Our students and instructors compete regularly. From white belt to black belt, Bellingham BJJ folks have successfully competed in tournaments and superfights locally, nationally and internationally. We think competition is very valuable for improving your jiujitsu, but it’s also important to keep in mind that competition is just a part of jiujitsu. Here’s a long post about that.
Our instructors have won IBJJF tournaments at many belt levels, including gold medals from tournaments such as the No-Gi Pans (including an absolute gold medal at masters blue belt), the New York Open, the Atlanta Open, the Portland Open and more. Two of our instructors have reached the podium at the IBJJF World Championships, earning bronze medals at blue belt (nogi) and white belt (gi). Our instructors compete at ADCC events like East Coast and West Coast trials as well as ADCC Open tournaments. Bellingham BJJ instructors from purple belt to black belt are regularly invited to superfight matches at events like Fight to Win Pro (Seattle), Toro Cup (North Carolina) and more.
Our students also regularly compete, and in the past two years have won IBJJF events, ADCC Opens, and multiple local tournaments, as well as several superfights. Here are a few results from 15 different people competing for Bellingham BJJ during 2022 and 2023.
* Superfight wins at national events such as Fight To Win Pro, Toro Cup (where the team has a 5-2 record), as well as wins at GSubX and other local superfight cards. Bellingham BJJ students from blue belt to brown belt have won superfights on these cards.
* Gold, Advanced Nogi, Proving Grounds June 2023
* Gold, Intermediate Nogi, Proving Grounds June 2023
* Gold, White Belt Gi, Proving Grounds June 2023
* Gold, Blue Belt Gi, Proving Grounds June 2023
* Gold, Brown Belt Gi, Grappling Industries June 2023
* Gold, Advanced Nogi, Grappling Industries June 2023
* Gold, IBJJF Mexico City Open, March 2023
* Gold, IBJJF European Open, yellow belt, Dec. 2022
* Double gold, Sub League Ground Warrior Open, Jan 2023
* Gold, purple belt gi, The Revolution, June 2022
* Silver, blue belt gi, The Revolution, June 2022
* Bronze, blue belt gi, The Revolution, June 2022
* Double gold, Grappling Industries, April 2022 (eight wins, all eight by submission)
* Gold, blue belt gi, Grappling Industries, Jan. 2022
* Silver, blue belt nogi, Grappling Industries, Jan. 2022
* Silver, blue belt nogi, Grappling Industries, Jan. 2022
These are just a sampling of recent results as of June 2023. We have roughly 20 regular competitors, and although no one is forced to compete, we believe in the value of competition for growing and testing your jiujitsu.