GLOBAL GRAPPLING SERIES – KUWAIT 🇰🇼

Welcome to Grappling Global Series – KUWAIT 2026.

The tournament is open to athletes from all countries worldwide.

The competition will feature multiple age, weight, and skill-level divisions to provide fair and competitive matches for all participants.

The Kuwait tournament is open exclusively to male participants, including:

•⁠ ⁠Boys

•⁠ ⁠Male youth athletes

•⁠ ⁠Adult men

•⁠ ⁠Veterans

There will be no female divisions at this edition of the tournament.

All times stated in these regulations are local Kuwait time.

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 1. AGE & SKILL LEVEL DIVISIONS

Athletes will compete according to their year of birth, weight category, and skill level.

Skill Categories

•⁠ ⁠Beginner: Less than 2 years of experience.

•⁠ ⁠Intermediate: 2 years to less than 5 years of experience.

•⁠ ⁠Advanced: 5 years or more of experience.

Where an athlete’s belt level and total experience would place the athlete in different skill divisions, the higher applicable division shall prevail.

 Exception

The U5 (4–5 years) and U7 (6–7 years) divisions will have one open skill-level category without Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced divisions.

Important

During registration, the athlete’s year of birth is considered for determining the applicable age division, not the athlete’s actual age on the competition date.

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 2. WEIGHT CATEGORIES

U5 – 4–5 Years Old

15 kg | 18 kg | 21 kg | 24 kg | 27 kg | 30 kg | 46 kg

U7 – 6–7 Years Old

18 kg | 21 kg | 24 kg | 27 kg | 30 kg | 34 kg | 38 kg | 50 kg

U9 – 8–9 Years Old

21 kg | 24 kg | 27 kg | 30 kg | 34 kg | 38 kg | 42 kg | 46 kg | 50 kg | 66 kg 

U11 – 10–11 Years Old

24 kg | 27 kg | 30 kg | 34 kg | 38 kg | 42 kg | 46 kg | 50 kg | 55 kg | 60 kg | 80 kg

U13 – 12–13 Years Old

27 kg | 30 kg | 34 kg | 38 kg | 42 kg | 46 kg | 50 kg | 55 kg | 60 kg | 66 kg | 72 kg | 90 kg

U15 – 14–15 Years Old

32 kg | 35 kg | 38 kg | 42 kg | 47 kg | 53 kg | 59 kg | 66 kg | 73 kg | 100 kg

U17 – 16–17 Years Old

42 kg | 46 kg | 50 kg | 54 kg | 58 kg | 63 kg | 69 kg | 76 kg | 85 kg | 110 kg

Adults – 18 Years & Above

62 kg | 66 kg | 71 kg | 77 kg | 84 kg | 92 kg | 130 kg

Veterans – 35 Years & Above

62 kg | 66 kg | 71 kg | 77 kg | 84 kg | 92 kg | 130 kg

Weight & Additional Age Division Regulations

•⁠ ⁠Each athlete may register in only one weight category within the same age division.

•⁠ ⁠Competing in two different weight categories within the same age division is not permitted.

•⁠ ⁠Each athlete may compete in a maximum of two age divisions: the athlete’s primary age division and one additional permitted age division.

•⁠ ⁠Children and youth athletes may compete in their primary age division and the next older age division. For example, a U15 athlete may also enter U17.

•⁠ ⁠In the additional age division, the athlete must enter the appropriate available weight category according to the athlete’s actual body weight.

•⁠ ⁠Any minor competing in an older age division must provide written consent from a parent or legal guardian and receive approval from the tournament organizers.

•⁠ ⁠U17 athletes competing in the Adults Division must provide written consent from a parent or legal guardian and receive approval from the tournament organizers.

•⁠ ⁠Veterans may compete in both the Veterans Division and Adults Division.

•⁠ ⁠The parental/legal guardian consent form shall acknowledge the additional risks associated with competing against older athletes, including the possibility of injury.

•⁠ ⁠Any waiver or release language relating to injury or claims shall be addressed separately in the official parental/legal guardian consent form.

•⁠ ⁠If fewer than two athletes are registered in a weight category, the category may be merged with the next appropriate category until the minimum of two participants is reached.

•⁠ ⁠Tournament organizers reserve the right to adjust athlete placement when necessary to prevent highly experienced or qualified athletes from competing in Beginner divisions.

