Houston Fall International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026
Organized by IBJJF
The Houston Fall International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship will take place on October 10, 2026, at the NRG Center Hall D in Houston, Texas. This event will follow IBJJF rules and feature gi competitions.
Event Description
The Houston Fall International Open is one of IBJJF's regional Open circuit stops, run under the federation's global points-and-advantages ruleset that rewards takedowns, guard passes, mount, back control, and submissions. As with every IBJJF event, weigh-ins are strict and one-attempt only -- missing weight means disqualification -- and gis must be white, black, or royal blue in an approved fabric weight. This gi-only edition takes place Saturday, October 10, 2026, at NRG Center Hall D in Houston, Texas, with 22 age divisions spanning kids through seniors. Competitors need an active annual IBJJF membership in addition to event registration, available through ibjjf.com; entry fees typically run $50-$120 depending on registration tier.
Divisions
Registration deadline: October 2, 2026
Venue & travel
8600 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77054 (NRG Center — enter via Gate 10, corner of Kirby & McNee)
NRG Park's lots hold roughly 26,000 vehicles complex-wide; event-day parking runs about $25/vehicle, card only.
Nearest airport: William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) — about 15-20 minutes by car, closer than Bush Intercontinental.
NRG Park sits inside Houston's Inner Loop (I-610) between Kirby St and Fannin St.
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 Houston Fall International Open?
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, at NRG Center Hall D in Houston, Texas.
- Is this a gi or no-gi event?
- This edition is gi only.
- Do I need an IBJJF membership?
- Yes, an active annual IBJJF membership plus event registration are both required.
- What happens if I miss weight?
- IBJJF weigh-ins allow one attempt only -- missing weight results in disqualification.
- What gi colors are allowed?
- White, black, or royal blue, in IBJJF-approved fabric weight.
- How much does registration cost?
- IBJJF entry fees typically run $50-$120 depending on tier; check ibjjf.com for current pricing.
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