Fort Lauderdale International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2026
Organized by IBJJF
The Fort Lauderdale International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship will take place on October 17, 2026, at the Broward County Convention Center. This event is organized by IBJJF and will follow IBJJF rules.
Event Description
The Fort Lauderdale International Open's no-gi championship shares its weekend with the gi counterpart, giving South Florida competitors a chance to test IBJJF's scoring system without the kimono. The same takedown, guard-pass, mount, back-control, and submission scoring applies, just without gi-specific grips and gi-related penalties. This no-gi championship takes place Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Broward County Convention Center - Hall C in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Competitors need an active IBJJF membership and event registration, and the federation's no-tolerance weigh-in policy applies. Registration is through the event's IBJJF listing.
Divisions
Registration deadline: October 9, 2026
Venue & travel
1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
On-site garage with 1,500 spaces (including ADA), connected by a covered skywalk; cashless, card only, no overnight parking.
Nearest airport: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) — about 2 miles away.
About 1.5 miles to Fort Lauderdale Beach and 2.5 miles to Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
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 Fort Lauderdale International Open No-Gi Championship?
- Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Broward County Convention Center - Hall C, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
- Is there a companion gi event?
- Yes, a Fort Lauderdale International Open gi championship runs the same weekend at the same venue.
- Do I need an IBJJF membership?
- Yes, an active annual membership plus event registration is required.
- What happens if I miss weight?
- IBJJF's no-tolerance weigh-in policy disqualifies competitors who miss weight.
- How do I register?
- Through the event's IBJJF listing, which has current pricing and division details.
BJJ gyms near Fort Lauderdale, FL
Looking for a place to train before or after the tournament?
More tournaments in Florida
- JitzKing Kingdoms CollideAug 29 · Tampa
- Guardians of the GIAug 29 · Homestead
- NAGA Jacksonville Grappling ChampionshipAug 29 · Jacksonville
- NEWBREED CORAL SPRINGS FALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2026Sep 12 · Coral Springs
- Tap Cancer Out 2026 Jacksonville BJJ OpenSep 12 · Jacksonville
- FUJI BJJ Ft Myers Fall ChampionshipSep 12 · Estero
Competing here?
Add this tournament to your passport so you can log your result after the event. (You still need to register with the organizer separately.)
Competing for the first time?
Is this your tournament? Update your listing.