PBJJF World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026
Organized by PBJJF NORTH AMERICA
The PBJJF World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship will take place on October 24, 2026, at the APGFCU Arena in Bel Air, Maryland. This event will feature both Gi and NoGi competitions governed by IBJJF rules.
Event Description
The Professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (PBJJF), one of the fastest-growing federations on the youth tournament calendar, runs its World Youth Championship exclusively for kids and juvenile divisions, offering both gi and no-gi competition on the same day. The format is double elimination: winners advance through the main bracket while first-round losers get a shot at bronze through a secondary bracket. The championship takes place Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the APGFCU Arena at Harford Community College in Bel Air, MD. It's built specifically for young competitors across PBJJF's youth divisions, and registration is handled through the event's Smoothcomp listing linked from pbjjf.com.
Divisions
Registration deadline: October 21, 2026
About PBJJF NORTH AMERICA
PBJJF (the Professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) is a Brazil-rooted federation running gi and no-gi championships across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, including its flagship Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship, with its own ranking and academy-affiliation system.
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 PBJJF World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship?
- Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the APGFCU Arena at Harford Community College, Bel Air, MD.
- Who can compete?
- Kids and juvenile divisions only, in both gi and no-gi.
- What bracket format is used?
- Double elimination, with a secondary bracket giving first-round losers a shot at bronze.
- How do I register?
- Through the Smoothcomp event page at pbjjf.smoothcomp.com/en/event/28102, linked from pbjjf.com.
BJJ gyms near Bel Air, MD
Looking for a place to train before or after the tournament?
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