Youth World Championship & Trials FAQ (2025–2026 Season)

**open to eligible countries

Youth Invitations by Age Group

Boys, age 7-8

  • Rocco Mata Monks → Zenith Jiu Jitsu.
  • Matteo Ayres → Carlson Gracie Henderson.
  • Jacob Lucas Groom → ATOS HQ.
  • Jude Jabr → Pimenta Jiu Jitsu.
  • Blake Pizá → Gracie Barra Jupiter.

Girls, age 7-8

  • Sariah The Last Panda → Alpha Miami Grappling.
  • Caeawen Adriano → Art of JiuJitsu.
  • Sophia Placencia → American Jiu Jitsu.
  • Salma Halum → Ground Control - PALM BEACH.
  • Anaiya Delatorre → Cobrinha BJJ Las Vegas.
  • Eliana Parker → Art of JiuJitsu

Boys, age 9-10

  • Zakharrii Paseniuk → Maxum BJJ.
  • Jacob Bagaygay → Lansang JiuJitsu.
  • Jason Simonski → Atos.
  • Ryan Verges → Alpha Miami Grappling.
  • Jaxson Hollis → 10th Planet Las Vegas.
  • Jason Heck → Art of JiuJitsu.
  • Damian Arriola → Rilion Gracie Miami Lakes.

Girls, age 9-10

  • Herra Rose The Last Dragon → Alpha Miami Grappling.
  • Hudsyn Santiago → Method JJ.
  • Valentina Costa → Black Tie BJJ.
  • Avery Kent → Black Tie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
  • Arabella brackett → Atos Jiu-Jitsu Las Vegas.
  • Vesper Ortega → Easton Training Center - Denver.
  • Victoria Bueno → ATOS HQ.
  • Addy Allen → Millenia MMA.

Boys, age 11-12

  • Levi Luck Uriah Cruz → Island Jiu Jitsu.
  • Frank Archibald → Renzo Gracie Austin.
  • Ian Mondragon → AOJ.
  • Makorogo Mugabi → ATT Tuscaloosa.
  • Gabriel Gama → Squad Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
  • Cole Kratky → Checkmat Olympus.
  • Lucas Rubio → Carlson Gracie Temecula.
  • Silas Sims → ATOS HQ.

Girls, age 11-12

  • Hadley Elizabeth Weber → Art of JiuJitsu.
  • Mealow Petre → Art of JiuJitsu.
  • Kensley Osorno → Gracie Barra Jupiter.
  • Ella Desario → Gracie St Augustine.
  • Cyra Eskandari → AOJ.
  • Layla Gathogo → Checkmat Olympus.
  • Alexandria Kanis → 10th Planet Las Vegas.
  • Bailey Cerda Heinsohn → Art of JiuJitsu.
  • Sahara Wells → No Team.

Boys, age 13-14

  • Caio Sainz → Alpha Miami Grappling.
  • Samuel Junco → Alpha Miami Grappling.
  • Perseus Cooperman → Alpha Miami Grappling.
  • Sage Xander Cruz → Island Jiu Jitsu.
  • Nazarii Paseniuk → Maxum BJJ.
  • Andres Maldonado → Renzo Gracie Rockland.
  • Luke Fidler → Gracie Barra Chandler.
  • Paxton Holmes → Global Martial Arts.
  • Parker Young → AMG.
  • Caue Sa → Alpha Miami Grappling.
  • Kaya Anderson → Ralph Gracie BJJ Sacramento.
  • Thomas DeLauro → Triumph Fight Academy

Girls, age 13-14

  • Joslyn Molina → Checkmat Olympus.
  • Zuleyma Ruiz Ponce → Dream Art San Antonio.
  • Adley Hoffmann → 10th Planet Freaks.
  • Cassandra Gallegos → Alliance BJJ South Bay.
  • Sky Ramos → N/A.
  • Nicole Mojica → On Guard BJJ.
  • Sufina Grajo → Renzo Gracie Warwick.
  • Aaliyah Rangel → Trujitsu.
  • Chloe cooper → Siri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Pasco.
  • Malia Bunyan → Island Jiu Jitsu.
  • Annalise Gale → Dallas ORegan BJJ.

Boys, age 15-17

  • Micah Kobe Caliboso → 10th Planet Las Vegas.
  • Nakoa Navarro → 10th Planet Las Vegas.
  • Carlos Sainz → Alpha Miami Grappling.
  • Mykoda Phoenix Hummel → 10th Planet South Bay.
  • James Comerford → Precision jiu jitsu.
  • Matthew Velez → Prodigy Jiu Jitsu.
  • James Ortiz → Simple Man.
  • Sidney Katz → AMG.
  • Mateo Martinez → AMG.
  • Makana Godwin → Marcio Andre Jiu Jitsu Academy.
  • Xavier Torres → ATOS HQ.

Girls, age 15-17

  • Anabella Junco → Alpha Miami Grappling.
  • Kaloni Elvis-Marie Brown → Alpha Miami Grappling.
  • Analia Diaz → Fight Sports Club.
  • Verona Pesce → Atos ATL.
  • Maya Padilla → Bastos BJJ.
  • Deborah Melo → Atos ATL.
  • Kailani Hasenauer → Renato Tavares association.
  • Zoe Freeman → Renzo Gracie San Antonio.

