I’ve been competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournaments for quite some time, many years, and one of the most popular ones, which you can still easily see the results pop up for online, is the IBJJF’s American National Jiu Jitsu Championship of 2009.
Back then I represented the University of Jiu-Jitsu, which overall took 1st place in the entire tournament. Participating in the White Belt Master — Medium Heavy class, I took First Place, out-battling David Shilling Machado (who took Second Place), as well as Carlos Rosario Efren Alejo Agoge, who tied for Third Place.
Now as a black belt, it’s great fun to look back on the early days as a white belt, and it’s also a great reminder of how, as you continue to rise up through the ranks, the matches get more and more difficult.
It’s easy to understand why these tournaments are broken down not only by belt, but also by a separate class of each belt’s master level as well.
The structure works phenomenally well in my opinion.
Click here to view the full results of that tournament, and I’ll hopefully be back soon to offer my details on it all developed that at that year’s American National Jiu Jitsu Championship.
Flyer for the 2018 Championship
