IBJJF Weight Classes

A lot of people get confused when it comes to IBJJF weight classes, especially since there are a few things you need to remember when weighing in. But have no fear, we’re here to help get that figured out for you!

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation have decided upon a number of weight classes, which varies from Adults, Masters and Juveniles, they also differ between male and females for the Adults, Masters and Juveniles.

Adult and Masters IBJJF Male Gi Weight Class

Below are the official IBJJF weight classes for Male competitors in the Gi

Rooster – 57.5 kg (126.5 lbs)
Light Feather – 64 kg (141 lbs)
Feather – 70 kg (154 lbs)
Light – 76 kg (167.5 lbs)
Middle – 82.3 kg (181 lbs)
Medium Heavy – 88.3 kg (194.5 lbs)
Heavy – 94.3 kg (207.5 lbs)
Super-Heavy – 100.5 kg (221.0 lbs)
Ultra Heavy – No Maximum Weight

Adults and Masters IBJJF Male NoGi Weight Classes

Below are the official IBJJF weight classes for Male NoGi competitors

Rooster – 55.5kg (122.5 lbs)
Light Feather – 61.5 kg (136 lbs)
Feather – 67.5 kg (149 lbs)
Light – 73.5 kg (162.5 lbs)
Middle – 79.5 kg (175.5 lbs)
Medium Heavy – 85.5 kg (188.5 lbs)
Heavy – 91.5 kg (202 lbs)
Super-Heavy – 97.5 kg (215 lbs)
Ultra Heavy – No Maximum Weight

Adult and Masters IBJJF Female Gi Weight Class

Below are the official IBJJF weight classes for Female competitors in the Gi

Rooster – 48.5kg (107 lbs)
Light Feather – 53.5 kg (118 lbs)
Feather – 58.5 kg (129 lbs)
Light – 64 kg (141 lbs)
Middle – 69 kg (152 lbs)
Medium Heavy – 74 kg (163 lbs)
Heavy – No Maximum Weight

Adults and Masters IBJJF Female NoGi Weight Classes

Below are the official IBJJF weight classes for Female NoGi competitors

Rooster – 48.5 kg (107 lbs)
Light Feather – 53.5 kg (118 lbs)
Feather – 58.5 kg (129 lbs)
Light – 64 kg (141.5 lbs)
Middle – 69 kg (152.5 lbs)
Medium Heavy – 74 kg (163.5 lbs)
Heavy – No Maximum Weight

Juvenile IBJJF Weight Class

In the IBJJF, the weight class for male and female competitors are fairly similar

Juvenile IBJJF Male Gi Weight Classes

Below are the official IBJJF weight classes for Juvenile Male competitors in the Gi

Rooster – 53.5 kg (118 lbs)
Light Feather – 58.5 kg (129 lbs)
Feather – 64 kg (141 lbs)
Light – 69 kg (152 lbs)
Middle – 74 kg (163 lbs)
Medium Heavy – 79.3 kg (174.5 lbs)
Heavy – 84.3 kg (185.5 lbs)
Super Heavy – 89.3 kg (196.5 lbs)
Ultra Heavy – No Maximum Weight

Juvenile IBJJF Male NoGi Weight Class

Below are the official IBJJF weight classes for Juvenile Male NoGi competitors in Brazilian jiu-Jitsu

Rooster – 51.5 kg (114 lbs)
Light Feather – 56.5 kg (125 lbs)
Feather – 61.5 kg (136 lbs)
Light – 66.5 kg (147 lbs)
Middle – 71.5 kg (158 lbs)
Medium Heavy – 76.5 kg (169 lbs)
Heavy – 81.5 kg (180 lbs)
Super-Heavy – 86.5 kg (191 lbs)
Ultra Heavy – No Maximum Weight

Juvenile IBJJF Female Gi Weight Classes

Below are the official IBJJF weight classes for Juvenile Female competitors in the Gi

