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

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In 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

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List 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]
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Double Grand Slam

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Achieving a double Grand Slam means winning double gold (both weight and open weight category) at all four championships.[26]

Grand Slam Academy Rankings

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2016-2017 Grand Slam Academy Rankings

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[27]

Rank Academy Ranking
Team
1 Alliance
2 Gracie Humaita
3 Atos Jiu Jitsu

2022-2023 Grand Slam Academy Rankings

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[28][29]

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

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  1. ^ At the time Worlds, Pan and Brasileiro

References

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  1. ^ a b c Stockton, Corey (9 January 2023). "Grappling Bulletin: Will We See A Grand Slam In 2023?". FloGrappling.
  2. ^ "Xande, Lepri, Miyaos, Mackenzie: quem vai brilhar no Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu especial de 20 anos?". Graciemag. 29 April 2014.
  3. ^ "The History And Significance of the IBJJF World Championship". Evolve Daily. 6 December 2021.
  4. ^ "A brief history of Brazilian jiu-jitsu". Graciemag. 7 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Pan 20 Years: 1996, great duels for the record". Graciemag. 21 February 2014.
  6. ^ "5 things that make the European c'ship a unique event in the BJJ calendar". Graciemag. 11 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Best BJJ Tournaments in the World (Ultimate List)". Jiujitsu News. 17 September 2022.
  8. ^ "2023 IBJJF European Open Dark Horses". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 25 January 2023.
  9. ^ "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation". IBJJF.
  10. ^ Lindsey, Alex (9 March 2023). "IBJJF Brazilian National Championship To Stream On FloGrappling In 2023". Jitsmagazine.com.
  11. ^ "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation". IBJJF.
  12. ^ Coate, Ben (27 March 2023). "2023 IBJJF Pans results and highlights: Nicholas Meregali dominates to win double gold". Grappling Insider.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Smith, Chase (10 July 2018). "Early Look: The UAEJJF 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tokyo". FloGrappling.
  15. ^ a b "All of the Grand Slam Winners of 2018". FloGrappling. 7 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Rafael Lovato Jr". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 1 August 2010.
  17. ^ Teague, Hywel (7 June 2017). "Cobrinha Shooting For The Super Grand Slam: IBJJF & ADCC In The Same Year". FloGrappling.
  18. ^ "2022 Championships Preview: Adult Male Black Belt". IBJJF.
  19. ^ "Tayane Porfirio". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 15 June 2016.
  20. ^ Owning, John (11 March 2014). "Previewing the Must-See Moments of Upcoming IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship". Bleacher Report.
  21. ^ "Best BJJ Competitors To Keep An Eye On In 2020". BJJ World. 10 December 2019.
  22. ^ Young, Kyle (9 January 2023). "Lucas Pinheiro wins No Gi Worlds and Completes The IBJJF Grand Slam". Gameness.
  23. ^ "André Galvão". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 7 February 2010.
  24. ^ "Diogo Reis". BJJ Heroes - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 14 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Melqui Galvão". BJJ Heroes - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 9 June 2019.
  26. ^ Sears, Michael (20 June 2018). "Young Guns: The Under-20s Changing The Face of Jiu-Jitsu". FloGrappling.
  27. ^ "IBJJF: Gracie Barra, Alliance top BJJ rankings". Graciemag. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  28. ^ "2022-2023 Academy Ranking". 2022-2023 Academy Ranking.
  29. ^ Medina, Jon. "Top 3 Grand Slam Academy Rankings". Top 3 Grand Slam Academy Rankings.