives more team points for placing in a division (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) than a novice, beginner, intermediate, or advanced competitor.
NAGA Team Points Breakdown Skill, points for 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Kids/Teens Novice 50, 30, 20 Beginner 70, 50, 30 Intermediate 90, 70, 50 Advanced 100, 80, 60 Expert 120, 90, 70
Adult No-Gi Novice 50, 30, 20 Beginner 70, 50, 30 Intermediate 90, 70, 50 Expert 120, 90, 70
Adult Gi White Belt 50, 30, 20 Blue Belt 70, 50, 30 Purple Belt 90, 70, 50 Brown Belt 120, 90, 70 Black Belt 150, 120, 90
The Novice division is for adults (men, women, masters, directors, executives) who have up to six months of overall grappling experience (including but not limited to BJJ, wrestling, judo, sambo, etc.) Exceptions to this are; those who have wrestled, those who hold any belt color other than white (in any grappling discipline), those who have competed in Novice previously and won, anyone with at least one MMA fight.
Novice is reserved for the newest of the new competitors. If you are a white belt who has been training for 5 months but are close to getting your blue belt, do Beginner and test yourself. NAGA has disqualified numerous competitors after finding out they have more experience than they divulged during the interview process (i.e. Sandbagging).
Wrestlers are some of the hardest grapplers to put into a division. They have great takedowns and positioning but sometimes lack the submission skills of a jiu-jitsu or judo player. Wrestlers are typically tremendous athletes who usually possess incomparable cardio.
The training timeframes listed on the registration form are loose guidelines that are sometimes interpreted only as time trained in arts which have submissions. This is not the case. The time guidelines encompass all the time the competitor has spent on the mat.
If you have wrestled even one half of a season (even if it was 20 years ago), you do not belong in and cannot enter the Novice division.
Wrestlers generally belong in the Adult or Children/Teen Intermediate or Advanced/Expert divisions. If you are a wrestler and having trouble deciding what division to compete in please call us at 860-537-3686 or email us at [email protected] and we can assist you. If emailing us, please include what you have trained in (wrestling, BJJ, etc.), how long you have trained, and at what level (wrestled in high school and won states, wrestled in H.S. and was on JV, wrestled D1, etc.).
NAGA allows any colored gi to be worn (white, blue, black, red, pink, etc.).
All athletes are allowed to wear a shirt or rash guard under their gi. These garments cannot be grabbed by the opponent.
Your gi needs to be clean and meet the gi length and material requirements. These requirements can be found on the IBJJF website. Please only refer to the material and fitment sections of this page.
You do not need to weigh-in with your gi on.
New for 2025!
2 Match Brackets for All Competitors
2-Person Divisions: Best 2-out-of-3
3-Person Divisions: Round Robin
4-Person + Divisions: 4 or more competitors will now have a 3rd place bracket for those who lose a match enabling them to compete again at no extra cost.
These new bracket types will make sure each competitor has a chance at two matches per division (barring injury, opponent withdrawal, etc.) so they can gain that valuable experience on the mats.
Learn more about NAGA Privacy Policy.
NAGA has multiple jobs that we need to staff at each event: ring coordinators, award assistants, weigh-ins, and more. These are all paid positions. In addition to working the event there may be an opportunity to work the setup the day (or night) before the event. If you are interested in working a NAGA event, please email Jeff Wood at [email protected].
Please note that if you are working the event you will not be able to compete.
NAGA is looking looking for qualified individuals to join our referee team. If you are interested in becoming a NAGA referee and are at least a purple belt in BJJ, please complete he referee application HERE.
Our contact page can be found HERE.
Please note that on Fridays, we may be away at tournaments and not in the office. If you have an inquiry about a tournament that weekend, it may need to be addressed at the tournament. All other inquiries will be addressed when we return to the office (typically on Monday). The office is not staffed on Saturday or Sunday.
NAGA World Headquarters
400 Halls Hill Road
Colchester, CT 06415
Call: 860-537-3686
Email: [email protected]
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