Signing up for your first BJJ tournament is a rush. The nerves. The adrenaline. The “why did I do this?” moment the night before. Totally normal. What doesn’t have to be stressful is showing up unprepared.
This checklist breaks down exactly what to bring to a BJJ tournament so you can focus on what actually matters: staying sharp, hitting your takedowns, and letting your jiu-jitsu do the talking.
Essential Gear
Competition-legal gi or no-gi uniform
Bring what’s legal for that tournament, not what you usually train in. Check the rules ahead of time so you have the appropriate gi color, fit, patches, and rash guard colors. If backups of anything are allowed, bring them because sometimes rash guards get rejected, gis rip, and shorts fail inspection.
Belt and tape
Sounds obvious, but belts get forgotten all the time. Some events also require tape or identifier bands for divisions, so keep them in your bag if you don’t want ot be hunting for supplies five minutes before your match.
Fingernail clippers and athletic tape
This is tournament hygiene 101. Clip your nails before you step on the mat and keep tape handy for your fingers and toes.
Mouthguard and optional knee/elbow sleeves
Mouthguards are required at most events, and even when they’re not, you should still wear one. Knee or elbow sleeves can be clutch for long days and multiple matches, just make sure they’re legal and don’t have anything rigid or prohibited.
Comfort & Clothing
You might only be on the mat for a few minutes at a time, but you’re usually at the venue for hours. Staying comfortable between matches helps you stay loose, focused, and ready.
Extra rash guard and a dry shirt
It goes without saying that you don’t want to be sitting around in soaked gear. Bring an extra rash guard or dry shirt so you can change between matches. Being uncomfortable all day won’t help you when it’s time to compete.
Sweatpants and a hoodie
Tournament venues are unpredictable. One minute you’re sweating through warm-ups, the next you’re freezing in the bullpen. Sweatpants and a hoodie help you keep your muscles warm between rounds, which is huge for staying explosive on your throws and avoiding injury.
Sandals or slides
Never walk around barefoot. Ever. Slides make it easy to move between warm-up areas, restrooms, and the mat without trashing your feet (or getting yelled at by officials).
Towel
Simple but clutch. Use it to wipe sweat between matches, dry off your face, or clean up before you throw fresh gear back on.
Food & Hydration
Tournament days can stretch on forever, and nothing wrecks your performance faster than poor fueling. You want to eat smart so your energy stays steady and your stomach stays quiet.
Water or electrolyte drinks
Hydrate early and sip consistently throughout the day. Electrolytes can help with cramping and recovery, especially if you’re sweating a lot or competing in multiple matches.
Light snacks between matches
Quick, easy carbs like bananas, protein bars, honey, or gummies give you fast energy without weighing you down.
Small meal 60–90 minutes before your first match
If you compete better with food in your system, keep the meal simple and familiar. You want enough fuel to feel strong, but not so much that digestion becomes a problem once the adrenaline kicks in.
Avoid heavy or greasy foods
Big, fatty meals slow digestion and can make you feel sluggish or nauseous. Save the celebratory meal for after.
Mindset & Prep Tools
Tournament nerves are real. Having a few go-to tools can help you stay calm, locked in, and ready when your name gets called.
- Headphones and a playlist: Great for calming your nerves, getting hyped, and helping you control your headspace.
- Journal or game-plan notes: Write down your go-to takedowns, favorite passes, and high-percentage submissions. During the fight, simple cues help you execute instead of overthinking.
- Timer or watch: It’s easy to miss announcements so don’t rely on those. You always want to know roughly when you’re up ao you have time for warm-ups.
- Visualization or breathing routine: Take a minute to slow your breathing and picture your first exchanges to help prevent the adrenaline dump before the match.
Paperwork & Logistics
This is the unsexy stuff that can derail your day if you forget it.
ID, registration proof, and any required membership cards
Have these ready and easy to access at weigh-ins or check-in.
Completed waivers
Do this before you leave the house. Skipping last-minute paperwork means less stress and more time to warm up properly.
Smoothcomp access and familiarity
Make sure you can log in, find your division, and track mat assignments.
Cash and/or card
Some venues charge for parking, food, or admission—and not all of them take cards. Having a little cash on hand is clutch.
Check the event listing on nagafighter.com
Before you compete, review the details from NAGA on nagafighter.com for specific rules, venue info, schedules, and anything else you’ll want to know ahead of time.
Optional but Highly Useful Things to Bring
- Foam roller or massage ball for loosening up before matches or shaking out tight spots between rounds.
- Portable fan or mini cooler that can keep you from overheating during the long waits between matches in a hot, crowded venue.
- Extra tape, scissors, and band-aids to manage minor injuries during the day.
- A supportive teammate, coach, parent, or training partner to help you warm up, keep track of matches, give cues, and help calm your nerves.
Trust the Process and Enjoy the Fight
By the time tournament day rolls around, the hard work is already done. You’ve trained, you’ve prepared, and you’ve packed what you need to handle whatever the day throws at you.
Now your job is simple: show up, stay present, and compete with confidence. Focus on your grips, commit to your takedowns, and trust the jiu-jitsu you’ve built in the gym. Step on the mat, enjoy the moment, and let it fly. Good luck out there! We’ll see you on the mats.