Our in-house tournament for white and blue belts is BACK!!
This is happening the last weekend in February, with the event kicking off at 10 a.m. (first matches at 10:30 a.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 28. It’s going to be really fun.
Regular classes are officially canceled that day. Spectators are welcome at the tournament, including friends and family. These are always exciting, positive, and productive events.
The purpose: To provide a competitive experience that gets people practice under a common competitive ruleset. Competition is valuable, and there are not a ton of opportunities to compete, so this is a chance for folks to get their feet wet internally.
The Intermission: To get people rest between divisions, we’re going to do an Intermission Spectacle. Will we bring back the Quintet bracket? Will we do one-off matches between upper belts? Will Kendall fight a sea lion? WHO CAN SAY? All we can tell you is that this was a super-fun format last time. If you have questions or ideas, please message me – or you can let me know when you fill out the form.
Sign up here for the adult event
The rules: Both gi and no-gi divisions will follow IBJJF rules. These are the rules used at the most popular tournament in Washington, the Revolution. There’s a move legality chart here.
If you want more detail: Here are the complete IBJJF rules. We also go over rulesets at the pre-event rules meeting at 10 a.m.!
For the Quintet matches, if those happen, we will follow Quintet rules, but no heel hooks or reaping the knee will be allowed. Ankle locks, toe holds and knee bars will be allowed. Bicep slicers are allowed too I guess. Jumping guard is not allowed at any level.
The weight classes: We will not do weigh-ins. We will group people in pods that are closest in walking around weight. When you sign up, give us your best estimate of what you walk around at first thing in the morning. We don’t want people cutting weight for this. We want you natural, healthy, hydrated and acai-free if you dig me.
The matches: Everyone will be guaranteed at least a few matches. Whether this means we do a double-elimination bracket or a round robin depends on signups and interest. But you’ll get matches!
The times: All matches will be 5 minutes, and so will all Quintet rounds. Is this because I don’t want to figure out how to change the timer settings? Mind your own business.
The other details: This is only open to Bellingham BJJ students ranked white or blue belt, and perhaps some of our friends at other schools to fill out the divisions. There is no cost to participate. Upper belts will referee all the matches. We’re encouraging people to take it seriously but also have a great time. Yes, there will be snacks there.
If you’re competing and have an instructor that you’d like to coach you, ask that instructor! We will make sure everyone has a corner coach.
What’s QUINTET?: Competitors will get a break in between the gi and nogi divisions, so we may feature an exciting nogi team match. If that happens, here are the rules:
The teams will select one grappler to start.
They will engage in a submission only grappling round: They will be 7 minute rounds, to submission, or “To The Pain,” whichever comes first.
If someone taps, they are eliminated, and their team picks a new person to jump in. If the time expires with no submission, BOTH grapplers are eliminated. Strategy!
The team that has the last grappler(s) standing wins.
That’s the basics. Spectators are welcome. I expect we’ll go until about noon.
We’ll probably do cool prizes. We did last time. It’s gonna be great! Invite your friends! Come on out!
Thanks for being part of it!