# Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship

The Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pan American Championship (commonly known as Pan Ams or Pans), is the largest Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament held in the Americas. The event is held annually by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.

## History

Representing one of the first steps toward international expansion of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the Pan-American Championship has been held annually since 1995. While the first event garnered only 250 athletes, the event has grown yearly with the 2022 edition in Florida reporting over 4,600 jiu-jitsu athletes registered to compete.
The tournament was originally held in Brazil but moved to the United States in 2007, reflecting the global expansion of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and its growing popularity in North America.

## Evolution of the Event

The Pan Championship is one of the four IBJJF Grand Slam events, which include the European Championship, Brazilian Nationals, and Worlds.
The IBJJF assigns a ranking weight to its tournaments, determining the number of points an athlete can earn. In the 2017/2018 IBJJF calendar, the Pan American Championship had a weighting of 4, making it second in importance only to the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, which had a weighting of 7.

## Notable Champions

Many accomplished jiu-jitsu athletes have secured titles at the Pan Championship. In 2024, Gutemberg Pereira won the absolute male division by submitting Marcus Scooby with a rear-naked choke, while Gabi Pessanha took the absolute female title by submitting Izadora Cristina with a foot lock, securing double gold at the event.

## Impact on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

The Pan Championship is regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A strong performance at the Pan can elevate an athlete’s career, providing international recognition and opportunities for sponsorships and higher-level competition. The tournament also serves as a platform for the introduction of new techniques and strategic innovations, influencing the evolution of the sport.

## Recent Changes

In recent years, the Pan Championship has continued to attract elite competitors from around the world. The 2024 edition featured high-level performances across multiple divisions, reinforcing the event’s status as a premier competition in the sport.

## Media Coverage and Legacy

The media coverage of the Pan Championship has grown significantly, with platforms like FloGrappling providing live broadcasts and in-depth analysis. This increased exposure has contributed to the global recognition of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, attracting new practitioners and fans worldwide. The Pan Championship’s legacy lies in its continuous role in the sport's popularity on a global scale.

## Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship IBJJF: Host Cities

The IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship has a long history and has been held in several cities over the years. Below is a list of the cities that have hosted the event throughout its history:
* Los Angeles, California (USA) – The first edition was held in 1996, and since then, Los Angeles has been one of the most frequent host cities.
* Irvine, California (USA) – The event was also held here in some years, especially as it grew in size.
* Anaheim, California (USA) – For several years, the competition was held at the Anaheim Convention Center.
* Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) – While more recent, some editions of the Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship have been held in Las Vegas.
* Long Beach, California (USA) – Another Californian city that hosted the event for several years.
These are the main cities that have hosted the Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship throughout its history, with a strong presence in California, particularly in Los Angeles and Anaheim.

