The Grand Slam in Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the achievement of winning all four major IBJJF tournaments in a calendar year. The four Grand Slam tournaments are the World IBJJF Championship, the European IBJJF Championship, Pan IBJJF Championship and the CBJJ Brazilian National Championship. Winning all four tournaments within a single year is widely considered the most prestigious accomplishment in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition.[1]
History
editIn the sport of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the first Brazilian National Championship ("Brasileiro") started in 1994,[2] the IBJJF World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship ("Worlds") was held in 1996,[3][4] the Pan American Championship ("Pans") first took place in 1996[5] while the European Open Championship ("Euros") was inaugurated in 2004.[6]
Euros, Pans, Brasileiros and Worlds are the four major and most renowned championships in Brazilian jiu-jitsu,[7] they are part of a series of events known as the IBJJF Grand Slam.[8][9][10]
The European Open is the first gi grand slam tournament of the year, the last edition took place in Paris,[11] followed by Pans in California,[12] the Brazilian Nationals in São Paulo and the World Championship in California. Being the reigning champion of all four competitions in a single year is regarded as the most prestigious accomplishment in competition (in either gi or no gi).[13]
Grand Slam tournaments champions
editList of athletes who have completed the Grand Slam or the double Grand Slam.
| Athlete | Year | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micael Galvão | 2024 | won all four tournaments in the lightweight division | |
| Mayssa Bastos | 2022 | won all four tournaments in the rooster and light featherweight divisions | [1] |
| Gabi Pessanha | 2022 | won each of the four tournaments in both super heavyweight and absolute categories | [1] |
| Gabi Pessanha | 2018 | At 17 years old, the only athlete to win a double grand slam at purple belt (double gold at all four majors) that year | [14] |
| Claudia do Val | 2018 | won in three different weight classes | [15] |
| Lucas Barbosa | 2018 | [15] | |
| Rafael Lovato | 2007 | First Grand Slam winner | [16] |
| Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles | 2017 | also winning ADCC World that year. | [17] |
| Tainan Dalpra | 2021 | [18] | |
| Tayane Porfirio | 2015 | double Grand Slam at purple belt | [19] |
| Keenan Cornelius | 2012 | at purple belt, became the first person to win the double Grand Slam: winning weight and absolute in each of the four tournaments. | [20] |
| Mica Galvao | 2020 | double Grand Slam as a 16-year-old blue belt. | [21] |
| Lucas Pinheiro | 2022 | won Brazilian, European, Pan American, and World in No-Gi | [22] |
| André Galvão | 2003 | first purple belt to complete the IBJJF Grand Slam[a] | [23] |
| Diogo Reis | 2019 | Grand Slam as a Teen / Juvenile in his weight class and the absolute. | [24][25] |
Other related concepts
editDouble Grand Slam
editAchieving a double Grand Slam means winning double gold (both weight and open weight category) at all four championships.[26]
Grand Slam Academy Rankings
edit2016-2017 Grand Slam Academy Rankings
edit| Rank | Academy Ranking | |
|---|---|---|
| Team | ||
| 1 | Alliance | |
| 2 | Gracie Humaita | |
| 3 | Atos Jiu Jitsu | |
2022-2023 Grand Slam Academy Rankings
edit| Rank | Academy Ranking | |
|---|---|---|
| Team | Points | |
| 1 | DreamArt | 654 |
| 2 | Alliance | 631 |
| 3 | Checkmat | 493 |
| 4 | Atos Jiu-Jitsu | 493 |
| 5 | GFTeam | 438 |
| 6 | Cicero Costha Internacional | 340 |
| 7 | Gracie Barra | 189 |
| 8 | Qatar BJJ / Vision Brasil | 64 |
| 9 | Unity Jiu-jitsu | 12 |
| 9 | Infight JJ | 12 |
| 9 | Team Lloyd Irvin | 12 |
| 12 | Nova União | 9 |
| 13 | Brasa CTA | 4 |
| 13 | Roger Gracie Academy | 4 |
Notes
edit- ^ At the time Worlds, Pan and Brasileiro
References
edit- ^ a b c Stockton, Corey (9 January 2023). "Grappling Bulletin: Will We See A Grand Slam In 2023?". FloGrappling.
- ^ "Xande, Lepri, Miyaos, Mackenzie: quem vai brilhar no Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu especial de 20 anos?". Graciemag. 29 April 2014.
- ^ "The History And Significance of the IBJJF World Championship". Evolve Daily. 6 December 2021.
- ^ "A brief history of Brazilian jiu-jitsu". Graciemag. 7 December 2019.
- ^ "Pan 20 Years: 1996, great duels for the record". Graciemag. 21 February 2014.
- ^ "5 things that make the European c'ship a unique event in the BJJ calendar". Graciemag. 11 January 2016.
- ^ "Best BJJ Tournaments in the World (Ultimate List)". Jiujitsu News. 17 September 2022.
- ^ "2023 IBJJF European Open Dark Horses". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 25 January 2023.
- ^ "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation". IBJJF.
- ^ Lindsey, Alex (9 March 2023). "IBJJF Brazilian National Championship To Stream On FloGrappling In 2023". Jitsmagazine.com.
- ^ "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation". IBJJF.
- ^ Coate, Ben (27 March 2023). "2023 IBJJF Pans results and highlights: Nicholas Meregali dominates to win double gold". Grappling Insider.
- ^ Graham, Howard (13 May 2022). "Top 3 Women Ready To Conquer The IBJJF Grand Slam This Year in 2022 – ROLLING TIMES MAGAZINE". ROLLING TIMES MAGAZINE.
- ^ Smith, Chase (10 July 2018). "Early Look: The UAEJJF 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tokyo". FloGrappling.
- ^ a b "All of the Grand Slam Winners of 2018". FloGrappling. 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Rafael Lovato Jr". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 1 August 2010.
- ^ Teague, Hywel (7 June 2017). "Cobrinha Shooting For The Super Grand Slam: IBJJF & ADCC In The Same Year". FloGrappling.
- ^ "2022 Championships Preview: Adult Male Black Belt". IBJJF.
- ^ "Tayane Porfirio". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 15 June 2016.
- ^ Owning, John (11 March 2014). "Previewing the Must-See Moments of Upcoming IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship". Bleacher Report.
- ^ "Best BJJ Competitors To Keep An Eye On In 2020". BJJ World. 10 December 2019.
- ^ Young, Kyle (9 January 2023). "Lucas Pinheiro wins No Gi Worlds and Completes The IBJJF Grand Slam". Gameness.
- ^ "André Galvão". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 7 February 2010.
- ^ "Diogo Reis". BJJ Heroes - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Melqui Galvão". BJJ Heroes - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 9 June 2019.
- ^ Sears, Michael (20 June 2018). "Young Guns: The Under-20s Changing The Face of Jiu-Jitsu". FloGrappling.
- ^ "IBJJF: Gracie Barra, Alliance top BJJ rankings". Graciemag. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "2022-2023 Academy Ranking". 2022-2023 Academy Ranking.
- ^ Medina, Jon. "Top 3 Grand Slam Academy Rankings". Top 3 Grand Slam Academy Rankings.