Online Competition Guide

Bring identification.

Bring 2 pairs of any clothing is required for the competition e.g. 2 gis or 2 pairs of rashguards & shorts – especially if this is IBJJF where they have more stringent uniform requirements.  It is common to have uniforms not make it through inspection,  suffer damage, or simply smell bad (especially between the weight division and the open division a few hours later).  Make sure your belt is not faded and that clothing meets the fit and color criteria.  

Most athletes like to bring water, snacks, and any supplemental items such athletic tape with them.  Do not expect your teammates to provide these and do not expect that you will be able to purchase these items at the venue.

The best warm-up is to do a hard warmup (hot shower, calisthenics, stretching) that opens up the lungs 1-2 hours prior to the event.  30 minutes before you compete, you should do a lighter warmup: generally, some technical drilling.  

The start time of your match will also change in real-time.  We recommend being in the competitive area, 90 minutes  prior to the start time minimum. 

At travel competitions, we like athletes to arrive to support the other team members regardless of start time.  

Different competitions hold weigh-ins at different times.  The three types of weigh ins are :

• Matside right before competing (IBJJF)
• Anytime during the day (Grappling Industries, NAGA, and most local competitions)
• Day before (ADCC, MMA, and most striking events)

If you are doing IBJJF and have a serious weight cut, you should arrive as soon as the venue opens in order to check your weight on the test scale.

Otherwise, you should arrive with enough time to check your weight on the test scale (if one is provided) and with enough buffer to sweat out the last few ounces in case of disaster.  In generally, 2-3 hours before the scheduled competition time.  REMEMBER: the start time is changing in real time so its best to give yourself an ample window!

There is always a group slack channel for competition organization.  If you aren’t sure how to find it or are not a member, please let a coach know and they will assist you in getting you in there.

Yes.

At Crazy 88, we prioritize unity and coordinated participation. We’ve carefully crafted a competition schedule, and we encourage our aspiring competitors to follow it. This ensures that our dedicated coaches and teammates can be present to support each other.

We’ve observed in the past that when students chose competitions independently, it posed challenges for both them and our coaches. For the sake of cohesion and presenting our team at its best, we ask that athletes compete with the guidance of their coaches. To make things convenient, you can find the competition schedule displayed digitally at each location.

Competitions can be divided into roughly 3 categories: Local, Regional, and International / Professional.  Each tier of competition requires a different level of commitment and investment.  Start at local and work up from there.

Local e.g. Grappling Industries, NAGA, Finishers

• Recommended to be Phase Belt OR have grappling experience
• Get instructor permission
• Let instructors know that you have registered

Regionals e.g. IBJJF New York Open

• Clear with instructor prior to registering.
• Must meet skill & training requirements.

International / Professional (sometimes referred to as Majors or Grand Slams)

• Must meet success, skill, & training requirements.

If you are attending a travel competition (further than 2+ hours travel time), you must let the coaches know.  There will almost always be a carpool and shared lodging to alleviate costs.  Even if you are not traveling with the team, you must let us know if you are participating for scheduling and budgeting purposes.