IBJJF Formation

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) was officially formed in 2002 under the leadership of Carlos Gracie Jr. Its mission was to provide a unified governing body for sport BJJ, standardizing rules, belt systems, and major tournaments such as the World Championships, Pan Ams, and European Open.

While sometimes criticized for bureaucracy and conservative rule enforcement, the IBJJF has been instrumental in BJJ’s global growth. By creating structure and prestige around its events, it gave the sport international legitimacy, paving the way for professionalization and worldwide recognition.