Jiu-jitsu Fort Lauderdale had a historic weekend as our team proudly represented at two major IBJJF events: the IBJJF Fort Lauderdale Open and the IBJJF Pan Kids No-Gi Championship. For two intense days, athletes of all ages stepped onto the mats with heart, discipline, and unity—delivering one of the most memorable competition weekends in our academy’s history.
What Is the IBJJF and Why This Weekend Matters
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) is the world’s leading organization for professional jiu-jitsu competition. Known for its excellence, strict standards, and global credibility, the IBJJF represents the highest level of our sport. Winning on an IBJJF stage—especially at home in Fort Lauderdale—makes this accomplishment even more meaningful for our academy and our students.
Day One: IBJJF Fort Lauderdale Open (Gi & No-Gi)
Saturday brought together adults, masters, and juvenile athletes for the IBJJF Fort Lauderdale Open. The day was filled with adrenaline, strategy, and long hours of focused coaching from our entire staff.
As coaches, we lived every match with our athletes. I, Ana Fernandes, wife of Professor Junior Fernandes, was on my feet from start to finish, tracking every detail and supporting each competitor. My Apple Watch recorded over 16,000 steps throughout the day. We arrived at the venue at 8:00 a.m. and stayed until 7:54 p.m., leaving only after the final absolute match was completed — a true reflection of the intensity, commitment, and love we have for our team.
Absolute Division and the Power of Team Points
Many of our competitors entered the Absolute Division, also called the Open Class. In this category, all athletes of the same belt rank are placed together, regardless of their weight division.
That means light, middle, and heavyweights can face each other in the same bracket. The Open Class exists to test who can perform at the highest level using timing, leverage, strategy, and clean jiu-jitsu — without relying on size advantages.
Competing in the Open Class earned critical points for our team and showed the courage of our athletes. Stepping into this division is a choice, not an obligation, and it requires confidence, heart, and a true team mindset. By entering the Absolute Division, our competitors helped elevate our final score and demonstrated what it means to fight for something bigger than individual results.
Women Leading by Example
Nearly all of our female competitors took home gold, showcasing sharp technique, strong mindset, and dominant jiu-jitsu. Their results played a major role in our team’s final score and continue to inspire more women to join the mats.
At Athlas Training Team, women can start in our beginner-level classes, where training is divided by levels and experience. This structure helps new students feel more comfortable and confident, learning at their own pace in a welcoming environment designed to support women from day one.
Day Two: IBJJF Pan Kids No-Gi – A New Generation Shines
Sunday was dedicated to the IBJJF Pan Kids No-Gi Championship, in its second official year. The entire day was filled with emotions, victories, challenges, tears, smiles, and unforgettable moments on the mats. Our young athletes showed courage, discipline, and the true spirit of jiu-jitsu from start to finish.
A Historic Team Achievement
After years of preparation, our academy achieved a milestone victory:
First Place No-Gi Team Ranking
Competing against major associations such as Gracie Barra, Alliance, and Fight Sports—each with multiple locations and large competition teams—we earned the 1st place trophy with just one academy, one team, and one mission.
Established in 2007, our academy has built its results through consistency, experience, and a proven training structure. We believe that our level-based class system and long-term commitment to quality jiu-jitsu were key to achieving this victory against some of the biggest networks in the sport.
Second Place Overall in the Gi Division
We also secured 2nd place overall in the Gi division, once again competing against large associations with multiple locations and extensive competition teams. Achieving this result with only one academy was a powerful reminder of how far dedication, structure, and teamwork can go.
We offer Gi classes every day, divided into beginner and advanced levels, following a curriculum that helps students progress with clarity and confidence. This structure allows our team to develop solid fundamentals and sharp technique, which played a major role in bringing home this trophy.
The Method Behind the Results
Champions are not built in one weekend. This result is the product of a journey we have been building since 2007, with a clear methodology, structured curriculum, and a united team of coaches working with purpose.
At Athlas, our students don’t grow by accident—they grow through a system that includes level-based jiu-jitsu classes (beginner through advanced) and support from a complete coaching staff in Judo, Wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Years of consistent work, repetition, and technical guidance are what make weekends like this possible. Every medal and every trophy reflects a long-term commitment to doing jiu-jitsu the right way :
Level-Based Classes
Students progress through structured levels, allowing them to learn with clarity, purpose, and confidence.
Strong Fundamentals
Our coaches emphasize fundamentals first, because fundamentals win championships. At Athlas, every student begins with a 10-class introductory program, focused on essential movements, positions, and concepts.
After completing these 10 classes, students enter Level 1, training alongside other white belts who are building a solid foundation together. As they develop discipline, technical understanding, and consistency, they progress to Level 2, where training becomes more advanced and more detailed.
This step-by-step structure is one of the reasons our Jiu-Jitsu Fort Lauderdale programs help students grow with confidence, without feeling lost or overwhelmed in their first months on the mats.
This step-by-step system ensures that no student skips stages, no one feels lost, and everyone develops true fundamentals that last a lifetime.
One Language and One Culture
Coaching unity ensures that every student receives consistent guidance and a clear training philosophy.
Honoring Our Competitors
To celebrate our warriors, we created a special competition shirt and gifted it to every athlete who stepped onto the mat. This shirt represents unity, sacrifice, and pride in carrying our flag.
Celebration at Moxie – Las Olas
After a long and emotional weekend, our team gathered at Moxie on Las Olas to celebrate. Surrounded by friends, family, and teammates, we shared food, laughter, and stories of victory. Moments like this remind us that jiu-jitsu goes far beyond competition—it builds community.
Why Jiu-Jitsu Builds Champions for Life
Jiu-Jitsu Fort Lauderdale teaches values that our students carry into every area of life. This is one of the reasons we encourage our students to test themselves in competition.
Competing reveals the truth about life — sometimes it’s fair, sometimes it’s not, and results don’t always go the way we want. But facing that reality helps build character.
On the competition mats, you apply everything you have learned and experience the pressure of real decision-making, growth, and responsibility. That is why competition is such a powerful tool inside jiu-jitsu and in life.
On the mat, you have the opportunity to apply everything you’ve learned and measure your progress against someone of the same belt, similar weight, and similar level.
Competition shows where you are, where you need to improve, and who you can become when you face challenges head-on with discipline and courage.
Jiu-jitsu teaches values that our students carry everywhere:
Confidence
Respect
Discipline
Teamwork
Resilience
Emotional control
These are the true medals that matter.
Watch the Highlights on YouTube
A complete video with the best moments of the weekend will be released soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications so you don’t miss it.
Train with Us in Fort Lauderdale
If you are searching for jiu-jitsu in Fort Lauderdale, whether for adults or kids, come visit Athlas Training Team. Train with purpose, evolve with a family-focused academy, and experience jiu-jitsu that transforms lives on and off the mats.