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3. SKILL LEVELS

BEGINNER

Beginner athletes are competitors with less than 2 years of experience in:

•⁠ ⁠Grappling

•⁠ ⁠Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

•⁠ ⁠Judo

•⁠ ⁠Sambo

•⁠ ⁠Freestyle Wrestling

•⁠ ⁠Greco-Roman Wrestling

•⁠ ⁠Other wrestling disciplines

The following athletes are NOT eligible for Beginner divisions:

•⁠ ⁠Athletes holding recognized sports ranks such as Candidate Master of Sport (CMS) or Master of Sport (MS) in wrestling disciplines.

•⁠ ⁠Athletes holding Jiu-Jitsu belt levels that require placement in a higher skill division.

•⁠ ⁠Champions at national-level competitions in wrestling disciplines, MMA, Pankration, Combat Sambo, or Hand-to-Hand Combat.

•⁠ ⁠Athletes who have won first place in two Grappling or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, completing at least three matches to earn each title. Byes and walkovers shall not be considered completed matches.

Tournament organizers may review individual cases and may move an athlete to a higher division where the athlete’s sporting background, rank, belt level, titles, or competitive achievements demonstrate a level of experience inconsistent with the Beginner Division.

INTERMEDIATE

Intermediate athletes are competitors with *2 years to less than 5 years of experience* in Grappling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, Sambo, Freestyle Wrestling, Greco-Roman Wrestling, or other wrestling disciplines.

Jiu-Jitsu Belt Guidelines

•⁠Children: Grey & Yellow Belts

•⁠ ⁠Adults: Blue & Purple Belts

ADVANCED

Advanced athletes are competitors with 5 years or more of experience in Grappling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo, Sambo, Freestyle Wrestling, Greco-Roman Wrestling, or other wrestling disciplines.

Jiu-Jitsu Belt Guidelines

•⁠ ⁠Children: Orange & Green Belts

•⁠ ⁠Adults: Brown & Black Belts

⚠️ IMPORTANT

Where an athlete’s belt level and total experience indicate different skill divisions, the higher applicable division shall prevail.

If an athlete is found to be registered in a division that does not correspond to their actual experience, belt level, sporting rank, or skill level, the athlete may be moved to the appropriate division or disqualified from the competition, subject to the decision of the tournament organizers.

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4. ELITE DIVISION

The Elite Division is defined as:

MEN / ADULTS / ADVANCED

The Elite Division is reserved exclusively for adult male athletes competing at the Advanced skill level.

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5. REGISTRATION

 Registration Deadline

🗓️Tuesday, December 8, 2026

🕥 11:59 PM – Kuwait local time

•⁠ ⁠No late registrations will be accepted.

•⁠ ⁠No exceptions will be made after the registration deadline.

Publication of Competition Brackets

Competition brackets will be published after the official weigh-in for Open participants has been completed and the final entries in each division have been verified.

 Registration Fees

Adults – 18 Years & Above

KD 30

Kids & Youth – Under 18

KD 25

Additional Bracket

KD 15

An athlete may register for an additional bracket only in an eligible additional age division, in accordance with the Additional Age Division Regulations.

The previous restriction limiting additional bracket registration to athletes aged 16 years and above does not apply.

Registration Policy

•⁠ ⁠Registration fees remain the same throughout the entire registration period.

•⁠ ⁠There are no Early-Bird or Late Registration rates.

•⁠ ⁠After registration closes, registration fees are non-refundable.

•⁠ ⁠Registration shall be considered complete only after payment has been successfully confirmed.

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 6. PAYMENT

Registration fees shall be paid through the Smoothcomp registration system.

How to Pay

1.⁠ ⁠Proceed to the payment stage of the registration process.

2.⁠ ⁠Select “Debit or Credit Card.”

3.⁠ ⁠Enter the required bank card details.

4.⁠ ⁠Confirm the payment.

Registration shall be considered complete only after payment has been successfully confirmed.

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7. OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN

All competitors must successfully complete the applicable official weigh-in.

All weigh-in times are local Kuwait time.

OPEN PARTICIPANTS – INCLUDING ELITE DIVISION

🗓️ Thursday, December 10, 2026

Official weigh-in for all Open participants, including:

•⁠ ⁠Kids

•⁠ ⁠Youth

•⁠ ⁠Adults

•⁠ ⁠Veterans

•⁠ ⁠Elite Division athletes

Exact weigh-in hours: To be confirmed.