Rooster – 44.3kg (98lbs)
Light Feather – 48.3 kg (106.5 lbs)
Feather – 52.5 kg (116 lbs)
Light – 56.5 kg (125 lbs)
Middle – 60.5 kg (133.5 lbs)
Medium Heavy – 65 kg (144 lbs)
Heavy – No Maximum Weight

Juvenile IBJJF Female NoGi Weight Class

Below are the official IBJJF weight classes for Juvenile Female NoGi competitors

Rooster – 42.5 kg (94 lbs)
Light Feather – 46.5 kg (103 lbs)
Feather – 50.5 kg(111.5 lbs)
Light – 54.5 kg (120.5 lbs)
Middle – 58.5 kg (129 lbs)
Medium Heavy – 62.5 kg (138 lbs)
Heavy – 66.5 kg (147 lbs)
Super Heavy – No Maximum Weight

Weighing in at IBJJF Competitions

No matter your weight class, every competitor will have their weight recorded exactly the same. While many other organisations have different weight classes for their competitors, the adult and masters ibjjf weight classes will all have their gi weight checked as well as making sure that they are in their registered weight class.

When you reach the competition, it’s good to set up camp with your team in the warm up area. Here you can relax and also check to see how your weight is on the morning. If you need to lose a bit of weight before weighing in, now is the time.

Once it’s time to compete, you will be called by the relevant weight class, and you will be weighed in and have your gi checked by someone from the IBJJF. Now it’s time to wait in the bullpen with your fellow competitors from your weight division, and go have fun!

If you win your match, you will go back to the warm-up area and be called again. You will have your weight checked every time you compete, so make sure you’re managing that well throughout the day.

IBJJF Uniform Rules

The IBJJF are very strict when it comes to the rules, especially when it comes to major competitions. Here’s a quick guide to make sure you get everything right.

IBJJF Gi Regulations

In the IBJJF gi regulations are notorious, I have seen so many competitors disqualified for gis that do not pass the check.

All gis must be made of a weaved jacket and cannot be another else apart from cotton. Canvas and ripstop gi jackets are therefore banned. Jacket sleeves that are also too short or tight-fitting are also banned.

Gi pants must be made from cotton or ripstop and cannot be above the ankles. Gi trousers that are too short will be disqualified.

IBJJF regulation gis are only allowed the be white, blue, or black. All other colours are banned. Team patches are allowed on gi jackets and pants but must conform to the IBJJF rules.

A belt must be in good condition and should be between 4cm to 5 cm wide and 20cm to 30cm in length.

A rash guard is prohibited underneath a gi.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Competition Checklist

You may not need all of the items on the list for your bjj competitions. Keep in mind that many tournaments last all day and you may have little to no notice before your bracket is called.

Food and Drink

It’s important for your body to be ready for the day ahead. Stick to clean food during bjj competitions and pig out once you’re done. You’ve earned it.

Water and sports drinks are obvious but essential; you need to be hydrated throughout the day. You should sip your water throughout the day and sports drinks can also help with energy levels. Stay away from anything too sugary and overly caffeinated, like Redbull, I have had a bad experience with almost vomiting in a match because I downed one minutes before a match.

Complex Carbohydrates digest slower and give you a great source of long-lasting energy. Nibbling on these throughout the day is a good idea, but don’t overindulge. Bananas, nuts, oats, and wholegrain cereals are great to eat and easy to pack in your kit bag.

Simple Carbohydrates break down quickly and can give you a temporary boost in energy. I think it was Ryan Hall who used to eat skittles before competing as the sugar gave him a quick energy boost and the sweet flavours also helped with the cottonmouth you get when you get an adrenaline dump.

Protein and fats are an important source of long-lasting energy, especially if you’re at the competition all day. Some great examples of protein for a tournament are Nuts and seeds, peanut butter, small amounts of lean meat.

If you want to take supplements, stick with what your body likes. This is not a good day to experiment with pre-workouts. You will not have the kind of benefit knowing exactly when you will be on the mat. If you take a supplement and plan to be on the mat in 20 min you will likely be waiting an hour or more, and your energy will be used up by a supplement that will make you more fidgety and agitated than you would be on competition day.