## Pan American Champions in Men's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by Year and Weight

| Year | 57 kg | 64 kg | 70 kg | 76 kg | 82 kg | 88 kg | 94 kg | 100 kg | +100 kg | Absolute |
| 1996 | Marcos Barreto (1/1) | Vinicius Magalhaes (1/2) | João Roque (1/1) | Marcio Feitosa (1/4) | Alexandre Paiva (1/1) | Roberto Magalhaes (1/4) | Luis Roberto Duarte (1/1) | Roberto Correa (1/4) | Eduardo Galvão (1/1) | Rigan Machado (1/3) |
| 1997 | | | Royler Gracie (1/2) | Marcio Feitosa (2/4) | Fernando Vasconcelos(1/2) | Ricardo Herriot (1/2) | Roberto Magalhaes (2/4) | Roberto Correa (2/4) | Rigan Machado (2/3) | Rigan Machado (3/3) |
| 1998 | | Luis Renato (1/1) | Vinicius Magalhaes (2/2) | Marcio Feitosa (3/4) | Fernando Vasconcelos (2/2) | Roberto Magalhaes (3/4) | Saulo Ribeiro (1/2) | Bruno Severiano (1/3) | Ryan Gracie (1/1) | Saulo Ribeiro (2/2) |
| 1999 | | Nay Cunha (1/1) | Royler Gracie (2/2) | Marcio Feitosa (4/4) | Bruno Severiano (2/3) | Antonio Schembri (1/1) | Ricardo Herriot (2/2) | Pericles Laudier (1/1) | Roberto Magalhaes (4/4) | Antonio Schembri (1/1) |
| 2000 | Rafael Duarte (1/1) | João Eduardo (1/1) | Alexandre Carneiro (1/1) | Augusto Lopez (1/1) | Erick Santos (1/1) | Fabricio Prantera (1/1) | Diego Jose (1/1) | Bruno Mathias (1/1) | Luis Felipe (1/1) | Fabricio Monteiro (1/1) |
| 2001 | Takeo Tani (1/1) | Wellington Dias (1/1) | Sandro Santiago (1/1) | Edson Diniz (1/1) | Bruno Severiano (3/3) | Roberto Correa (3/4) | Fernando Pontes (1/1) | Roberto Tozi (1/1) | Jorge Patiano (1/1) | Xande Ribeiro (1/4) |
| 2002 | | Ricardo Vieira (1/1) | Leo Vieira (1/2) | Carlos Eduardo (1/2) | Delson Heleno (1/1) | Xande Ribeiro (2/4) | Fabio Leopoldo (1/1) | Alexandre Dantas (1/3) | Marcio Dantas (1/1) | Alexandre Dantas (2/3) |
| 2003 | | Leonardo Escobar (1/1) | Renato Migliaccio (1/1) | Carlos Eduardo (2/2) | Paulo Guilobel (1/1) | Cassio Werneck (1/1) | Roberto Correa (4/4) | Adriano Maciel (1/1) | Marcio Cruz (1/4) | Marcio Cruz (2/4) |
| 2004 | | Bibiano Fernandes (1/3) | Leo Vieira (2/2) | Daniel Moraes (1/1) | Fernando Augusto (1/1) | Ronaldo Souza (1/2) | Gabriel Vella](1/2) | Jorge Oliveira (1/1) | Alexandre Dantas (3/3) | Ronaldo Souza (2/2) |
| 2005 | | | Bibiano Fernandes (2/3) | Mario Reis (1/2) | André Galvão (1/9) | Givanildo Santana (1/1) | Rodrigo Pinheiro (1/1) | Xande Ribeiro (3/4) | Marcio Cruz (3/4) | Mario Cruz (4/4) |
| 2006 | Mauro Ayes (1/1) | Dai Yoshida (1/1) | Bibiano Fernandes (3/3) | Tiago Alves (1/1) | André Galvão (2/9) | Demian Maia (1/1) | Braulio Estima (1/1) | Xande Ribeiro (4/4) | Rolles Gracie (1/1) | Roger Gracie (1/1) |
| 2007 | Bruno Malfacine (1/6) | Robson Moura (1/1) | Rubens Charles (1/5) | Lucas Leite (1/4) | Marcelo Garcia (1/1) | Romulo Barral (1/2) | Eduardo Telles (1/1) | Rafael Lovato Jr. (1/2) | Rodrigo Medeiros (1/1) | Romulo Barral (2/2) |
| 2008 | Bruno Malfacine (2/6) | Carlos Holanda (1/2) | Rubens Charles (2/5) | Celso Vinicius (1/1) | Gustavo Campos (1/2) | André Galvão (3/9) | Rafael Lovato Jr. (2/2) | Roberto Abreu (1/2) | Luis Theodoro (1/2) | André Galvão (4/9) |
| 2009 | João Kuraoka (1/1) | Yoshihiko Matsumoto (1/1) | Rubens Charles (3/5) | Lucas Lepri (1/4) | Lucas Leite (2/4) | Otavio Souza (1/2) | Roberto Alencar (1/2) | Antonio Braga Neto (1/4) | Marcio Corleta (1/1) | Antonio Braga Neto (2/4) |
