Houston Fall Kids International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026
Organized by IBJJF
The Houston Fall Kids International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship will take place on October 11, 2026, at the NRG Center Hall D in Houston, Texas. This event is organized by IBJJF and will follow the IBJJF ruleset.
Event Description
Houston's IBJJF fall weekend wraps up with a dedicated kids championship, run under the federation's youth divisions and standard points-and-advantages scoring adapted for younger competitors. As with every IBJJF event, weigh-ins are strict and one-attempt only, and gis must be white, black, or royal blue in an approved fabric weight -- worth confirming well before the event to avoid a same-day scramble. This gi-only kids event takes place Sunday, October 11, 2026, at NRG Center Hall D in Houston, Texas. An active annual IBJJF membership plus event registration is required through ibjjf.com.
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 Kids International Open?
- Sunday, October 11, 2026, at NRG Center Hall D in Houston, Texas.
- Is this event for kids or adults?
- This is IBJJF's dedicated youth/kids championship for the Houston fall weekend.
- Do kids need an IBJJF membership?
- Yes, an active annual IBJJF membership plus event registration is required.
- What gi is required?
- White, black, or royal blue in IBJJF-approved fabric weight.
- How strict are the weigh-ins?
- IBJJF allows one weigh-in attempt only; missing weight results in disqualification.
BJJ gyms near Houston, TX
Looking for a place to train before or after the tournament?
More tournaments in Texas
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.