> IBJJF

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) is the world’s dominant sanctioning and competition body for Brazilian jiu-jitsu, established in 2002 by Carlos Gracie Jr. — founder of Gracie Barra, one of the sport’s largest academy networks. Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the IBJJF is a for-profit company that operates over 100 tournaments annually across North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia.

The federation’s flagship events include the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Worlds), the World No-Gi Championship, the Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the European Open, and the World Master Championship. The IBJJF uses the ruleset of its Brazilian sister organization, the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu (CBJJ), and maintains an official athlete ranking system for both gi and no-gi competition. In 2022 the federation expanded its invitation-only Grand Prix format, and in 2023 announced “The Crown,” a new elite tournament tier.

Note: While the IBJJF sets rules, maintains rankings, and certifies belt promotions, it is a competition organizer rather than a sanctioning body in the traditional sense — events are promoted directly by the IBJJF rather than licensed to independent promoters. It is widely regarded as the primary governing authority for competitive BJJ globally.