Everyone's a Winner, or a Title Worth Having?

At events run by The International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), the brackets are published several days in advance of the event. If the athlete has no other competitor in their category, then they can request to be moved to a different weight or age category in order to have someone to fight. 

This has happened to me on several occasions, and I have always asked to be moved up a weight, or down an age category in order to ensure I had as many fights as was possible for a medal. 

If you are the only competitor in your category, in addition to moving to a different category, the IBJJF also give you the option of remaining in your weight category, on your own. You then turn up to the event, weigh-in, get your Gi checked, and then go to the podium to collect your gold medal. A gold medal 'won' without having actually stepped onto the mat, a gold medal 'won' without actually having a fight. 'Would anyone want to receive a medal under those circumstances', I hear some of you ask. 

Well the answer is yes and I have personally witnessed this on more than one occasion. At one IBJJF event held in Brazil, a British fighter collected his default gold medal as outlined above, and was seen posing for photos on the podium. 

Some time later I was sent a copy of a report and photo that was published in his local newspaper, the report included the line,

" XXXX was crowned World champion, having remained undefeated throughout the whole tournament" 

Several years ago, as the organiser of the BJJ British Open for the juniors and juveniles, I had contacted a parent to explain that we were not running his child's category, and as there was not a safe alternative category to offer, I would be issuing a refund. The parent enquired as to the possibility of his child attending the event in order to collect their 'gold medal'. This would have involved them making a 300-mile round trip, to not have a fight and simply stand on the podium, collect a medal, and be crowned 'British Champion'.

At a recent event I saw an adult competitor fight in the category above what he actually weighed. His reasoning was there were 8 competitors in his weight category, but by fighting in the weight above, where there were only three other competitors, he was guaranteed a bronze medal. He lost his fight and seemed very pleased with his medal.

I personally really struggle to understand this mentality. As a Judoka I fought many times in the British Opens that were held at Crystal Palace in the 1980's. There were often 70+ competitors in my category, and I entered knowing I could be facing Olympians, World or European medalists. The chances of a medal were slim to nothing, but it was a challenge that I undertook many times.

I started BJJ at the age of 40, and age 42 I entered the adult (blue belt) division of the CBJJ (IBJJF) World Championships held in Brazil. I lost my first fight. The following year I returned to Brazil to compete again in the same event against the young guns! In a bracket of around 70 competitors, I managed to win two fights. This was still a long way from a medal place, but those two victories in that event mean more to me than many of the medals I have won.

As a coach, I want my students to test themselves in the toughest competitions against the toughest competitors. As a club we have attended events in Brazil, America, Europe and we have traveled the length and breadth of the UK. Many of my guys fight in the adult categories, despite being eligible for the Masters 2 or even Master 3 category. Many of my juniors have competed up a weight category in order to make up the numbers in some categories.


In my opinion, The BJJ British Open is the most prestigious BJJ event for juniors and juveniles in the country, and I personally think that it should be a challenge to be crowned British Champion.

As the organiser of the BJJ British Open for juniors and juveniles, I firstly categorise the juniors by gender and then by weight. The weight increments start at 3kg for the youngest of the competitors moving gradually to 4kg and finally 5kg increments for the older juniors and juveniles. This is very much inline with the policy of The British Judo Association (BJA). Where a competitor is on their own in a weight category, I may, after taking into consideration their age and experience, offer them a place in the next weight category up. This is subject to approval from not only their parents, but also their coach.

The divisions are then further subdivided by age. The three year increments used are again similar to those used by the BJA. Again, lone competitors may be offered a place in the next age category subject to it being suitable. Where there is no safe alternative category, a full refund is issued.

Over the years I have been asked on a few occasions why I do not further sub-divide the categories by belt, I have also recently received a few e-mails asking the same question.

One of my reasons is that there is such a huge disparity between the grades of the juniors from different teams in the UK, so there is little point in doing so. 

Some teams do not follow the IBJJF belt system, white belts with coloured stripes are used by some, whilst others completely omit the grey series of junior belts.

The disparity between junior grades is regularly highlighted at events throughout the country. At the 2014 BJJ British Open, juniors, who were not the highest grade in their category, won 21 of the 32 categories.

At the 2014 Nottingham BJJ Open, juniors, who were not the highest grade in their category, won 20 of the 29 categories.

There are countless other examples at events throughout the UK (where categories are not sub-divided by belt) of juniors defeating higher graded opponents. This is not limited to just one belt level. I have seen grey belts defeat orange belts, white belts defeat green belts, a junior grade beat a juvenile blue belt, etc, etc. These are not one off incidents and, as highlighted by the figures above from the 2014 British Open and Nottingham Open, it is a very common occurrence that the highest grade in the category, does not win that category.

Another reason not to further sub-divide the categories is that we simply do not get enough entries.

At the 2014 BJJ British Open we had just over 200 junior entries. If I had followed the IBJJF format for junior events (sorting categories by weight, age and belt), we would have had 36 straight finals.  So 36 juniors would have been crowned 'The 2014 British Champion' after winning one fight. The same number would be British Open silver medalists, for losing one fight.

There would have been 3 categories with 3 competitors in. This would have been a little more challenging, with the gold medalists having to win 2 fights for their title. However, the third place fighter would get a bronze medal for not winning a fight.

There would have been one category of 5 competitors. This would mean 2-3 contests for the gold medalist.

The remaining 114 competitors would have had no one to fight, and following IBJJF protocol, they would have stood on the podium on their own, been given a gold medal, and crowned 'The 2014 British Open Champion’ without them actually having set foot on the mat.

For the 2015 BJJ British Open there were over 280 entries. Using the IBJJF format, there would have been 23 straight finals, 10 categories of 3 competitors, 5 categories with 4 competitors and 2 categories with 5 competitors. Over 170 competitors would have no one to fight.

Is this really what coaches and parents want, or would you rather we give the juniors a worthwhile challenge, and have the title of 'British Open Champion' something actually worth achieving?