IBJJF championship
IBJJF Masters Worlds
The World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship is the IBJJF gi world championship for masters athletes, age 30 and over. The 2025 and 2026 editions were held in Las Vegas.
Next edition
IBJJF had not published dates for the next Masters Worlds when we checked on 25 October 2026.
IBJJF Masters Worlds editions
Every IBJJF Masters Worlds edition listed on Open BJJ, with its own page for dates, divisions and rules.
- World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026
Sep 3, 2026 - Sep 5, 2026 · Las Vegas, United States of America · ended
IBJJF Masters Worlds facts
Each fact is checked against the source numbered beside it (list at the bottom of the page), last on 25 October 2026. Fees and divisions are for the year shown; confirm the current edition on the official IBJJF page.
- 2026 dates and venue
- 3 to 5 September 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center, Hall W1 to W3, 300 Convention Center Dr, Las Vegas, Nevada. [1]
- Recent history
- Not held in 2020 because of COVID-19. The 2025 edition ran 28 to 30 August at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. [2]
- Who can enter (2026)
- Master 1 (born 1996 or before) to Master 7 (born 1965 or before), at blue, purple, brown and black belt. No white belt division was listed. [1]
- Black belt ranking points
- Neither the 2026 event page nor the IBJJF ranking page lists a ranking-point bar for this championship. [1][3]
- Registration fees (2026)
- $143 until 4 April, $175 until 20 June, then $184 until the 23 August registration deadline. [1]
- Open class
- Medalists (1st to 3rd) in their weight division may enter, registering at the event. [1]
- Weigh-in
- In pounds, immediately before your first match, with one attempt. Over the limit means disqualification from the division. [1]
- Ranking weight
- 7 in the IBJJF masters ranking, the highest (the masters Pans and European score 4). [3]
How the major IBJJF championships compare
Entry rules, black belt ranking-point bars, ranking weight and 2026 registration fees side by side, from the sources on each championship page.
| Championship | White belt | Masters | Black belt points | Ranking weight | 2026 fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBJJF Worlds | No | No masters divisions | 80 in 2026; 95 on the ranking page now | 7 | $153 to $204 |
| IBJJF Pans | Yes (not Masters 6 and 7) | Yes | 40 | 4 | $139 to $182 |
| IBJJF No-Gi Worlds | No | Yes | 30 (no-gi points) | 7 (no-gi ranking) | $153 to $204 |
| IBJJF Masters Worlds | No | Masters only | None listed | 7 (masters ranking) | $143 to $184 |
IBJJF Masters Worlds rules
The IBJJF Masters Worlds runs under the IBJJF Rule Book v6.1 (June 2024) as a gi tournament for masters athletes (age 30 and over). Below are the weight classes, illegal moves and weigh-in rules that apply, checked against the official IBJJF charts on 2026-10-21.
Gi weight classes
Each figure is the most you can weigh on the scale, wearing your gi. Masters 1 to 7 use the adult table. Work out your division with the calculator in IBJJF weight classes.
Adult and masters, gi
| Division | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster | 57.5 | 127 |
| Light Feather | 64 | 141.6 |
| Feather | 70 | 154.6 |
| Light | 76 | 168 |
| Middle | 82.3 | 181.6 |
| Medium Heavy | 88.3 | 195 |
| Heavy | 94.3 | 208 |
| Super Heavy | 100.5 | 222 |
| Ultra Heavy | No maximum | No maximum |
| Division | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster | 48.5 | 107 |
| Light Feather | 53.5 | 118 |
| Feather | 58.5 | 129 |
| Light | 64 | 141.6 |
| Middle | 69 | 152.6 |
| Medium Heavy | 74 | 163.6 |
| Heavy | 79.3 | 175 |
| Super Heavy | No maximum | No maximum |
Illegal moves by belt
Masters athletes follow the column for their belt. The columns follow the rule book; not every event runs every belt (some no-gi events start at blue belt), so check the official page for the divisions on offer. Check any move against your division with the IBJJF rules checker or get the printable illegal moves chart.
| Move | Blue and purple | Brown and black |
|---|---|---|
| Bicep slicer | Illegal | Legal |
| Calf slicer | Illegal | Legal |
| Knee bar | Illegal | Legal |
| Toe hold | Illegal | Legal |
| Straight foot lock: turning toward the foot not under attack | Illegal | Legal |
Illegal for every athlete at this event
- Heel hook (allowed in other IBJJF divisions)
- Locks that twist the knee (allowed in other IBJJF divisions)
- Knee reaping (allowed in other IBJJF divisions)
- Outward pressure on the foot in a toe hold (allowed in other IBJJF divisions)
- Slam
- Spinal lock without a choke
- Scissor takedown (kani basami)
- Bending fingers backward
- Belt-grip throw onto the head vs single leg
- Suplex landing on head or neck
The full table by belt and age is in IBJJF illegal moves by belt and age.
Match length
Masters matches run 5 minutes, except Master 1 purple, brown and black belts, who go 6 minutes. The minutes for every division and how points are scored are in IBJJF match times and points.
Weigh-in
Gi athletes weigh in wearing the gi, right before their first match. There is one attempt, and missing weight disqualifies you from the division. Your gi is inspected before the scale, with three tries to pass, and you cannot change gis after weighing in for your first match. Read the uniform rules in IBJJF gi and uniform rules and the limits in IBJJF weight classes.
Records and notable champions
- Leandro Lo won the absolute at the 2019 Masters Worlds. [2] Leandro Lo profile
IBJJF rules guides
Frequently asked questions
When is the next IBJJF Masters Worlds?
IBJJF had not published dates for the next Masters Worlds when we checked on 25 October 2026. The last edition listed here: World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026 ran September 3, 2026 - September 5, 2026 in Las Vegas.
What age do you need to be for the IBJJF Masters Worlds?
Masters divisions start at 30. In 2026 Master 1 was athletes born in 1996 or before, up to Master 7 for those born in 1965 or before.
Can white belts compete at the IBJJF Masters Worlds?
The 2026 event page listed blue, purple, brown and black belt divisions only. Masters 1 to 5 white belts can compete at the IBJJF Pans.