If you're picking your first BJJ tournament in the US, you'll mostly be choosing between five names: IBJJF, NAGA, Fuji, AGF and, if you live in the Pacific Northwest, the Revolution. ADCC sits above them as the biggest no-gi event in the world, with Opens and Trials underneath it.
They all use similar scoring, but they feel very different on the day. The IBJJF is strict, expensive and prestigious. NAGA is huge and puts you in divisions by experience. Fuji, AGF and the Revolution try to get you more than one match for your money. Here's how they compare, and which one makes sense for a first competition.
IBJJF vs NAGA vs Fuji vs AGF at a Glance
| IBJJF | NAGA | Fuji | AGF | Revolution | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Worldwide | US-wide, plus some international | US-wide | US regional | Washington and Oregon |
| Gi and no-gi | Both | Both | Both | Both | Both |
| No-gi divisions by | Belt | Experience | Skill level | Belt | Belt |
| Weigh-in | Right before first match, in gi | Night before or same day, no gi | Up to an hour before your division, no gi | Check event, no gi | Check event |
| Weight allowance | None | 1 lb | 2 lb | 1 lb | Check event |
| Matches if you lose first | One and done | Usually one | Double elimination | Double elimination | Consolation match offered |
| Best for | Rankings, prestige | Beginners, lots of divisions | Mat time | Local experience | PNW competitors |
Rules and formats change, so always check the event page before registering.
IBJJF
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation was founded in 1994 by Carlos Gracie Jr. and runs the events most people mean when they say "the big ones": the World Championship (Worlds or Mundials), the Pans, the Europeans and No-Gi Worlds. Under those sit dozens of opens around the world.
What it's like: professional, organized and strict. You weigh in with your gi on, minutes before your first match, with no allowance. Your gi gets checked for sleeve length and color. Brackets are single elimination, so if you lose your first match, your day is over. Entries are usually the most expensive of the five, and you'll need an IBJJF membership to compete.
Why do it: the IBJJF is the ruleset the sport is built around and the one that carries the most weight on a competition record. If you want to say you medaled at an IBJJF open, there's no substitute. The IBJJF point system is also what most other tournaments copy, so learning it pays off everywhere.
Watch out for: the weigh-in. Most IBJJF horror stories are about a gi that was heavier than someone thought. Know your IBJJF weight class before you register, not on the day.
NAGA
The North American Grappling Association has been running tournaments since the mid-1990s and puts on some of the biggest events in the country, often with hundreds or thousands of competitors in one venue. NAGA champions famously win a sword instead of a medal in many divisions, and you'll see them hanging on gym walls all over the US.
What it's like: big, busy and long. Expect a full day at the venue. Gi divisions follow IBJJF-style rules, while no-gi uses NAGA's own scoring. You weigh in without a gi, either the night before or the morning of the event, with a 1 lb allowance.
The big difference: no-gi divisions are split by experience, not belt:
- Novice: under 6 months of training (white belts only).
- Beginner: 6 months to 2 years.
- Intermediate: 2 to 5 years, or blue belt and up.
- Expert: 5 years or more, and mandatory for purple, brown and black belts.
That system makes NAGA one of the best places to compete very early, because a three-month white belt can be matched with other three-month white belts. It also gives the sport its favorite villain: the sandbagger, the guy with two years of high school wrestling entering novice no-gi. It happens, it's annoying, and you'll still learn more from losing to him than from not entering.
Fuji
Fuji BJJ runs tournaments across the US with a big focus on giving competitors value. Its brackets are double elimination, so losing your first match doesn't mean packing your bag and heading for the parking lot.
What it's like: friendly and well run. Scoring mirrors the IBJJF. You weigh in without the gi up to an hour before your division starts, with a 2 lb allowance. No-gi divisions go by skill level instead of belt: Beginner (up to a four-stripe white belt), Intermediate (up to a four-stripe purple belt) and Expert (anyone, and the only adult division where heel hooks are legal). If your bracket is empty, Fuji merges you into a neighboring division rather than hand you a gold medal for showing up.
Why do it: mat time. If you're paying an entry fee, getting two or three matches is worth far more than one, especially for a first tournament where the first match is mostly adrenaline.
AGF
The American Grappling Federation runs regional gi and no-gi tournaments across the US. It has age brackets from tiny kids all the way to an Executive division for over-50s, and adult divisions by belt from white to black.
What it's like: local and relaxed compared with the IBJJF. You weigh in without the gi, with a 1 lb allowance. Brackets are double elimination until the final, so losing your first match doesn't end your day, and three-person brackets are run as a round robin.
Why do it: it's often the closest event to home, and you'll be competing against people from gyms down the road. That makes AGF a great first step before you travel to bigger tournaments.
The Revolution
The Revolution is a long-running tournament series in Washington and Oregon, run by Leap. It uses IBJJF scoring as its guide, and its standout feature is the consolation match: if you lose your first match, you're usually offered a second one, typically a minute shorter. It's not full double elimination, but it means most people leave with at least two matches.
Why do it: if you train in the Pacific Northwest, it's the default local tournament, and the consolation match makes it ideal for a first comp.
ADCC Opens and Trials
ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) runs the most prestigious no-gi tournament in the world. The World Championships happen every two years and are invite or qualify only. Most of us will only ever enter an ADCC Open or Trials event, which are open to everyone.
What's different: ADCC rules give no positive points in the first half of a match, only negative points for stalling and other fouls. Points start in the second half, and pulling guard costs you a point. Weight classes are wider too, with 11 kg jumps between men's divisions at the Worlds.
Why do it: if you're a no-gi grappler who likes wrestling and leg locks, ADCC rules reward exactly that. For a first tournament it can be a lot, so most people do a few local no-gi events first.
Which One Should You Do First?
For most people, the best first tournament is whichever well-run one is closest to home and gives you more than one match. In practice that usually means:
- Brand new (under six months): a NAGA novice no-gi division, or a local Fuji event.
- Six months to a year at white belt: Fuji, AGF or the Revolution, where you'll likely get a second match.
- Wanting a proper test: an IBJJF open. Go once you know the rules cold and you're comfortable with the weigh-in.
- No-gi only: NAGA first, then an ADCC Open.
If you're still wondering how long to train before your first BJJ competition, the answer is usually less time than you think. Once you've picked an event, start preparing for your first BJJ competition six to eight weeks out.
To see what's coming up, browse BJJ tournaments in the United States, or search near you. There's even a page for BJJ tournaments in Las Vegas, where several organizations run events each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NAGA or IBJJF better?
Neither is better. IBJJF carries more prestige and has stricter rules. NAGA is more beginner friendly, with experience-based divisions and a more forgiving weigh-in. Many competitors do both.
Is Fuji BJJ an IBJJF event?
No. Fuji is an independent organization. Its scoring closely follows the IBJJF, but its weigh-ins and bracket formats are different.
What does NAGA stand for?
North American Grappling Association.
What does ADCC stand for?
Abu Dhabi Combat Club, named after the club in Abu Dhabi where the event started.
Do you get a sword at NAGA?
Many NAGA divisions award a sword to the champion instead of, or as well as, a medal. Which divisions get swords varies by event.
How much does a BJJ tournament cost?
It varies a lot by organization and how early you register. IBJJF events are usually the most expensive. Early registration is almost always cheaper, and extra divisions (like gi and no-gi on the same day) cost extra.