Comfort

Plan on being at the tournament all day, you won’t get too stressed out. If you bring any guests to the tournament you should do what you can to make them comfortable.

Pillow – It may sound odd but a pillow has a place at IBJJF tournaments. Many competitors do not sleep well the night before the tournament. They then get to the tournament first thing in the morning, to find out their bracket will not hit the mats until later in the evening. Taking a little nap is a great way to pass the time and calm down. You may also get tired of sitting on hard bleachers all day and a pillow will offer you a little extra padding.

Blanket – If you are planning to take a nap bring a small blanket. This can also be used to make the bleachers more comfortable.

Hoodie – Especially for nogi, throw on a hoodie on after warming up to keep you from cooling down. If the building is cold, you would be glad you brought your hoodie.

Book – If you’re one of those people who doesn’t like to watch others compete because it makes them nervous? A good book is a great way to take your mind off the action.

Flip Flips – Flip flops or any quick shoe will help you get on and off the mat without slowing you down. This is especially important if you need the toilet between matches.

Music – Need some hype music to get your amped up or some chill music to keep your energy levels low? There’s a reason why they say “Music Soothes the Savage Beast”

Towel – It’s nice to be able to take a shower after you are done. Don’t forget to bring a towel. A towel can also be used as a blanket or add padding to uncomfortable seats. – Our recommended travel towels

Underwear – Once your day is done, there’s nothing worse than travelling home wearing sweaty, moist underwear. Bring a spare pair and get comfortable.

Medical

Hopefully, you won’t need these items, but if do you’ll be glad you have them. Be ready to share your medical supplies with any teammates or competitors who might get hurt.

Athletic Tape – I always have tape in my gym bag. It’s a quick fix for a busted finger or toe, and it can be used to make a larger bandage. Our Recommended Athletic Tape

Pain Killers – If you need something to take off the edge, bring along your preferred painkillers

Bandaids – Keep your open injuries clean and help prevent getting blood on people. It is also a good idea to bring some 4×4 gauze pads too.

Glasses / Contact Lenses – If you wear contact lenses be ready for any troubles they may give you.

Antiseptic Gel – Put a little Neosporin on any cuts or abrasions before you bandage them up.

Hand Sanitiser – Washing your hands if better but not always practical.

Prescription Medication – You know what you need, just don’t leave it at home.

Icepack – Keep a couple of icepacks handy, in case you or your teammates need to ice any sprains or pains.

Other

Here are some extra items we think would be useful for you.

Camera – Win or lose it is a good idea to have someone record your matches. Don’t forget to get a team picture before people start leaving.

Tripod – It’s hard to hold a video camera and cheer someone on at the same time. Usually, the video suffers, more than the cheering. If you happen to be at the tournament by yourself set up your camera and hit record just before the match starts.

Phone – Make sure you have all your teammates numbers in your phone and keep it on you until you are getting ready to hit the mat. You don’t want to miss your buddies’ match because you went to the restroom. Set up a group message on whatsapp and keep each other informed. Your friends and family that are not at the tournament will also be trying to get in contact with you to see how you did.

Your phone can also double up as a camera to record yours or your friends’ matches.

Charging Brick & Cable – If you’re on your phone all day, recording matches, listening to music, talking to teammates, it may be a good idea to bring along a portable charging brick and your charging cable.

Cash & Credit Card – You may want to get some gear, clothing, or food. There may be some great deals at some of the vendors.

BJJ Competition Tips

Rule Book – You should know the rules, but you might need to look up what is legal for a teammate of a different skill level.

How important is confidence to your success in BJJ? Well, that depends on your definition of success. So, the first question to ask yourself is, “are you a competitor or a recreational athlete?”