The official weigh-in should be scheduled sufficiently early to allow adequate time for athlete verification and preparation and publication of the competition brackets.

TEAM EVENT, SUPERFIGHT & WRESTLING PARTICIPANTS

🗓️ Saturday, December 12, 2026

A separate official weigh-in will be held in the morning for:

•⁠ ⁠Team Event participants

•⁠ ⁠Superfight athletes

•⁠ ⁠Wrestling participants

Exact weigh-in hours: To be confirmed.

Weigh-In Regulations

•⁠ ⁠Weigh-in will be conducted wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

•⁠ ⁠Every athlete must present a valid passport or ID card during weigh-in.

•⁠ ⁠Weigh-in will be conducted strictly according to the official tournament schedule.

•⁠ ⁠NO WEIGHT ALLOWANCE.

•⁠ ⁠Athletes must successfully make their registered weight category.

📍 WEIGH-IN & COMPETITION VENUE

Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex

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 8. COMPETITION SCHEDULE

All competition times are local Kuwait time.

DAY 1 – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2026

AIGA OPEN TOURNAMENT

ELITE DIVISION

🕥 Matches begin at 9:00 AM

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DAY 2 – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2026

SUPERFIGHTS

TEAM VS TEAM

WRESTLING

Featuring high-profile athletes.

🕥 Matches begin at 4:00 PM

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9. COMPETITION PROCEDURES

Each participant must be present in the designated warm-up area according to the official competition schedule.

Athletes should be aware that scheduled match times may change depending on the progression of the tournament.

If an athlete does not appear on the mat within *2 minutes* after being called, while their opponent is already present on the mat, the absent athlete will be disqualified due to no-show.

Each athlete and coach is responsible for arriving at the competition area on time and monitoring the tournament schedule.

All participants must comply with the official competition dress code and applicable AIGA competition rules.

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 10. APPROVED COMPETITION UNIFORM – GRAPPLING

All Grappling participants must wear:

•⁠ ⁠A rashguard

•⁠ ⁠Leggings / spats that fully cover the knees

•⁠ ⁠Competition shorts, where required under the final approved uniform configuration

Competing without a rashguard or without the required leggings is not permitted.

Competing bare-chested is not permitted.

Rashguard

Male athletes must wear a tight-fitting rashguard covering the torso and reaching the shorts.

Shorts

Competition shorts are mandatory for all Grappling participants and must meet the following requirements

:

•⁠ ⁠Shorts must be at least mid-thigh length.

•⁠ ⁠Shorts must not be more than 10 cm above the knee.

•⁠ ⁠Pockets are not permitted.

•⁠ ⁠Buttons are not permitted.

•⁠ ⁠Plastic or metal zippers are not permitted.

Leggings / Spats

Leggings or spats are mandatory for all Grappling participants and must fully cover the knees.

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11. WRESTLING UNIFORM

Uniform requirements for Wrestling matches shall be specified separately from the Grappling uniform requirements and shall comply with the rules adopted for the Wrestling competition.

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12. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT & ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

 Permitted

•⁠ ⁠Knee supports

•⁠ ⁠Ankle supports

Supports must not contain metal or plastic elements.

 Prohibited

The following are not permitted during competition:

•⁠ ⁠Shoes

•⁠ ⁠Headgear

•⁠ ⁠Hair clips

•⁠ ⁠Jewelry

•⁠ ⁠Groin guards

•⁠ ⁠Hard protective equipment

•⁠ ⁠Any equipment that may cause injury to an opponent

 Hair

Long hair must be:

•⁠ ⁠Tied using a soft hair band; or

•⁠ ⁠Braided securely.

Personal Hygiene

All participants must have short and properly trimmed fingernails and toenails.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

By registering for Grappling Global Series – KUWAIT 2026, athletes, coaches, and teams acknowledge their responsibility to review and comply with the tournament regulations, registration requirements, weigh-in procedures, competition schedule, uniform requirements, and applicable AIGA competition rules.

For minor athletes competing in an additional older age division, the required parental or legal guardian consent must be submitted and approved in accordance with these regulations.

The tournament organizers reserve the right to make necessary organizational adjustments to ensure the safety, fairness, and smooth operation of the competition.