Qualifying for Youth Worlds 2026 (August 2026; exact date TBD)

Q: How many people qualify?

A: Overall, 24 kids per age group (and per gender) will qualify for Youth Worlds

  • 11 spots from Trials: 8 from the US trials (4 from West Coast and 4 from East Coast) and 3 from the Brazil trials.
  • Remaining spots are from the points from competing in advanced divisions and winning a bronze, silver or gold.
  • For age group 7-8 there will be a maximum of 16 competitors, there will be no trials for this age group and
    invites are based solely on points.

Q: What is an “early invite”?

A: Early invites are given to athletes who are significantly ahead in points (at the time of the early invites). If your child did not receive an early invite, it simply means they are still in range with other athletes and will remain eligible through Opens until April 2026.

Youth Trials

Q: When are the Youth Trials?

A: Two U.S. Trials: East Coast (Orlando, Nov 2025) and West Coast (TBD). There will be 1 Brazil Trial in Sao Paulo March 2026. dates are in March.

Q: When are weigh-ins for Trials?

A: Weigh-ins will take place Thursday evening, the day before the Open begins.

Q: Who can compete in the Youth Trials?

A: Athletes ages 9 and up are eligible. There are no trials for kids 8 years old and under.

Q: Can I do more than one division at Trials?

A: No. You may only register for one bracket per Trials event. You cannot enter multiple age groups or weight classes. However, if eligible by belt, you may also compete in an adult or intermediate division.

Q: Can I compete in the Kids’and Adult Trials?

A: Yes.

Q: What if I receive an early invite? Can I still do the Trials?

A: No. Early invitees are removed from Youth Trials to allow others the opportunity to qualify.

 Q: How should I choose my weight class for Trials?

A: Register for the weight you can make at the time of Trials, not the weight you expect to be by Youth Worlds. Final Youth Worlds weight classes will be set based on the invited athletes.

Q: How many competitors are allowed per division in Kids’ Trials?

A: Youth Trials divisions are capped at 32
competitors per weight class.

Q: If I am a girl under 12, can I compete in the boys’ division of youth trials?

A: No, regardless of age, girls must compete in the girls’ divisions

Q: Are there any pre requisites to enter Youth Trials?

A: No

Q: Who can do the Brazilian Trials?

A: Only those who qualify for “South American Citizenship” in accordance with this list: https://adcombat.com/adcc-rules-regulations/regions-for-adcc-trials/

Q: Who can do the US trials?

A: Anyone is eligible

Q: Is there an allowance for kids’ trials?

A: Yes, there is a 0.5kg allowance, however, if you do not make weight and the next weight class up is full, you will be DQ’d. Kids will only be bumped up for Trials if there is a spot in the next weight up. No one will be bumped up in age.

Q: Are there day of weigh-ins for kids’ trials?

A: Yes, 6 am on Friday (the day of the event). If you are not weighed in by 6:15 am on the day of the event, you will be removed.

Q: Are the youth trials during the open on Friday or on Sat/Sun with the adult trials?

A: the youth trials are specific divisions, during the open on Friday, before the adult trials

Worlds Logistics

Q: How are weight classes determined for Youth Worlds?

A: They are not preset. Classes will be created based on the anticipated weights of invited athletes. The number of competitors per weight division (at worlds) may vary by weight distribution.

Q: What if I turn 18 before the Youth Worlds in August 2026?

A: If you are 18 by the time of Youth Worlds (August 2026, exact date TBD), you may not compete in Youth Trials or qualify for Youth Worlds. (Example: if you were born August 1st, 2008, you will turn
18 before the event).

Q: If I am a girl under 12, can I compete in the boys’ division of Worlds?

A: No, regardless of age, girls must compete in the girls’ divisions (and your age group at the time of Worlds).

Points & Rankings

Q: How are points considered for invites?

A: Youth competitors are awarded points for bronze, silver and gold in the advanced divisions in the ADCC U.S. and Brazil Opens (Jan 2025–Apr 2026).

Q: Why don’t Smoothcomp’s rankings match the invites?

A: The ranking lists on Smoothcomp (divided by age group) only list medals earned within that one age group. ADCC considers all Advanced medals across youth divisions, so an athlete may rank lower on Smoothcomp but be a top contender in ADCC’s list.

Q: Do Canada’s or Mexico’s points count?

A: Canadian and Mexican Opens don’t count directly but are considered as x-factors (to be used as tie breakers, a common occurrence). Adult points are not counted directly either, but may be used as tiebreakers as
well.

Q: Can girls compete in boys’ divisions at the opens? Do these points count?

A: Girls 12 years old and under may compete in Boys’ divisions. If it’s an Advanced division, these results will also count toward rankings.

Q: Do my points in higher age groups count?

A: Yes, any points in advanced divisions <18 count towards the ranking.

Q: What happens if a Youth Competitor moves into another age group during the season (e.g. turns 9 and moves up to 9-10)? Are their points carried over?

A: Yes, all points earned in advanced divisions (regardless of age group) are considered and carried over.