Here’s the definition I use: a competitor is anyone who reaches for the pinnacles of the sport: an IBJJF World Championship, an Abu Dhabi title, etc. It doesn’t matter if you actually attain it, but it’s what you are striving for. If this isn’t your goal, let’s define your practice in BJJ as recreational. You might compete to test your skills, but your focus is training for fun, self-improvement and the love of the sport.

Confidence for the competitor is vital. Confidence for the recreational athlete is helpful and it will grow as your skills improve, but there’s not as pressing of a need to cultivate confidence.

No ego. Embroider it on a gi, because these two words might as well be the motto of all BJJ.

Competition Confidence For BJJ

It’s the idea that there’s always more to learn, always someone better than you and ego is a barrier to faster improvement. No ego as a theme in BJJ is so readily apparent because BJJ, more so than other sports, enables the smaller, slower, less physical fighter to dominate the larger, stronger, less technical opponent. Having to repeatedly say “uncle” to someone you perceive as your physical inferior is a make or break situation for anybody’s ego.

You cannot get better at BJJ unless you are first willing to be terrible at it. To be successful in competition you have to impose your game plan. No ego is the name of the game in training, but, I can say from personal experience, that leaving your ego at the door during competition can lead to disastrous results. Don’t take my word for it though … here’s what some of the top BJJ fighters in the game have to say about confidence and game plans:

“We’re not in the business of martial arts, we’re in the business of building confidence” – Renzo Gracie

“I think that I always manage to impose my game, and my goal is a great fight,” – Jacare

“I have complete confidence in my sweeps”– Buchecha

It’s with this in mind, that I not only campaign for the importance of confidence in BJJ, but want to help you build your confidence. As with every article I’ve written, my goal’s been to help you understand the process. It’s once you understand the process, that you’ll see for yourself the path to success. So, let’s talk about the process behind effective confidence in BJJ. Let me tell you about the Self-Efficacy Theory.

Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is the strength of your belief in your own abilities to reach goals. If you truly believe that you can influence, for the better, the outcome of your next fight, you’ll eagerly enter the competition. So, an efficacious you is a motivated you.

How to develop Self-Efficacy?

There are 4 fundamentals for developing self-efficacy:

Experience success yourself

Easier said than done, right? With a difficult task, it’s unrealistic expectation right off the bat. So, your coach (or you, yourself) has to enable success by reducing the difficulty. A simple example: a beginner might not be able to successfully serve a volleyball all the way across the net, but what happens once the coach tells her to take a few steps forward?

The vicarious experience of success

To learn and improve, you need a template or model. This can be your coach, a skilled teammate or youtube video techniques. Next:

Observe and Receive assistance in a successful execution

This vicarious experience of success will provide a good foundation for the experience of success in live rolling or a match.

Verbal persuasion

Positive verbal persuasion should come as encouragement from your coach, parents, or teammates. If you’re not getting that, reevaluate your training situation. Keeping negativism out of your training is the hallmark of a champion and a championship team.

Verbal persuasion can also be individual, a.k.a. self-talk.

Types of Self-Talk – Self-talk can be in the form of words actually spoken, or in the form of thoughts. It’s all about positivity when it comes to improving self-confidence; self-talk that’s positive in nature and leads to positive feelings about your ability.

Emotional arousal

This is actually the weakest source of self-efficacy, but in my opinion, the most important one to understand. Basically, people often rely on their current emotional state when judging their capabilities. If they are happy and positive, their confidence is sky high. If they are despondent and anxious, their self-efficacy is diminished.

Your goal should be to move past this type of response. Don’t let your current mood dictate your long term confidence. George St. Pierre is a great example of how a champion accepts performance anxiety and still illustrates incredibly high self-efficacy.

So, to sum up – to develop confidence:

Train with success in mind
Watch and learn from the success of your coaches, teammates and BJJ all-stars
Use positive self-talk
Be sure to get your mind right before training (so you can learn effectively).

The effectiveness of the self-efficacy model in sport is really well documented. Perceived self-efficacy is a strong and consistent predictor of success in BJJ. So get your game on, get confident and tell us what works for you in the comments.