Nashville Fall International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026
Organized by IBJJF
The Nashville Fall International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship will take place on October 24, 2026, at the Williamson County AG Expo Park in Franklin, TN. This event will follow the IBJJF ruleset and will be a gi competition.
Event Description
The Nashville Fall International Open's gi championship shares its weekend with the companion no-gi event, giving Middle Tennessee competitors a chance to enter either or both formats under IBJJF's standard points-and-advantages scoring. The gi championship takes place Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Williamson County AG Expo Park in Franklin, TN. An active annual IBJJF membership plus event registration is required, and gis must meet the federation's color and fabric-weight standards to pass inspection. Registration is through the event's IBJJF listing.
Divisions
Registration deadline: October 16, 2026
Venue & travel
4215 Long Lane, Franklin, TN 37064, at I-65 Exit 61
25+ acres of lots, roughly 4,500 spaces, including a dedicated 64-space ADA lot at the main entrance.
Nearest airport: Nashville International (BNA) — about 22 miles / 30 minutes.
Franklin is a Nashville suburb just south on I-65, right off the exit.
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 Nashville Fall International Open (gi)?
- Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Williamson County AG Expo Park, Franklin, TN.
- What gi colors are allowed?
- IBJJF requires white, black, or royal blue gis of the correct fabric weight.
- Is there a no-gi version of this event?
- Yes, a companion no-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.
- How do I register?
- Through the event's IBJJF listing, which has current pricing and division details.
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