Your first BJJ competition: a complete prep guide

Pick the right division

Two choices matter: weight and age. For weight, remember you weigh in wearing your gi, so plan around your gi-on number, not your bodyweight — the weight class finder sorts this. For age, the age division lookup handles the competition-year rule. Most first-timers should enter at their natural weight rather than cutting.

Making weight without a hard cut

If you're close to a limit, gentle is the way. Crash cuts hurt your performance and your health, and gi competitions are usually same-day weigh-ins with little time to rehydrate. If you'd need to lose more than a kilo or two, just enter the division up. The weight cut planner shows whether your timeline is sustainable.

What to pack

• Two gis if you have them (in case one fails inspection), plus your belt
• Photo ID and registration confirmation
• Flip-flops for walking off the mat — never barefoot around the venue
• Snacks and water for a long day; events run behind schedule constantly
• Mouthguard, tape, and a warm layer

How the day works

You check in, weigh in (in your gi), then wait — sometimes hours — for your bracket to be called. Matches are single elimination in most brackets, often with a true-third for bronze. Warm up before your division is called, not three hours early. Then you compete, learn a ton, and immediately want to do it again.

Scoring, so you know where you stand

Brush up on the points system beforehand so you understand what the referee is signalling. Knowing a guard pass is worth 3 and that advantages break ties keeps you from coasting when you're actually behind.