UKGCC 4th Edition - BJJ Gi & NoGi Summer Open

Format and Rulesets

• Format: Single elimination with a Bronze medal match

• Ruleset: IBJJF rules for all divisions – Kids, Juveniles, Adults, and Masters

• Absolute Division: Compete in the UKGCC Warriors League (UWL) under our exclusive Warriors-level ruleset ?? Winner receives the UKGCC Champion Belt!

UKGCC Rules

Venue

The centre offers a large dojo area where we will have 3 fighting mats, along with the podium, weigh in stations and medics.

Friends and family can watch your match from the bleachers positioned just in front of the mats. 

Upstairs you will find a lovely bar with tables and windows overlooking the dojo on the one side, and a balcony with a view of the heath on the other side.

There is free parking on site and additional spaces are available on the neighbouring roads.

Event Day Schedule

Doors will open at 9.30 am for competitors and spectators.

Weigh in is available from 9.30, but you can weigh in at anytime during the day.

Matches will begin at 10 am.

Kids divisions will go first, followed by the Adults.

Event Day Instructions

• Please, arrive at the venue at least 90 minutes before your scheduled fight. If your fight is the first one of the day, it is sufficient to arrive when the doors open.

• Match start times are dynamic and will be updated throughout the day on Smoothcomp.

• Continuously check your match times on the Smoothcomp app, as brackets may shift due to submissions, no-shows, or other unforeseen circumstances.

• Ensure you are at the mat, with weigh-in completed, when your match is set to start. If you are not present, your name will be called three times.

• No-shows will be disqualified without a refund.
• If your opponent is a No-Show and you had no matches at all, we will refund you with a coupon valid for other events.

Weigh Ins

Weigh ins will be available during the whole day.

You don't need to wear a Gi to weigh in even if your fight is in the Gi.

There is no weigh allowance and not making weight will result in a disqualification without refund.

You can change your weight within the change window published on Smoothcomp.

Registrations

• Registration closes one week before the event
• No registrations will be accepted on the day of the competition.
• All registrations and payments must be completed through Smoothcomp by registration closure.
• Payments are not accepted at the door except for spectators.

Gi Divisions

The competition follow IBJJF grading system, with an additional split category for White belts over 16 years old.

For 16+, belts are split as follow:

Lower belts that want to compete at upper belt level can choose to do so but organisers will not merge them automatically if their division is empty. Brown and Black belts compete in the same division.

Coloured belts in other martial arts disciplines cannot sign up at White belt, even if they are a Jiu Jitsu white belt. If you are not sure where to sign up to, please reach out. Our referees are Jiu Jitsu black belts with IBJJF accreditation and we take sandbagging very seriously and you may be disqualified without refund when you are caught competing at a skill level lower than yours.

For under 16, belts are split as follow:

The organisers will never merge belt levels except for Orange and Green. Lower belts can compete with upper belts only upon explicit decision of their parent/guardian.

Merging by weight would only happen by one weight division difference. 

NoGi Divisions

Available from Juvenile 1

* Blue belts must sign up at least at Intermediate, regardless of the experience.

Please, consider the total years of experience in all grappling arts you have practiced with less than 5 years gap. For example, if you were a judo black belt 20 years ago and consistently never trained for 20 years and recently have begun practicing Sambo or Jiu Jitsu for less than 2 years, you are a Beginner. If you are in doubt, feel free to reach out, we are happy to help. Our referees are Jiu Jitsu black belts with IBJJF accreditation and we take sandbagging very seriously and you may be disqualified without refund when you are caught competing at a skill level lower than yours.

Age and Weight Classes

Under 18

The table shows the upper limit weigh (included) of the class. For example, 28Kg Pee Wee 1 can compete at Ultra Heavy whereas 28.1Kg Pee Wee 1 must compete at Ultra Heavy +.

The age considered is the one on the day of the competition.

It is possible that boys and girls will have compete in the same division up to 15 years old. If possible, the organizers will split groups by gender but it is not guaranteed as it depends on the actual entries.

16 and 17 years old are split by Male and Female entries.

Please note: the organisers cannot guarantee that the division in which your child is registered will have competitors on the day of the event.  If your child has at least one other competitor in his/her division, the category will run.

All competitors will fight in there own age, weight and grade where possible. Competitors may be asked to move up one weight category but will not be allowed to move up to a higher belt category. Orange & Green belt categories will be merged.

Please note, there will be NO amendments and NO moving category on the day

18+

The table shows the upper limit weigh (included) of the class. For example, 94.3Kg  can compete Heavy whereas 94.4Kg must compete at Super Heavy.

The age considered is the one on the day of the competition.

Adults: 18+

Masters: 35+

Categories with at least two competitors will run.

If needed, the organisers will merge weight classes that are reasonably not too far apart.

Rules

All ages and categories will follow the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Ruleset. Read rules here.

There will be a rules meeting on the day with our Head Referee if you have any questions about the IBJJF ruleset.

Fight Times

UKGCC Warriors League NoGi 

Since many of you enjoyed the fast-paced ruleset, we've created the UKGCC Warriors League Absolute NoGi division, which will follow the UKGCC ruleset. This ruleset prioritizes fighting for submissions over positional control.

Champion belt for the winner!

All grapplers can sign up regardless of experience and belt.

UKGCC ruleset in short:

• Win by submission, points or ref tiebreaker decision

• One point back take

• One point mount

• One point for failed submission attempt

• Penalty for 20-second stall

• Less One point for each penalty

• No overtime

• No advantages

• 6-min match

 Spectators

The price is just £5 and you can purchase your entrance via cash or card payment on the door on the day of the event.

ALL SPECTATORS, including PARENTS OF KIDS COMPETING, also, have to pay the spectator fee. 

FREE SPECTATOR ENTRY to kids under 12 years old.

COACHES - A limited number of free passes are available. Please see the coaches section for T&C.

The spectator fee allows you access to the event and the use of any facilities and allows us to continue bringing you a better event each time.

Coaches

Thank you for promoting the grappling arts setting an example for your athletes and for the children.

Being disrespectful or aggressive to any of our staff or other coaches and spectators may result in your competitor's being DQ at any point. No excuses.

Admittance

Coaches are permitted to enter the venue exclusively through the spectator entrance.

Each team will be provided with a specific number of coach passes, which is determined by the number of individual athletes registered from their team/gym on Smoothcomp.

These passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the reception desk on the event day.

It is mandatory for all coaches to present a valid photo ID and their Smoothcomp ID, indicating affiliation with the gym they are representing, and to hold at least a BJJ Blue Belt.

Our team will not engage in discussions regarding disputes.

The allocation of coach passes is as follows:

• 0-5 individual athletes = 1 coach pass
• 6-10 individual athletes = 2 coach passes
• 11-15 individual athletes = 3 coach passes
• 16-20 individual athletes = 4 coach passes
• 21+ individual athletes = 5 coach passes

This distribution is based on Smoothcomp entries, and we urge all participants to register their gym under the correct name format on Smoothcomp.

Any additional coaches will be considered spectators and must pay the spectator fee at the door on the event day.

Medics

A team of professional medics is available throughout the day. We hire professionals specialised in combat sport events, for everybody's peace of mind.

Parents

We want every child to have the chance to compete. If cost is a concern, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re happy to help.