| 2010 | Bruno Malfacine (3/6) | Carlos Holanda (2/2) | Rubens Charles (4/5) | Michael Langhi (1/2) | Kayron Gracie (1/2) | Otavio Souza (2/2) | Bernardo Faria (1/6) | Antonio Braga Neto (3/4) | Gabriel Vella (2/2) | Bernardo Faria (2/6) |
| 2011 | Rafael Freitas (1/1) | Caio Terra (1/3) | Bruno Frazatto (1/1) | Lucas Lepri (2/4) | Claudio Calasans (1/2) | André Galvão (5/9) | Rodolfo Vieira (1/2) | Marcus Almeida (1/3) | Antonio Braga Neto (4/4) | Rodolfo Vieira (2/2) |
| 2012 | Caio Terra (2/3) | Bruno Malfacine (4/6) | Rafael Mendes (1/2) | Leandro Lo (1/8) | Claudio Calasans (2/2) | Kayron Gracie (2/2) | Lucas Leite (3/4) | Bernardo Faria (3/6) | Marcus Almeida (2/3) | Antônio Carlos Júnior (1/1) |
| 2013 | Caio Terra (3/3) | Guilherme Mendes (1/1) | Rafael Mendes (2/2) | Michael Langhi (2/2) | Clark Gracie (1/1) | André Galvão (6/9) | Roberto Alencar (2/2) | Leo Nogueira (1/1) | Marcus Almeida (3/4) | Marcus Almeida (4/4) |
| 2014 | João Rodriguez (1/1) | Paulo Miyao (1/3) | Mario Reis (2/2) | Lucas Lepri (3/4) | Leandro Lo (2/8) | Gustavo Campos (2/2) | Yuri Simões (1/1) | Luis Panza (1/2) | André Galvão (7/9) | André Galvão (8/9) |
| 2015 | Bruno Malfacine (5/6) | Paulo Miyao (2/3) | Gianni Grippo (1/2) | Jonathan Torres (1/2) | Leandro Lo (3/8) | Keenan Cornelius (1/2) | Lucas Leite (4/4) | Bernardo Faria (4/6) | Alexander Trans(1/1) | Bernardo Faria (5/6) |
| 2016 | Mikey Musumeci (1/1) | João Miyao (1/3) | Paulo Miyao (3/3) | Edwin Najmi (1/1) | Yago de Souza (1/1) | Leandro Lo (4/8) | Cassio Da Silva (1/1) | Luis Panza (2/2) | André Galvão (9/9) | Bernardo Faria (6/6) |
| 2017 | Bruno Malfacine (6/6) | Leonardo Enrique (2/3) | Rubens Charles (5/5) | Lucas Lepri (4/4) | Otavio Souza (1/2) | Patrick Gáudio (1/1) | Leandro Lo (5/8) | Erberth Santos (1/1) | João Gabriel Rocha (1/2) | Leandro Lo (6/8) |
| 2018 | Tomoyuki Hashimoto (1/1) | João Miyao (3/3) | Gianni Grippo (2/2) | Jonathan Torres (2/2) | Gabriel Arges (1/1) | Lucas Barbosa (1/2) | Leandro Lo (7/8) | Keenan Cornelius (2/2) | João Gabriel Rocha (2/2) | Leandro Lo (8/8) |
| 2019 | Cleber Sousa (1/1) | Leonardo Enrique (1/1) | Matheus Gabriel (1/1) | Levi Jones-Leary (1/1) | Isaque Bahiense (1/1) | Gustavo Batista (1/4) | Kaynan Duarte (1/1) | Fellipe Andrew (1/5) | Ricardo Evangelista (1/1) | Lucas Barbosa (2/2) |
| 2020 | Lucas Pinheiro (1/1) | Josh Cisneros (1/1) | Thiago Macedo (1/1) | Johnatha Alves (1/4) | Ronaldo Júnior (1/1) | Otavio Souza (2/2) | Gustavo Batista (2/4) | Guilherme Augusto (1/1) | Max Gimenis (1/1) | Fellipe Andrew (2/5) |
| 2021 | Lívio Ribeiro (1/1) | Diego Oliveira (1/2) | Jamil Hill (1/1) | Johnatha Alves (2/4) | Tainan Dalpra (1/3) | André Porfirio (1/1) | Gustavo Batista (3/4) | Fellipe Andrew (3/5) | Victor Hugo (1/1) | Fellipe Andrew (4/5) |
| 2022 | Carlos 'Bebeto' Oliveira (1/1) | Meyram Maquiné (1/1) | Alexssandro Sodré (1/1) | Johnatha Alves (3/4) | Tainan Dalpra (2/3) | Sebastian Rodriguez (1/1) | Dimitrius Souza (1/1) | Marcus Ribeiro (1/1) | Roberto Abreu (2/2) | Erich Munis (1/2) |
| 2023 | Zayed Alkatheeri (1/1) | Diogo Reis (1/1) | Marcio Andre (1/1) | Johnatha Alves (4/4) | Tainan Dalpra (3/3) | Gustavo Batista (4/4) | Adam Wardzinski (1/1) | Erich Munis (2/2) | Nicholas Meregali (1/2) | Nicholas Meregali (2/2) |
| 2024 | Thalison Soares (1/1) | Diego Oliveira (2/2) | Kennedy Maciel (1/1) | Jackson Nagai (1/1) | Micael Galvão (1/1) | Uanderson Ferreira (1/1) | Fellipe Andrew (5/5) | Anderson Munis (1/1) | Yatan Bueno (1/1) | Gutemberg Pereira (1/1) |

