Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition in Los Angeles: what the search covers

Searching for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition in Los Angeles does not point to one event or one ruleset. Two distinct traditions overlap in the city. One is the federation tournament circuit, of which the IBJJF Pan Championship is the best-known example. The other is the no-gi, submission-focused scene that grew out of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu, which opened its first school in Los Angeles in 2003.

The rest of this guide explains when each applies, so you can decide which to look for.

The two things people mean by Los Angeles competition

Federation tournaments: the IBJJF Pan Championship

The Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, usually called Pan Ams or Pans, is the largest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament held in the Americas. The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) runs it every year. It began in 1995 with 250 athletes, and the 2022 edition in Florida reported more than 4,600 registered competitors.

The tournament started in Brazil and moved to the United States in 2007. Its host cities in the Western United States have included Los Angeles, Irvine, Anaheim, Long Beach and Las Vegas. So Los Angeles has hosted the event, but it is one of several Western venues rather than a permanent home.

The IBJJF also gives its tournaments a ranking weight that determines how many points an athlete can earn. In the 2017/2018 IBJJF calendar the Pan Championship had a weighting of 4, second only to the World Championship at 7. If you want a high-profile, federation-run event, this is the tier it sits in.

No-gi and submission-focused events: the 10th Planet connection

10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is a non-traditional system of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu developed by Eddie Bravo. It is no-gi, so students wear rash guards rather than the traditional jacket. Its practitioners are known for unorthodox guard positions and a strong focus on leg lock attacks.

The system was built around preparing students for submission-only grappling competition rather than points. Its founder is also the creator of the Eddie Bravo Invitational grappling competition and the EBI ruleset. If your interest in Los Angeles competition is really about no-gi grappling with that lineage, this is the scene you are looking for.

When this applies to you, and when it does not

Which category fits depends on three practical questions.

Do you train in the gi or without it? Federation tournaments have traditionally centred on the gi, but the IBJJF also runs a separate Pan Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship, so check which division you are entering. The 10th Planet tradition is no-gi by design.

Do you want points to decide matches, or submissions? Federation events use the IBJJF points system. The 10th Planet approach emphasises submission-only competition. Read the ruleset for the specific event before you register, because a rule that holds under one organiser may not hold under another.

Are you a beginner? Then a large championship may not be the right first step. Belt rank shapes which divisions you can enter, so it helps to understand how the belt system works before choosing an event. Some 10th Planet schools use coloured rash guards to show belt rank in the absence of a belt, so rank is still visible in no-gi settings.

This guide does not apply if you are looking for a dated list of upcoming events. The organisers’ own listings are the only reliable source for dates, venues and entry details, and they change from year to year.

What people get wrong

Treating Los Angeles as the location of every relevant event

The Pan Championship has been held in several cities, including Irvine, Anaheim and Long Beach, which are in the wider Southern California region but are not Los Angeles itself. Check the venue address, not just the event name, before you book travel.

Assuming one ruleset covers everything

The IBJJF points system, the 10th Planet submission-only emphasis and the EBI ruleset are separate things. Someone who has trained for one may find the others require a different approach. Before you enter, read the rules published by the organiser running the event.

Assuming 10th Planet is a single Los Angeles gym

The original 10th Planet headquarters is in Los Angeles, but there are more than 100 schools worldwide. Some are established jiu jitsu facilities that adopted the system as an expansion of their art. If you train at an affiliate elsewhere, you are part of the same system, though that does not put you in a Los Angeles event.

Assuming every 10th Planet technique is proven in every setting

The system has been controversial since it began. Abandoning the gi drew backlash from other schools, and there is debate over how many of its techniques, notably its versions of the rubber guard, translate to mixed martial arts. Treat the system as one approach to competition, not as a settled standard.

Assuming a big event is the place to start

The Pan Championship is regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments in the sport. That prestige is a reason to enter when you are ready, not a reason to rush. If you are new, how long a blue belt takes is a useful reference point for setting your own timeline.

Choosing an event

Start with your ruleset. If you compete in the gi and want points-based matches, look at IBJJF listings. If you train no-gi and prefer submission-focused competition, look at events connected to the 10th Planet and EBI tradition. Then confirm the venue, division and rules with the organiser directly.