Charlotte Fall International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2026
Organized by IBJJF
The Charlotte Fall International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship will take place on October 10, 2026, at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center in Concord, North Carolina. This event is organized by IBJJF and follows the IBJJF ruleset.
Event Description
The Charlotte Fall International Open brings IBJJF's no-gi championship format to North Carolina, scored under the federation's standard points-and-advantages system for takedowns, guard passes, mount, back control, and submissions. IBJJF's 22 age divisions cover everyone from young kids through the 61-and-over bracket, and every competitor must pass a strict, one-attempt weigh-in before stepping on the mat. This no-gi edition runs Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center in Concord, North Carolina, just outside Charlotte. Competitors need an active annual IBJJF membership plus event registration through ibjjf.com, with entry fees generally in the $50-$120 range.
Divisions
Registration deadline: October 2, 2026
Venue & travel
4751 NC Highway 49, Concord, NC 28025
About $10/car for ticketed events, cashless (card only), 3,000+ on-site spaces, no tailgating.
Nearest airport: Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) — about 20-30 minutes by car.
Concord sits northeast of Charlotte off I-85.
About IBJJF
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), founded in 2002 and headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is widely regarded as the largest and most prominent sanctioning body in competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It organizes the sport's most prestigious tournaments, including the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, European Open, and World No-Gi Championship, drawing thousands of competitors to its largest events each year.
Rules
IBJJF rules are the standard most BJJ competition rules descend from. Matches are scored on positional progress: 2 points for a takedown, sweep, or knee-on-belly; 3 points for passing the guard; and 4 points for mount, back mount, or back control with hooks. Advantages are awarded for near-scores and close submission attempts and act as the first tiebreaker, followed by penalties and finally referee decision. Match length scales with rank, from 5 minutes for adult white belts up to 10 minutes for black belts.
Legal techniques expand with age and belt. White belts face the tightest restrictions (no wrist locks, slicers, or kneebars); jump to purple and brown/black and more leg attacks and pressure submissions open up. Since the 2021 rule change, heel hooks and inside knee reaping are legal — but only in the adult brown/black no-gi divisions. Kids divisions run shorter matches with a much more restrictive legal-technique list.
Uniform rules are enforced: gis must be white, royal blue, or black, properly fitted, with a rank-appropriate belt; no-gi divisions require rash guards displaying the competitor's belt color. Referees can disqualify for illegal gear, so check the uniform checklist before stepping on the scale.
Always confirm the official rulebook before you compete — organizations update rules between seasons. See the official event page for current rules.
Community results
No results logged yet. Results show up here once competitors log them after the event.
Frequently asked questions
- When and where is the Charlotte Fall International Open No-Gi Championship?
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center in Concord, NC.
- Is this a gi or no-gi tournament?
- No-gi only.
- Do I need an IBJJF membership to register?
- Yes, an active annual IBJJF membership plus event registration are required.
- What ruleset governs the matches?
- IBJJF's standard points-and-advantages system, rewarding takedowns, guard passes, mount, back control, and submissions.
- How strict are the weigh-ins?
- Very -- IBJJF allows one weigh-in attempt, and missing weight results in disqualification.
BJJ gyms near Concord, NC
Looking for a place to train before or after the tournament?
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