## Pan American Champions in Women's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by Year and Weight

| Year | -48 kg Rooster | -53 kg Light Feather | -58 kg Feather | -64 kg Light | -69 kg Middle | -74 kg Medium Heavy | -80 kg Heavy | +80 kg Super Heavy | Absolute |
| 1999 | | | | Bianca Andrade (1/1) | Mariana Coelho (1/3) | | Rosangela Silva (1/1) | | |
| 2000 | | | | Renata Ninomiya (1/1) | Tatina Chaves (1/1) | | Mariana Coelho (2/3) | | |
| 2001 | | | | Alessandra Filha (1/2) | Luciana Tavares (1/1) | | Erica Paes(1/1) | | |
| 2002 | | | | Alessandra Filha (2/2) | Kris Schade (1/1) | | Luciana Dias (1/7) | | |
| 2003 | | Kyra Gracie (1/3) | Leticia Ribeiro (1/2) | Alessandra Vieira (1/1) | Jaqueline Andrade (1/1) | | Maria do Carmo Paixao (1/1) | | |
| 2004 | | Megumi Fujii (1/2) | Leticia Ribeiro (2/2) | Jeniffer Locke (1/1) | Kelly Paul (1/2 | Jaqueline Williams (1/1) | | | |
| 2005 | | Tessa Queen (1/1) | Kyra Gracie (2/3) | Cindy Hales (1/1) | Kelly Paul (2/2) | Luciana Dias (2/7) | | | |
| 2006 | | Megumi Fujii (2/2) | | Mariana Coelho (3/3) | Kelly Paul (1/1) | Luciana Dias (3/7) | | | |
| 2007 | | Kanako Inaba (1/1) | Felicia Oh (1/1) | Kyra Gracie (3/3) | Luciana Dias (4/7) | Penny Thomas (1/1) | | | |
| 2008 | | Michelle Nicolini (1/3) | | Gisele Braga] (1/1) | Ana Laura Cordeiro (1/4) | Luciana Dias (5/7) | | | Luciana Dias (6/7) |
| 2009 | | Claudia Kvenbo (1/1) | Fabiana Borges (1/2) | Ana Carolina Vidal (1/2) | Valerie Worthington (1/2) | Ana Laura Cordeiro (2/4) | Luciana Dias (7/7) | | Ana Laura Cordeiro (3/4) |
| 2010 | | Michelle Nicolini (2/3) | Fabiana Borges(2/2) | Luana Alzuguir (1/4) | Hillary Williams (1/1) | Valerie Worthington (2/2) | Gabrielle Garcia (1/11) | | Gabrielle Garcia (2/11) |
| 2011 | | Gezary Matuda (1/4) | Michelle Nicolini (3/3) | Beatriz Mesquita (1/7) | Luana Alzuguir (2/4) | Luiza Monteiro (1/7) | Gabrielle Garcia (3/11) | | Luana Alzuguir (3/4) |
| 2012 | | Sofia Amarante (1/1) | Bruna Ribeiro (1/1) | Beatriz Mesquita (2/7) | Luana Alzuguir (4/4) | Hannette Staack (1/1) | Gabrielle Garcia (4/11) | | Gabrielle Garcia (5/11) |
| 2013 | | Miriam Cerqueira (1/1) | Luiza Monteiro (2/7) | Ana Carolina Vidal (2/2) | Vanessa Oliveira (1/1) | Talita Nogueira (1/3) | Gabrielle Garcia (6/11) | | Gabrielle Garcia (7/11) |
| 2014 | | Andrea Encarnacion (1/1) | Tammi Musumeci (1/2) | Beatriz Mesquita (3/7) | Luiza Monteiro (3/7) | Talita Nogueira (2/3) | Tammy Griego (1/1) | | Beatriz Mesquita (4/7) |
| 2015 | | Gezary Matuda (2/4) | Mackenzie Dern (1/2) | Beatriz Mesquita (5/7) | Monique Elias (1/2) | Ana Laura Cordeiro (4/4) | Dominyka Obelenyte (1/2) | Gabrielle Garcia (8/11) | Gabrielle Garcia (9/11) |
| 2016 | | Gezary Matuda (3/4) | Mackenzie Dern (2/2) | Beatriz Mesquita (6/7) | Luiza Monteiro (4/7) | Andresa Correa (1/2) | Talita Nogueira (3/3) | Dominyka Obelenyte (2/2) | Andresa Correa (2/2) |
| 2017 | | Talita Alencar (1/1) | Bianca Basílio (1/2) | Tammi Musumeci (2/2) | Monique Elias (2/2) | Jessica Flowers (1/1) | Samela Shoham (1/1) | Tayane Porfirio (1/2) | Tayane Porfirio (2/2) |
| 2018 | | Gezary Matuda (4/4) | Karen Atunes (1/1) | Beatriz Mesquita (7/7) | Angelica Galvão (1/1) | Nathiely de Jesus (1/2) | Maria Malyjasiak (1/2) | Claudia Doval (1/1) | Luiza Monteiro (5/7) |
| 2019 | Mayssa Bastos (1/1) | Amanda Monteiro (1/1) | Ffion Davies (1/1) | Gabrielle McComb (1/1) | Ana Carolina Vidal (1/1) | Luiza Monteiro (6/7) | Nathiely de Jesus (2/2) | Gabrielle Garcia (10/11) | Gabrielle Garcia (11/11) |
| 2021 | Lavínia Barbosa (1/1) | Ana Rodrigues (1/1) | Bianca Basílio (2/2) | Nathalie Ribeiro (1/1) | Luiza Monteiro (7/7) | Ana Carolina Vieira (1/1) | Maria Malyjasiak (2/2) | Gabrieli Pessanha (1/1) | Yara Soares (1/1) |